"Indeed." The rumble held a note of solemn support, though he withheld judgment on her self reflection. He reached for one of the last mushrooms and folded it carefully into a slice of meat as Maea had done several times, pinching it neatly between the chopsticks before dipping it into the soup to boil. He was more interested in hearing about the bloodlust that was so integral to being an Ancient, and how it affected not only Maea but Thalassa and Isla as well. People he trusted, even knowing the danger they might pose.
As he had pointed out, Ancients were not alone in being dangerous.
"Hmm. There is nothing unusual in enjoying the hunt." He pulled his morsel out of the pot and transferred it to his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "The kill... when it is done cleanly and well, there is pride to be taken in that, too." He gestured to the remains of the pyrina carcass with a nod of his chin. "It is when you take pleasure in the suffering that it becomes... precarious." A slippery slope from which few ever seemed to return. Not without being changed almost beyond recognition.
As he had pointed out, Ancients were not alone in being dangerous.
"Hmm. There is nothing unusual in enjoying the hunt." He pulled his morsel out of the pot and transferred it to his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "The kill... when it is done cleanly and well, there is pride to be taken in that, too." He gestured to the remains of the pyrina carcass with a nod of his chin. "It is when you take pleasure in the suffering that it becomes... precarious." A slippery slope from which few ever seemed to return. Not without being changed almost beyond recognition.
