As always, Heyel was raided with baited words that fall at just the right time in an attempt to get a rise out of me, but I have long ago learned to shirk his vehemence. I can't change my bloodline, nor his opinion of it and I have long lost the ambition to try. Love me or hate me, the old fellow was stuck with me, and my 'tainted' blood. There was no help for it.

I smile at his ink-smudged daughter, my eyes full of warmth and without discrimination. After a lifetime of being discriminated against by the very man standing before me, I was the last wolf in the world to pass judgement upon another, least of all an innocent child.

She peers at me from the shelter of Heyel's side, her eyes wide with wonder at her father's teasing jest, quite convinced I was capable of creating seismic activity of such magnitude. A deep chuckle of bemusement is given in reply and I offer her a conspiratorial wink.

"With Great Power comes Great Responsibility Neveah... And, Apparently, the same holds true for Great Size."

I might have formed a rebuff for her Sire, but in this moment it appears a Guardian Angel has been sent on my behalf, and I feel the warmth of my Imprint sizzle against my side as her Mother Tongue spills from her lips as she gently chastises her father. I lean into her warmth, indulging in her embrace and placing a chaste lick upon her brow. I arc a brow at her latin-spun comment.

"Amica virum habeat ... certe ego non debuit circa petat nullus alius parvus debuit ire ad expectandum deinde ..." My Darling, let the man speak... surely if I weren't around he'd have no one to aim his Ire upon and then he'd have little else to look forward to... There is amusement in my voice though neither laughter not chuckle escapes my lips following the Latin lilt. I have picked up on the Angel's language during my time spent beneath Heyel's reign and have become quite fluent in the tongue though rarely I've had use of it outside of Diveen. Either way, Two can jest and I'm in a favorable mood this day. It was all in good fun, after all.

I'm most surprised when a white figure comes flinging from the underbrush, and am given to stand with wide eyes as my eldest daughter comes barreling into her mother, as eager as a new cub to greet her. I am pleased Zigzag has seen fit to pay a visit, for I've known that Reyja worries after our children terribly. Her flurry of words spills from her lips, and here I am thinking that this would be a wonderful family moment to share for all parties.

This, until she casts a glance at Heyel and utters those three little words.

They were innocent enough, even with the angst of a teenager driving a bit of cynicism into them. I didn't blame ZigZag for how she felt, after all her world was torn in two and all she's known is Discrimination. Discrimination; it is the key to everything these days. Being an Angel or being a Demon, being pure or impure. It's a confusing world for a young woman to grow up in, particularly a half blood.

I'd have been willing to pass the moment off as Teenage hormones, but I catch sight of Neveah's trembling chin and think perhaps I might have seen her eyes well up. Then all hell breaks loose and Heyel turns the full force of his crass and somewhat brutal assessment of My Blood and his opinion of my daughter upon her. She exists because he Allows it to be so...? If I hadn't better sense I'd have almost thought that was a barely veiled threat. Would Heyel actually threaten his own grandchild? Paternal instinct kicks in and I stand up, strategically, but benevolently placing myself between Heyel and Zigzag before an all out brawl ensues.

"Heyel, are you really going to let something so simple as a question get the better of you? All she asked was what you were doing here, there is no reason to jump to such hostility and insults. Denounce me if you want to, blame my bad blood and breeding. Curse my name and my father's before me, but It is no fault of hers that she is a half-blood, nor that it is My blood in particular that you so detest."

I cast a stern look unto my daughter, a promise of a sharp scolding and lesson in holding her tongue to come later.

"Zigzag, apologize to your Grandfather and aunt, they've done nothing o warrant such a cold reception."

And then finally, I turn to perhaps the most important person present- Neveah. She was still much too young to understand even half of what was taking place here. She was impressionable and I didn't want her first memories of her extended family to be a bad one.

Being the sizeable mountain that I am, I boldly step towards her, where she is glued to Heyel's side. I lay down in the Earth, my head coming far closer to the girl's level as I stretch out my long neck and massive muzzle projects a gentle smile in her direction, tail thumping the ground gently.

"Easy now little cherub, it's ok. Zigzag didn't mean any harm... she's just been called some mean names by other wolves that don't understand her. She's been picked on and bullied, and it has hurt her feelings and so she sometimes comes across a little crass. But she's actually very nice once you get to know her..."