With a glance to Meesei and Lorag, Gallus knew that he and Ri'vashi would have to get in on their conversation soon enough. Gallus wanted to know everything he could about Do'rhajul, even if it could only be a coincidence that Lorag served under his command.

"How can we be certain about anything?" Gallus answered, though mostly that was to buy him time. The answer to her questions were complicated and depended upon details that he was not completely familiar with. Regardless, he tried to speak of what he did know. "Bruma is...we have different circumstances than this place. That's the simple version. The mountainous terrain means we don't have to keep an eye everywhere at once. We have sentries out all the time in the snow. Our food supplies are more robust and can sustain our numbers for longer. Not to mention our garrison is very healthy. As for the assault a few years ago, the fortifications were rebuilt to be stronger and we're unlikely to have the majority of our warband coaxed out to follow a traitor home any time soon."

Gallus furrowed his brow and readjusted himself in his seat. "Anyway, that's sort of beside the point, I think." Gallus itched his head uncomfortably, trying to better articulate himself. "Bruma..." he let out his breath and tried again, "My father, Oswall, answered me when I asked him why the clan was formed if lycans work fine in packs. He told me that people just want a warm home to get back to. A place where they don't have to see their beast spirit as a curse. The leaders and lieutenants of that place have always held that as a principle of highest regard. People can volunteer to defend the clan, sure, and there are responsibilities, but if it does not feel like a home...well...then the clan isn't doing what it is supposed to." Gallus gestured forward with the back of his hand for emphasis, "So, if we started forcing everyone to live their lives in austerity and military discipline when it beyond the reason of the immediate situation, it starts to feel more like..." Gallus pursed his lips and and glanced over Ri'vashi's shoulder as he tried to think of something, "...a labour camp. Somewhere for prisoners." Gallus shook his head lightly, "That's no home."

In this, Gallus wished he could articulate his point better. He put an elbow on the table and turned his palm up. "Do you understand what I mean?"

[hr]
With her eyes scrunched shut and her face in her hand, Sabine began to flush red. La'khay was impossible. With another sharp exhale through her nose, Sabine brought her hand back and turned her head until she was leaning her fingers on her temple. She opened her eyes wide. "Yes! Yes. It was good," Sabine said with a tone that spoke of her impatience with La'khay, despite her prevalent smile. "It was good after a while. It got better when we did it more. And...we did continue...that day..."

Sabine opened her mouth to talk further but did not really have much at the front of her mind that she wanted to mention. Instead, she bowed her head forward and let out her breath in a humiliated chuckle. "I am sorry, La'khay. This is really embarrassing to talk about."