He was not thinking clearly for if he was he would have known not to ask his age nor ask how many pups there were. He knew his mistake the moment his son glanced at him with query, yet the lad did not question him about it. He only answered the second inquiry before being consumed by worry for his pup. It was compelling, the love his son had for his daughter and Leo basked in it for the time as his eyes committed to memory every shade of color that painted his son’s powerful chassis.
His mouth then moved again and internally Leo kicked himself. He just could not stop asking his son questions, but he wanted…no needed to know about him. He desperately sought a connection, a reason to stay, an excuse to leave, that he did not know what to do with himself. So he did the easy thing. He walked with his son and sought the plant, his ears twitching as the words rushed to him upon a great sigh. Distemper. He does not look at his son directly, instead focused on the surface of the earth as he chewed over this new piece of knowledge.
”How does one catch this…distemper?” There is a slight bite to these words as the rage that boils within his chest hisses and steams. The very air about his son screamed helplessness and it rubbed Leo wrong. He did not like to see blood of his blood in such a state and it caused his composure to tilt slightly. If his son told him that distemper was a contagious disease, that his granddaughter caught this from another, then he was very likely to go on a murderous streak. He would seek out the individual responsible and gut them. He would scatter their organs to the ends of this land and dance within their blood. He would not grant them a proper burial, nor would he honor them with a quick death. Teeth clench as these thoughts run rampant within his mind, his consciousness barely able to lease the deadly emotion. That is until he spots the plant the boy was seeking.
The energy that rushes forth is unsettling yet very welcome as he watches his son unroot the plant. He does not offer to help him release the vegetation from the earth, as Leo is content to merely watch him. For wolf of his size it is interesting to watch him bestow such gentleness to a weed. And so he stared until his seed once again met his gaze. Gratitude fell off of him in waves and Leo merely nodded the verbal platitude away. ”It was my pleasure to help you.” And oddly enough it was his pleasure. Rising he gives his body a quick shake before stretching out his limbs. He did not even remember sitting, such was the power of his son, yet it mattered little. It provided him a moment to contemplate the pause, to wonder if he should leave right then for he had heard the suspicion that had laced his son’s words. His son. He should really ask him his name. ”You best be on you way. Heal that pup of yours.” Mustering a smile he turns to leave, hoping that the boy would pass on the message to his mother. Yet it was in that moment the boy spoke once again, this time with such command that Leo reacted….
Tail rises as Leo spins to face his son, his whole composure taking a complete 180 from relaxed to hostile. His fur bristles as he stalks forward until face to face with the pup, eyes narrowed in rage as he glared into optics that mirrored his own. Loner he may be, but he suffered none commanding him except his Dragon. Only she reserved the right regale him with orders. ”Who are you to impose your will on me whelp?” The words come out a low growl as his lips quiver, his fangs visible as saliva begins to gather. ”It matters not who I am, yet you will show me the proper respect I’m due as your elder.” Energy pulses through his body as he restrains it from lunging, every fibre of his being quivering with restrained blood lust. He wished not to hurt him, desired not to war, yet Leo would if the boy did not back down. Oh if the lad so much as growled Leo would show him that age lent experience and he would proceed to tear into him like he was nothing more than another wolf in the woods.