Drogon has always been the most like him despite the lack of shared blood. While each of his children shared characteristics of the wolf that he hoped would one day be able to assist them in gaining notoriety and power where they wished, it was Drogon who he felt most drawn to. Rougaru did not miss the hard glares that Annubis had earned when he brought back the fiery mare of Tinuvel. It was only later that Rougaru learned this was Solomon’s daughter. If it were not for the obvious attraction that burned between the two, he might have set forward a few tactics himself to teach the Tinuvel king a lesson or two. It amused the beast to think that Solomon was forced to sit on his shores and fume over the fact that his daughter was off in Paradise and there was nothing he could do about it. He had yet to corner Annubis long enough to gain an explanation as to how she came to being here with him but that would have to remain a mystery a while longer. Akela too had his attention held firmly by Bathsheba but Rougaru could not decide how exactly he felt about that pairing. The girl was of Himena’s bloodline and the pale mare had been notorious for reacting before she thought. Perhaps coupled with Akela’s more reserved nature it would make for a feasible duo, but for now, it was another wound to Drogon.

Rougaru knew Vanya’s return would be a difficult pill for his adopted son to swallow. It was hard for himself too, for he had not quite figured out what it was that possessed him or the wolf to give her the role of Drappa that she had so long vied for. Perhaps it was the heat of the moment? Or maybe she had indeed become a witch and weaved some spells or summons on him in the seasons that he had been apart from her. Whatever the reason was, now that the heat of fall no longer hung like a heavy haze over his head, Rougaru was beginning to wonder if bringing Vanya back was not a regret, regardless of how deeply the wolf longed for her. She made life interesting that was for sure.

But now he had Drogon’s full attention. Like himself when father had come to him with requests and words of wisdom, there is a sense of suspicion in the boy’s eye, despite the smile that graced his dark lips. As his words broke, the dejection in Drogon’s eyes is enough to soften his heart and risk Valka’s wrath just to keep him close. ’No!’ the wolf snarled. ’This must happen!’ he growled, the venom and decisiveness enough to quell the soft empathy that threatened his own decision. Jaded eyes meet those of his adopted son, noting the hardness in the clench of his russet jaw and the emotionless expression that drifts across his handsome face. Small ears flex backwards as he stiffens beneath Drogon’s steady gaze. ”This is not a punishment I assure you.” he murmurs, his voice quiet as though he feared the very jungle might be listening to the plan he had laid so carefully out in his mind. ”I trust this task to no one but you.” he murmurs, stretching his head forward to once more bump his muzzle companionably against the boy’s brown shoulder. ”I trust you to make this happen when I cannot. My faith in your abilities is absolute.” he continues on, his voice lingering as a smile turns up his lips into that wolfish grin once more. ”The success of this mission will see you as one of my heirs. Of that, you can be assured.” he adds.