She asks for my name. Her own is Raven. I cannot help but nod to myself as my eyes run across the crimson marks of her body; in a way, she does resemble the bird. Black as a shadow but marked with the blood of carrion. My smile is perhaps a sneer of a thing but a smile nonetheless. Amused. As for my own name? I contemplate for a moment. I have grown accustomed to the name of Castor. The name of my grandfather, a weak creature who perished in fire. It is not my name here, though.

"You may know me as Eden."

I settle on the words finally. She may know me by that name but anybody else? They must wait. Perhaps I will be Castor to them. Still, she is not poor company. I wait patiently, though I do not respond with the same pleasantness she does. It is simply not me. Perhaps the bones in my tail are rigid, who would know? It does not wave. It has no reason to. My words should assure her well enough that I do not intend to chase her away. Still, I do my best to relax my muscles, easing my posture and relaxing my gaze as I settle it away from her eyes. When she sighs, however, my eyes return instantly to her own. It is a sound of exasperation, perhaps even agitated for some reason unbeknownst to me.

"Another matter?" I question her with little time between our breaths, shifting my weight perhaps a little defensively out of habit. I cannot help but narrow my eyes wearily, watching her closely as I take a step forward, seeing if there is some hidden threat behind that other matter. "Perhaps... we should first discuss it."

After all, I am curious. An alliance, surely, would be beneficial in time but... I must understand this other purpose. Was it a promise to the old king? Some remnant of his rulership? If it is, perhaps I want it too.