He was surprised when she began speaking again, seemingly no longer trying to trigger his temper. Their game was forgotten as Jessie told him, of places and events he'd never heard of before, though it didn't matter, the point was that she was talking now, from her heart, and the ebony male felt his exasperation towards her fade. In a few, simple sentences, the grey woman revealed more of herself to her student than she ever had before, and Drestig was thankful for her openness, even if it wasn't entirely deliberate. He wouldn't say that the statement surprised him exactly; Of course SHE would think her job is most important! But it saddened him to hear, that she considered herself worthless without her role as scout. Ember eyes turned back to the slight form next to him, watching impassively as she relived the past. The clear pain that crossed her face making his own stomach turn; no matter then unclear state of their relationship, he did not like to see her hurt. Despite her anguish though, her voice was steady when she continued, and the dark man couldn't help but shake his head lightly at her words. As she kept speaking, her voice turned harsher, ending in an almost-snarl as she turned her deep emerald's towards him, as if in challenge. For a silent moment, he stared back, no anger in his gaze, unwavering strength, but no real challenge. Then he sighed deeply; "That's the difference between you and me, Jessie." He said, voice low but clear, the tone frank and even, honesty radiating off his features; "To me there could never be just duty. I do not live and breathe for my role, I live despite of it." His face was still open, voice weighted, not with the usual sarcasm, but with something deeper and more sincere. He felt as if they had finally reached the root of something, gone past the state of teacher and student, and into more friendly territory. And though Drestig had never longed for this kind of intimacy with his mentor, he did not feel adverse to it. The black pelted chap shifted his weight, shaking his shoulders lightly and turning his head to once more stare at the slow trickling water. He was starting to feel tired even though the day hadn't been particularly active. "I like pack life, I like the sense of family we have here, and I'm loyal to Triell and the Bend," He said half musing, eyes trailing a small leaf that had been caught in the stream and was slowly carried away by the water; "But I wanted to be a scout for a chance to wander still, to keep exploring and experiencing outside our land. I'm more than happy that I can do that while serving a purpose to the pack, but it is not my only purpose. " His glowing fiery orbs lifted again to look at the colorless woman, passion glowing deep in them; How can she say that 'worth to the alpha' is all that counts?! "What am I other than that? I am me, Jessie! I am adventurous and cheeky and a pain in the ass. I like to hunt and discover, and race and spar. I am uncle to Zera and Darrah, enemy to the wolves of Magnolia Glen, something of its own entirely to @Silver, and friend to Triell, and you." He tilted his head, looking at her questioningly, more confused than angered by her statement; "Do you really think that none of that matters? That we are nothing but the sum of our duty?!" Word count: 603 Thoughts ”Speech” |
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