There was a wolf in Asteraia, Kaliban thought, who scrambled up to the lower branches of trees too. Only, he never looked quite as content or relaxed as the Taviorian boy did. It made Kaliban think that maybe they were related somehow, but the colours were all wrong, and if they were related, why was the Taviorian boy, well, Taviorian? As far as Kaliban knew, wolves of Asteraia didn’t stray far from the pack, and they certainly didn’t leave to join other packs. As Niyol watched him with suspicion, Kaliban watched right back with a combination of fascination and uncertainty. It was instinctual, after all, to be uncertain towards new things, especially new things that threatened your way of seeing the world. Only, Kaliban didn’t know his way of seeing things had even been threatened. He just knew that he felt the tiniest thrum in the pit of his heart and a quiet plead that he’d at least get a bone or some meat to chew on to chase the feeling away.

When Niyol mentioned the brown girl, Kaliban snorted. Well, that had been a fast way to chase away that uncertainty! At least, in a way. Instead, Kaliban was amused then. The only brown girl in Asteraia was Menkhet – everybody else was older, or a boy. Didn’t the Taviorian boy know not to go near Menkhet, especially if she was in Asteraia or near the borders? It was common knowledge among the wolves of Asteraia that she had quite a wicked way of playing with others - even Kaliban had been toyed with by her! Of course, he didn’t mind so much but he had learned the appropriate cautions quickly. Didn’t other packs know that kind of thing? That there was always somebody at the top, and if it wasn’t you then you ought to know when and where to approach? Truly, he was bewildered. He blinked and shook his head, both to bring himself back to the conversation and to tell the boy a firm ‘no.’

"No, I came because I smelt you near her scent. I thought it was strange – she doesn’t usually go with other wolves.” And why would Kaliban have any reason to believe she had chased him off, or that he had run away? He had been less interested in the pawprints and more the scents, and besides, it was normal to chase one another anyway...

In any case, the boy seemed reassured and no sooner, he had changed completely. Kaliban blinked, a little taken aback by how suddenly he could change at all. He had gone from distant and suspicious to...friendly? Kaliban supposed it was friendliness. He didn’t really understand the idea of being a prankster extraordinaire or a hiding place expert, but he understood the tone and body language, nonetheless. He grinned, his own tail giving a hesitant shake behind him. Strange, strange new things.

"Well, I’m...” He paused for a moment, brows furrowed. Usually, his family didn’t give their names - at least, Menkhet and Bastet didn’t. Even their mother never shared hers, and he knew their father only truly as ‘father.’ Was it okay to give his name? He eyed Niyol for a moment and then shrugged. "I’m Kaliban.” He had no other titles, and he thought better of sharing much more until...later, maybe. Later when he understood things better.

"You were talking about ‘bones to pick’ though,” he remembered, and he immediately grinned a more honest grin. "If that girl was chasing you, you didn’t take any bones from Asteraia, did you? I’m usually good at hiding the one’s I want to finish, so if you took some, I won’t be mad. I’ll just hide them better next time.” In truth, he would be a little mad, but not mad enough to do much about it. Kaliban had to learn to be smarter if he wanted to navigate living in Asteraia without relying on his family or their positions. He wasn’t an heir, after all, so he wouldn’t have that benefit forever...and, in truth, he didn’t want to rely on Menkhet forever either. Sometimes, she made him a little anxious, or a little...unsure, like Niyol had.