Taryn said, " Intimidation? then I must be strong and not show signs of weakness before them. Meet them assertively but with no aggression. I must..." she did a double take as his words sunk into her brain.<br/><br/>"A mate from beyond the wall? Are there other Hume located in the Warren?" she asked, dumbfounded.<br/><br/>Raschen crossed his arms, his ears standing up, alert, scanning her face.<br/><br/>"You mean to find a mate among the Beastkin? This can not be. Animals and Hume do not mate. It is abomination. A Hume that would stoop to mate with a Beastkin would be relegated to the Denizen. I am a Talent and sit on the Council. The Elders would call for my death as an example to any who dared step out of the natural order of life." Taryn was horrified. Both at the thought of choosing a mate from among the Beastkin and at the consequences of such an action.<br/><br/>The Kuguar's ears fell back.<br/><br/>Taryn bit her lip and said thoughtfully, "But if mating with a Beastki"n could happen. I would like to be aligned with the Kuguar and if I could choose, and don't take this wrong, I know you are dedicated to your people. but if I could choose, I would choose someone like you