Emotions that Nathair cannot explain flood through his system. A million nerve-endings buzzing with some sort of anger mixed with loss. But why? What had he lost? Nights with his father? Almost two years of not knowing only to be forced to open his eyes? Pearly whites of his teeth can be seen against his maroon muzzle. What was wrong with him? Nathair tried to focus on the sea; its rising and lowering current. The way it pulled back and forth without a source of its motion. Or one that Nathair could not see nor comprehend. Even with a storm of emotions inside of his thick skin; he does not show them. His lips are pulled in a straight line with his voice not so angry now, but monotone'd, as if he is speaking to just another stranger on the street. There was no pride behind it, with his usual quips, just an echoing of something lost. He almost wished he'd punched Levi. That way they'd be embedded in a fight right now. Fur flying and teeth stained red. That would be easier to understand. And then, he wouldn't know. He'd go home scarred physically with the sense of loss or victory, but would not know the truth. Ignorance was bliss, and Nathair wished to be blissful; just a passing stranger.
Life was not simple this way. He'd learned this through the ongoing trials that seemed to be enjoyed by the universe. He's sure that the only reasons he keeps getting caught in these moments is because God thinks it's the funniest thing since wolves learned to communicate. Nathair bit at the inside of his cheek, lost in the sway of the ocean, until his father's voice rings out. 'Didn't say you did.' A small snort comes from him, his eyes glazed, staring somewhere off. 'Of course.' Nathair swallowed, 'Good.' He thought. 'This is good. Nothing has to change.' Not that he would let it. A father would do nothing to him. He'd been running wild since he could stand. It felt like he could breathe again, at least, with that lodge in his throat removed. A breath of salty air ran through him and somewhat eased his nerves. But there was a sense of dragging in his paws, as if he was anchored there, something begging him not to leave. He forces through it, taking a quivering step forward. He grunts, mad at his body. All he wants to do right now is leave and punch something, but something in him also wants to stay. 'But,' Levi's voice coaxes. Nath stopped in his tracks, glancing at him over his shoulder; lazily. The pirates in the Tavern; Nathair remembers them in the background of some of his visits. They were loud and usually caused the most problems, and his father was the captain of them.
'A place for those who don't feel like they belong.' The thought had never occurred to him that he didn't belong. Sure, he didn't really have any friends. Some other thieves he got along with and had enough faith in them to pull off a heist. But that was because he didn't really need anyone else. He didn't have any siblings, and he'd only ever relied on just one person. So, he'd never been insecure about not fitting in. He could if he tried, but he'd always been a loner. "Y'know pops," He swung his head back over his shoulder to stare at the path dimly lit ahead of him, "The thing you should know 'bout me is, I fit in just about anywhere. It's probably why you've never noticed me before." He simply put. How many times had he been on this beach or in the Tavern (somewhat keeping a low profile, of course), and they had not noticed each other? "See ya around." He doesn't leave any room for his own father's goodbye. The ice viper forces his paws to move through whatever problem they were having right now. He couldn't stay much longer. He needed to blow some steam off. And with that, he headed towards the path that led up from Sussex and into Redwood, disappearing in the shadows.
"Speak and be heard."
