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"As the ball you say? A pity, it couldn't have been very aerodynamic... A shame about the poor burnt book. I wonder, did he break anything when the bases moved?"

Unable to hold back his snort of amusement, he questions, "How often do his antics hurt his friends and family? ...Or really, how often do his antics make others want to hurt him?"

Touda just shook his head with a sigh, "It sounds like you have a very interesting family. Insane perhaps. But interesting."

Going silent, Touda stayed completely still for a long moment before choosing to speak again. "I was dropped off at the pound before my memories begin. I don't remember living anywhere except at a pound, regardless of how many times I was moved. I never knew a family, let alone my own." Pausing, Touda gazed at the books in the young kit's paws for a moment before continuing, "I learned to read instead of collecting, since I never took anything with me except the clothes on my back each time I moved."

"Now I spend my time as a grounds keeper for this particular pound, the one that finally took me permanently when I became a teen." He smiled faintly. "It is the closest place to a home that I've ever had."

Stilled again when her paw came to rest on his arm, although few would notice due to his natural stillness. Thinking back as far as he could remember, he couldn't remember a single instance of another wayward touching him willingly. Wondered absently if she knew how lucky she was to have even an adopted family. "You're young enough to have a chance to bond with other Waywards your own age yet. If you're not caught talking to the 'resident monster' too often," He stated simply, even as he hoped that she would catch the insinuation that he wouldn't mind talking to her once in a while.

Caught off guard by Iun's vehement reaction - especially based on her first, rather stereotypical, reaction to him - Touda's coils bunched together tighter, creating a dull rustling sound as the scales rubbed against each other. Stilling once again as she reached forward.

Opening his claws when he realized exactly what the kit was trying to do with her own, he was once again baffled by this kit's lack of fear concerning him. Silent for a moment, he finally murmured, "There are few who would agree that I'm not a monster... But I will not drive you away. Few have the courage to be near me long, let alone speak to me."

Eying the young fox as he spoke, he felt certain that eventually someone would convince her that he was too dangerous to be around. But until that happened, at least he wouldn't be lonely.

Touched by Iun's naming him a friend, Touda considered her. "Maybe they are, but neither they nor I will ever know."

As he looked down at her, he made a sudden decision to include another book in the delivery for her the next morning. As well as all the other books of creatures and myths, he would include the book that included the hellfire serpent as well. Even though it would likely take a while for her to find the information buried within all the rest, he was positive that she would locate it eventually. Then she would know what type of creature she was calling a friend, and he would see if her friendship could withstand the knowledge he'd never shared with anyone else. "It is nice to have someone to speak to... Who's main goal isn't to speak quickly so they can leave as quick as they can. But, it would be a good idea to try to befriend some of the other children here. You're not the only new one here, and many of them would appreciate a chance to make a new friend as well."

"There are a lot of children, with many different personalities. There are teens and adults as well. Hundreds of Waywards call this pound home. Odds are that there is another somewhere that feels the same way you do," He mused, a small smile quirking his lips at the look on Iun's face.