WHAT GOES UP MUST COME D[O]WN + ressurection/joining

[number nine.]

This kid's attitude sure was... unique. Number Nine knew that it wasn't exactly unusual, for a kid all on their own to act all tough and macho to hide any negative emotions they may be feeling inside. Hell, he had done that when he was younger, within his old group of new strangers after having escaped from the research facility that held him. He had been in a clan of vicious brutes and murderers, and he had just been a kid, without any parents or anybody to lean back on. Eventually he had gotten Lewis, yes, but before that he had just been... alone. It was because of that loneliness that he had ended up yearning for power, lashing out at others and trying to train himself to be an ultimate warrior. It had all just been a defense mechanism, meant to make him feel safe even as everything seemed to be falling apart around him. Of course, he liked himself far better the way that he was now – happy, free, and not on a constant search for some source of unlimited power. His skills as a bounty hunter and warrior came from within him, and not from some false mask he put on to be around others.

The jaguar also knew that trying to confront the kid about this cover would be a useless activity hellbent towards failure. He had never been willing to admit what he was hiding behind when he was younger, and he doubted that Tsekani would be willing to admit it either. So, he decided to move past it for now. If Tsekani said that he didn't have any parents, then he didn't have any parents – which meant that he needed others around to make sure he stayed safe. Others like those within Palmclan, and Number Nine himself. Chuckling a bit as he acknowledged this, Nine flicked one of his broad wings in the direction of Palmclan's camp, saying with a small smile, "Well... if you're here to join Palmclan, then I don't see a reason why you shouldn't be able to. After all, you'll be safer around here, rather than wandering around." The warrior didn't really think that the Twisted Forest was as mysterious and dark as some made it out to be, but it still wasn't the place for a cub. Tilting his head to one side, Nine then questioned, "Before we lead you back to camp, though... you got a name? Cause if not, we'll just have to keep calling you kid." It was pretty clear Tsekani wouldn't like that, so hopefully it would motivate him to speak up.

HELLBENT ON MAKING YOU LOVE ME TOO