Grayell & Yukiko's residence.

[Liseth]

She walked beside him and nudged his neck with her muzzle.

Who said anything about your house? We don't really need houses anymore.

She laughed and moved around to his other side.

You need to go see the rest of the pack soon.

[Grayell]

Grayell growled a moment. He kept up his pace, bouncing down the trail at an easy gait.

I see. What happened to North?

His tone wasn't thrilled with her suggestion.

[Liseth]

Well...

Her ears went against her head for a moment.

After that, I mean. Of course we're having fun now, but...but eventually we'll have to get down to business, darling.

[Grayell]

Grayell stopped. He looked back the way they'd come and then at her. He sat back on his haunches, the spun twice, then sat; placing his jaw on his front legs.

Hmph. Out with it Liseth. I'm listening.

[Liseth]

She sat in front of him, looking down.

Well...you know what we need to do. We need to kill Verick and take over the Garou.

She looked at him curiously.

You do know that, right? That's why I wanted to turn you. You're the source. You, out of anyone else, would be able to kill Verick.

[Grayell]

Grayell rolled his head and looked at the sky. Birds floated on the breeze and they held is interest.

Then tell me Kitten. We kill Verick. We rule over the mongrels he's bred. What next?

[Liseth]

She shrugged as well as she could as a wolf.

Then, well...assert our dominance. Garou is a dominant gene, Alpha. It's an improvement. Survival of the fittest. We spread or we die.

[Grayell]

Grayell lifts his head and looks at her.

Sit down. Tell me Liseth... has Verick told anyone the difference between Garou and Werewolf? That there even is one?

[Liseth]

She sat, rolling her eyes.

No, he has not. Please enlighten me, Alpha.

[Grayell]

Grayell looked at her with wide eyes for a moment and his brow furrowed. Even as a wolf he displayed it's displeasure with that.

Really? Like that? Well damn Liseth, if I'm boring you just let me know. Sorry I'm not in a hurry to go meet the family.

He'd snapped at her then, but his gaze didn't waver.

[Liseth]

Sorry, sorry.

She looked at him sincerely.

What's the difference?

[Grayell]

He uttered a noise somewhere between a growl and a groan then sighed - which came out as a huff of air from his nose before he looked down.

Kitten. I don't think you get it. I literally bled for you back there. I jumped a bloody ravine to follow you.

But I've had enough of the confusion. I don't want it anymore.

[Liseth]

Allllphhaaaa.

She sighed and laid next to him, rubbing her muzzle against his neck.

You wanted it. And you didn't have to jump the ravine. There was a perfectly good natural bridge a hundred feet downstream.

[Grayell]

He whined in that way that dogs do when being playful and wanting and he laid his head across her neck.

Alright. Damn you for being beautiful Kitten. You're my kind of trouble.

He stretches and lays beside her, a paw over hers.

Werewolves and Garou are not the same thing. It's not a widely known fact. True Garou live in the north, out in the wastes. They are born as Garou, can shift as easy as blink and are a completely reasonable race. They aren't driven by murder and rage, they have rules and standards and in general, are a great people to know.

Werewolves are their bastard off spring. If a human is attacked by a Garou and any of their fluid is transmitted, that human becomes a werewolf. The Garou influence tries to take over and the human mind cannot contain that, it becomes feral and dangerous. Same thing if a Garou and human mate. There's good reasons why no one knows about them or ever sees them. The species don't mix.

Garou don't acknowledge werewolves. They kill them, consider them an abomination. They consider it their ancient duty to prevent the spread of their plague.

He yawns again and buries his nose in her side.

Verick doesn't even know as much I suspect. He likes to think werewolves are pure hun and they're not. They're a curse, you and me included. It's not a natural state of being.

But as it stands, there's but one way to transcend from being a human turned werewolf and have them become Garou. They have to embrace the heart and spirit of the wolf. That doesn't mean preying on the weak and killing for sport. That doesn't mean running on rage and violence. It means exerting and mastering control, accepting their ways and becoming something more. It's a spiritual transcendence, a metamorphosis and it's a beautiful thing if it can be done. But it comes from something abominable. Something like Verick.

Grayell tilts his head to the side and rolls onto his back.

You could do it you know. You have more control than most. Just listen to what I taught you. You would be happy then... we both could be. Have our own pack. A pure blooded pack.

[Liseth]

She looked at the ground as she listened.

I think...I don't know. The werewolves I know are strong. Powerful. We deserve our place. If we have to be Garou, then I'm not sure if I like that.

She was silent for a moment.

Nature isn't as honorable as you like to think it is.