Julan was growling softly, glaring through one eye at Vaarkai. His insults and overall rudeness had been agitating Julan, but being directly attacked, and with another cheap shot at that, had him feeling an almost instinctual desire for payback. His beast wanted blood, but his more reasonable mind could compromise just for some pain. 

Since they all had first started talking to him, Julan had mostly been passive towards insults, and somewhat awkward overall. He was still holding his hand over the spot where he had been hit and had backed a few steps away, so Vaarkai was outwardly confident. Despite Julan's appearance of strength, he had not yet given Vaarkai a solid reason to be afraid of him. He marched forward at Julan with his hands clenched into fists, but without them raised into any proper defensive posture. [i]"What, aren't you going to fight me? It was your own father's idea. Or maybe you're just as weak and useless as your mother. Yeah, my parents told me about her. Kaleeth-Rei. They said she was the most worthless hunter they'd ever seen, and I-"[/i] 

Vaarkai's words only helped to further encourage Julan to retaliate, and he was, as Vaarkai soon discovered, far quicker and stronger than expected. Julan's free hand shot up and struck a clean hit straight to the side of Vaarkai's head harder than Julan honestly felt he [i]should[/i] have hit him. There was not as much of a question of [i]if[/i] Julan had broke something, as [i]what[/i] he had broken. Vaarkai stumbled back, wide-eyed and dizzy, and only avoided falling entirely because he backed into one of the onlookers, who helped steady him. His eyes could not seem to focus, and each step he tried to take forward was less coordinated than an intoxicated beggar. [i]"I'll kick your..."[/i] Were the only slurred words he managed to utter before falling forward flat on his face. He had been knocked out cold, and the best that could be said about him at the moment was that he was clearly still breathing. 

About half of the onlookers were speechless, while the other half could not stop talking or laughing at Vaarkai's expense. All of them had obviously expected a fight that would last longer than one blow, and honestly, so had Julan. He stood still, speechless and confused, with a sore hand and a blank stare.

[hr]

"I...understand what you are saying, Rhazii. I understand why you feel that way, but you shouldn't worry about me." Ahnasha replied. She looked away for a brief moment, but made herself return eye contact with him to avoid seeming like she was trying to hide her feelings. "I do think I need that kind of a reminder, honestly. I should never forget the stakes of what it is I do. The past can't be changed, but this whole little outing we're having right now is because I know I can still influence the future. I can make sure you are prepared to face your own challenges, and make sure I don't make the same mistakes I did before. Pain and regret can be debilitating to some, yes, but they can also become valuable lessons. You drive me to be stronger in many more ways than one, Rhazii. I want to make the world a better place for lycans, so that it can be a better place for you. I want to give you the chance to become as strong, or stronger, than me, but without the danger of having your soul enslaved by a power-hungry Daedra. I know some of the others say they want their children to be able to live their lives in peace, but...I mostly just want you to be able to live like [i]you[/i] want to."

There was another pause from Ahnasha, and this time, she actually looked noticeably nervous before continuing hesitantly. "And, speaking of your life...I have been wondering something. How, um, long do you think you want to live, Rhazii?"