He was indeed mad if he thought he could kill Zelda so easy. She wasn’t the little dainty thing many thought her as. She had learned to fight from an assassin after all, and it had been rough… rigorous training when they had met. What had he been trained by? Put through. Of course she never had yet to use these skills she had sought out, there hadn’t been a reason too. Yet. She had confidence in herself though, and Teza who was along with her. She didn’t want this to come down to a brutal fight. Words would decide this, she was certain they could come to an agreement, even if it sickened her slightly that it played with the lives of innocents. She would rescue them all though. Somehow… someway she would see that it was done.

Her eyes had gone to Aspis, watching him, giving him an encouraging soft smile and a look that from the bottom of her heart tried to convey how, proud she supposed she was on him in way. He was a strong pup, Zelda didn’t think Blackthorne was giving him enough credit either. He was Aster and Halcyon’s boy after all. It would take more than just threats and a little pushing around to break him. Zelda knew his weakness very likely was the fact he had to stand up for the others more so than not. She would have felt the same in his position and she was sure they would in his too. But she didn’t see them, see the hardened look in their eyes, the determination that seemed to still light up in his eyes like a beacon. He might not feel it now, but not all was hopeless. He gave her a glace and it was all she needed to solidify her iron will.

She would do this. Blackthorne might have thought he had her in a bind, but she wasn’t done yet.

He seemed to have noticed though that she had a reaction to his words. She knew he was speaking half truths through that grey maw of his. Picking his words carefully as to not lie, but not tell the whole of the truth. Two could certainly play it that game, yet Zelda felt her teeth grit in her maw in frustration. She couldn’t call him out on it. As much as she wanted to, it was a delicate matter and there was only one goal in her mind now. Cut her losses. Perhaps he might not give up all three, but Zelda wasn’t about to give him all he wanted either. Those wolves he wanted her to cut ties with where her blood, her family. She could not do so even if he wanted it beyond anything else. There was much she would give to get them back, but she couldn’t do the impossible. Still she didn’t give up hope that it would all work out somehow.

Teza stood silently in the back. He was a bit stunned at Zelda’s, well, boldness. He wasn’t sure if he could have stood up, risked their lives as casually as that. She didn’t step to far, and the big brown and gold brute thought she must be better at reading wolves than he. His eyes were set in a sad, though hardened gaze, taking in everything that was said and memorizing the words and actions as best he could with what had happened. His gaze also went to Aspis, knowing while he was no blood of his he was still a wolf of Moladion who did not deserve such a cruel thing thrust on him. It was frustrating feeling like he could do nothing, the child so close but so far from rescue though his ears twiched at Blackthorne’s rebuttle and Zelda too seemed to listen intently.

”He was desperate. You’d be surprised what wolves do when they want something badly. More the reason to allow me to take what would make them unpredictable off your paws. And his mother… heartbroken, and young. Tp lose some of the only family she had left to the world after her parents were so harshly taken from her as a child. Then you do the same to her. I wonder how far her desperation to save her children form a horror she had to live would drive her too. Obviously she thought better of her rash decision seeing as nothing came of it later. Perhaps she even felt remorse.” Doubtful… Zelda thought, but Aster had to have some reason for not acting on her words. She thought over something, realized it might not have been the best thing to do for her pack doing that. There was no time to think on that now. ”Sometimes wolves will do unreasonable things, when hurt enough, because they are tired of it and want to fight and make it disappear.” Zelda said easily, her voice not rising, simply meeting his words with her own. She did not his, smirk, move and thrash about as he did. She was a calm presence, simply stating things maybe he didn’t know or have the heart to actually feel. ”Not everyone is as mature as we are. Life made us this way.” She said, attempting to empathize with him. She had no idea what his life had been like to drive him to do something like this, but she was trying hard to understand it too. Not that she thought she could, but generally speaking, yes… Aspis was fine he did keep his word. Even if he hurt Aspis when he ‘deserved it’ there were no deep wounds, but she wondered how the mental ones were starting to add up too. For all of them. All the reason to see this come to an end.

Finally he seemed to have some give. She wanted them all, but he did retract part of what he wanted. It still made her stomach twist. Two… not all of them. An apologetic look touched her eyes and maw as she looked to Aspis before turning her gaze and giving a firm nod. ”You have a deal. I will not move against you, or help this White King you speak of. I see no need to get in the squabble you two apparently have against one another.” Actually she was very curious why he disliked this wolf so. Zelda was supposed to meet him, but it had been too late. By the time she had a chance he had been removed from Asteraia, and disappeared. Probably for this reason. ”May I have a word with the boy though? He knows who I should better choose to take home to Taviora.” She knew the answer Aspis would give. The girls, anyone but him, but it gave her a chance she couldn't let the dark brute know that she was familiar with him either. She had other words to say to him. Though she knew his parents and was blood with them, with him Zelda didn’t want this king to know that. She didn’t want Aspis to give up hope. He would get out of this mess too. She wanted to promise him that.