He was confused to say the least. He had never expected to come upon his imprint in this manner... in truth, he never expected to find her. In all his years, in all his wanderings, he had never come upon one that affected him in the way this masked beauty had. She is cautious, confused even as he approaches. No doubt his large brawny frame and piercing yellow gold eyes had something to do with that. He had that affect on others, especially when he was alone. Grant it as of lately, he had had Zarah at his side which seemed to soften and smooth over the fierceness that he often personified.

His sharp eyes does not miss the shifting of her weight of the nervousness in which her brilliant red eyes flit back and forth from him to the group that lingers nearby, all but forgotten in his eyes in this moment. She is all that he sees. In that moment when first his eyes fell upon her, she became everything to his soul. The once hardened core melted like ice beneath the touch of fire, disappearing in an instant.

Her petite crown dips now as she speaks again, reaffirming his first assessment. She was new here, which explained a bit of her nervousness. Her name. Leilani... "beautiful..." he murmurs, letting that roguish smile ghost across his whiskered maw. He seats himself now, resisting the urge to draw closer, to feel the softness of her tan colored fur. Instead, he is content for now to simply know that she is safe with him there to watch over her and ensure her safety. His long black tail curls across his large paws as the male continues to eye her, curious and intrigued. "I hope you do not mind..." he continues, pausing for a moment to meet her intriguing eyes once more. "You feel it too.... don't you?" he asks, for once his graveled tones wavering in their delivery, in his insecurity. If she wanted him to leave her alone... he did not know if he could. He would give her the space she required, whatever was enough to make her happy and yet he did not know that he could leave her unprotected... unguarded... it was the pull of fate.

Inwardly his heart baulked. Confused. Zarah had been his companion since first he had come upon these lands. She was beautiful with her russet red coat and soft cream colored undertones. Her eyes, a brilliant teal stood a stark contrast to the world around her. Even now the thought of her tugged at his heartstrings. He longed for her and for the sense of home that being with her provided. And yet, in this moment, his soul called to Leilani who in every way seemed to be polar opposites of his dove. Where Zarah was sure of herself and handled all that was before them with keen interest and self reassurance, Leilani seemed insecure and nervous. Where Zarah needed no protection, his soul demanded he guard and protect the beautiful masked female before him. For once, his soul was alive and it was in confliction with his own heart.

"How long have you been here?" he inquired, curious to learn as much about her as he possibly could. Desperate to quell the confusion that challenged inside him.