Björn never expected any of this, it seems the gods have a weird sense of humor these days. Their first meeting had been, rough to put it nicely. She had acted like a spoiled Tinuvel princess, spitting angry words and somersaulting down dunes in act of defiance. But now, he can see there is more to her.

A smirk touches his lips as she reacts with an eye roll to his brash words. His glacial eyes glimmer as she then asks if he wants her to stay here. How could he not? Despite their initial meeting, he can feel an attraction to her. He can not explain it, he desires to be nearer to her, to hear her voice even when it is laced with sarcasm. He can not explain the feeling. He turns his bone white skull away from her, just for a brief moment, letting the silence fill the space between them. But he does not make her wait more than a breath before he answers the question.

"Yes, Tavas," he breathes as he returns his glacial eyes to her dark chocolate gaze. "I want you to stay here, with me," he confides, his voice full of emotion. Was it selfish? For him to want her here? The words of Nampeyo, linger, despite the fact that they were lies spit from the lips of a viper.

The tinder moment passes as she becomes defensive, causing the hairs along Björn's spine to bristle. "Tavas, I don't expect an apology, and you are correct. I would of came for you, as long as you wanted me to," he admits aloud. The warrior lifts his head proudly, he would fight for her. He has no fear of the battle, it is a warrior's way, to fight for your home, for those you love.

His ears perk as she thanks him, in this moment, he dares to reach his lips across the space that separates them. His lips linger on the supple curve of her neck, just long enough to feel the life that vibrates her golden skin, before he retreats. "You will always have choice," he says in hushed tones, only loud enough for her ears.

I want to go home. Her words hang heavily in the air but he can see that she has more to say. She wants to return to see her mother, not to the Cove. He can feel his heart thud wildly against his ribs. She wants to stay here in the Ridge. He listens and quietly contemplates her words, and knew this was the time to tell her.

"Tavas, it is not my war. I have withdrawn my support and I have angered Warsaw in the process. I know there will be retaliation, natural consequences for my decision," he pauses, knowing the pain of missing his own mother. How could he ever allow her to feel the same way? "But I did it for you, for all of us... You may return to the Inlet, and remain there as long as you need," he says finally.

"If anyone threatens to hurt you or use you... " he growls, as he thinks of Warsaw. He would not put it past the aging Inlet King to use Tavas for his own selfish retribution.