While hanging out with Lily and Fluffy, a water fight ensued between them. Somewhere along the line, I was dragged in. Seeing as the Den was empty minus a powered-down Casindri, we eventually discarded our soaked clothing and shoes and took to lounging in the pool's waters.
Enter Ayr, Alpha of the Pack, with boxes of pizzas in one hand and eyes on three half naked females soaking near the entrance. He's surprisingly mature, Father. You would have liked him I think. He even sang a song for us while we soaked and ate.
Over time, we learned a bit about Ayr's past. He's 9,000 years old...and has done many terrible things in his past. Things he's clearly not proud of nor wished to get over. Despite this revelation, either Fluffy, Lily, or I felt the least different about him. He is like you guys. He did awful things, some in the name of his own beliefs, and now seemed to be repenting in some way. He even removed his mask for the first time since I met him. A strange man, always hiding behind a scary looking orange mask. Behind it though, was a single pure blue eye, the rest of his face hidden behind bandages.
Ayr.
Our Alpha.
Crazy. Generous. Dangerous.
...and someone I now owe my life to.
It was the first real sincere conversation I think any of us really had with him, but it was this sentence that struck me.
I said," You're old enough to admit your errors, as grave as they are. As you once said, we all have our problems and our reasons. You don't judge others, and I seriously doubt we're going to judge you now."
His response?
"We'll see if you feel th' same when you've done what I have. Though I admire and somewhat envy that conviction you have in what you say."
It was an odd response in my opinion, almost a compliment.
