Lake Danson: Louki wasn't certain whether Cu Sith was a friend or foe, so he kept his features neutral.

Louki wasn't certain whether Cu Sith was a friend or foe, so he kept his features neutral.

Posted by Louki on February 1, 2008, 8:17 pm, in reply to "It was clear that Louki was one for words."
216.100.234.2

What had he meant, "icon?" Louki didn't quite know whether the word was intended as an insult or a compliment -- or perhaps both. In fact, Louki didn't quite know what to make of this whole peculiar encounter. On the one hand, he did sense in Cu Sith that same sort of derision he had felt upon entering the Kuna packlands; on the other, that feeling seemed to extend to Louki himself. Maybe this beastly little hunchback was simply so jaded that he hated everyone and everything, regardless of whether or not it agreed with you.

And Louki did, of course. In fact, Louki was almost relieved by the hyena's sarcastic tone, extolling, as it was, an alpha male for whom Louki had not the slightest modicum of respect. It was clear, too, that Cu Sith had no intention of meekly following Taboo's command; something about this creature suggested that he wasn't the type to bear his throat so easily.

"Delightful, was it?" Louki asked, grinning. Two could play at his game. "I'd call it extraordinary. In fact, as soon as I stumbled onto Kuna ground, I felt as if I had somehow rediscovered my childhood. It does have that affect." Louki nodded, sagely. "In fact... I felt so at home that, well, I think I'd like to make it mine."

It was a listless musing, simply an idle observation, but the underlying intention was there: Louki wanted Kuna for himself. He wanted to weasel his way into Taboo's favor, undermine his authority, and then, when the alpha was least expected it -- he'd pounce. It was not explicitly implied, nor would his impenetrable features betray what lay beneath, but anyone with a keen enough mind and a knack for subterfuge would grasp Louki's meaning.

Louki was not sure whether Cu Sith would understand, though he suspected the beast was intelligent enough to do so -- if he wanted. And even if he did understand, there was no guarantee that he would be on Louki's side. For all Louki knew, the hyena would seek out Taboo and encourage him to attack should Louki ever set foot on Kuna territory again.