Stone's Throw

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis's tail lashes with pent-up feelings, but he holds steady, slowly rubbing his son's back gently. "There, there," he manages gruffly. 

[NPCs]

Cadmus watched this with somber eyes. "Set him here," he finally said. "Fetch your brother for dinner, you can speak after, neh?"

[Adonis Naodi]

"I don't have a brother," he says stiffly. "But I will send a runner for the Keeper."

[NPCs]

Cadmus let out a tch as he shook his head slightly. "In my room, you do," he murmured gently. 

[Adonis Naodi]

"I expect no leniency or special favors from him, nor do I expect any special favors for the boy being... of my blood," he manages, still rubbing Andreas' back. 

[NPCs]

 So this is about Andreas. That is... not good. At all. Oh Don... Cadmus shifted, wishing he had the strength to reach out and pull his boy into a hug. My boy. "Ah. Don... he's not legally of the Tribe," he pointed out gently.

[Adonis Naodi]

"His victim was."

[NPCs]

You didn't tell me who it was, though I suspected she was one of us. "Still. This cannot be handled internally," he clarified. 

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis' nostrils flare. "The Keeper will handle all that."

[NPCs]

"You are our link to the outside," Cadmus reminded him, a hint of rebuke in his voice.

[Adonis Naodi]

"I must recuse myself, of course I must," he snaps, tail lashing. 

[NPCs]

Cadmus studied Don silently, expression grave but nonjudgmental. 

[Adonis Naodi]

"...the boy was under my care when the incident occurred. I am to be punished as well." Now his tail really lashes, but he grabs it in his paw and stills it -- a bad sign if he can't control his own tail.

[NPCs]

Cadmus clicked his tongue. "It's not a punishment..." He sighed, eyes closing briefly. "Call for Miki. Speak with him first, find a path forward. I'll watch over the boy," he concluded gruffly, gesturing in the direction of the sofa, which happened to be in easy view of Cadmus from his bed.

[Adonis Naodi]

"Good. Ensure that he does not leave this room." And then Don is gone, fleeing into the afternoon sunlight.