The wallowing boy was roused from the thoughts of his ruin quiet suddenly, and his head shot back up. Datura didn't like this man's tone at all and he longed to draw back his lips to reveal his teeth. What little self-control he had left he used to contain his frustration and bite back any smart retorts. Never in his seasons had his ego come up against another so strong, so like his, and his pride suffered for it. The Aquila boy's mouth was drawn in a tight line of frustration as he searched the man's face for some sort of compassion, but the man was already getting to his feet. He found nothing besides a challenging stare. His ears lay flat against his head.

Although what the stranger said should have been obvious to Datura, who had never had a father, the boy was caught off guard. His anger was momentarily disarmed by the statements that followed. But the man was right, if Datura did not want to be a father to the alien developing in Taima's stomach he did not have to. He could leave, he could go somewhere —he could go back to his mother. Surely... surely that was what his sperm donor had done: fucked his mom and taken off without so much as goodbye. Datura's copper eyes flicked away from the loner, and though his frustrations were returning they were not directed at the man. They were directed at his own father somewhere out in the world who had abandoned him and left him with shameful splinters of a family.

"Your bastard children would probably be better for it."

Harshness Datura could deal with, but he would not abide by abuse. In an instant his tail flew back over his head and his jaws snapped in warning at the man who was so cowardly that he was already moving away, unwilling to face the consequences of taunting a proud man like Datura Aquila. "What the fuck would you know about bastard children, you dick!" the boy roared back at the man, close to losing it again. But as abruptly as his ferocity resurfaced it was suddenly caged. His next statements were spoken as a menacing hiss through the spaces between his barred fangs, "I would give anything to have a father. I was not better off!"

"You are wrong and I will prove it," the boy said suddenly, pulling his head back and taking a step backwards. He was sure if he stayed any longer he would tear this man's head off. Better to leave now, better to keep what little high ground that remained to him.

"My sons will bring you the meal you are owed."