Painted ears flicked forward, and her icy gaze found the gentle giant once more. Hearing him speak of his original pack was… intriguing. What a fascinating way to see the world, placing such weight upon the stars and their stories. Doctrine, he called it. What else did it proclaim? Would she be able to witness his path as he walked it? The thought warmed her. She liked the idea of learning from him as he grew and discovered, of offering her own insights in return. A fair exchange, she thought.

But then he spoke of a pack, and a faint frown tugged at her maw, her tail swaying behind her with unease. Packlife. It had never been kind to her. Too many lacked the patience to tolerate her silence, to endure the clumsy gaps in her communication. Her voice was lost, leaving her far too easy to overlook.

Still… he had a path to follow, and she would never keep him from it. The question was whether she could walk it beside him. Could she endure the discomfort of packlife if it meant staying at his side?

She stared into his molten gaze, her own unblinking, as the questions swirled inside her. Was he worth it?

Her mind wandered briefly to her only other choice: remain alone, wandering endlessly through strange lands. Was the sting of packlife heavier than the weight of solitude?

Devika chewed her bottom lip, considering. She could always leave if it became unbearable. But if she turned him away now, would the chance to join him ever come again?

Resolve sparked in her eyes. She gave him a firm nod, then moved toward him with deliberate steps. Circling him, she pressed herself along his side, rubbing her scent into his fur—claiming him as hers, and in turn, binding herself to him. Together.

A playful nip found his broad shoulder, her blue eyes lifting to meet his, alight with both amusement and a lingering unease.