The Other Witch; Honor among Wolves

Hack had a nice little ship, there was no questioning it.  Cushiony seating, tinted windows, showers that worked, and most importantly of all, locking doors.  It wasn't as though Salvia was worried they'd do anything, Hack seemed fundamentally above such things and their new found, wolfish friend seemed both highly principled, it was just that she felt safer knowing that the door wouldn't just open for anyone.
But for all that the ship still felt like it was missing something.  She was sitting in the lounge,  looking out across the vacuum of space, pondering the sensation when the answer came to her.
"In all my studies of Old Cloak and his adventures, I always assumed that his ship was..bigger."
Salvia wasn't startled, Ga-Vok didn't have the advantage of retractable claws like Jaguans did.  But even if the floor had been made of dirt or snow she'd have known he was coming.  He hid his thoughts as well as any she'd ever encountered, save Father Krell and Hack, but she could still detect the patterns of it; slow and deliberate as they were.  It was like hearing a chanted hymn as you walked by a church; she didn't know the words, but she certainly knew the tone.
"You've hoped for this moment all your life, haven't you?"
"My people have never been represented well over the ages, and even now it is more likely that a shaman seeks his own power over the good of others.  Old Cloak has always sought out the best of us, and shown our more worthy side to those who would watch.  It is a great honor to travel with him."
"Is that the only reason you chose to come?"
"No, but it would have been enough.  And even were Old Cloak's goals such that they held me back from my own, I would still follow."
Salvia knew she wasn't going to get much more of his goals, but she did feel comforted by the implication that his goals did indeed line up with their current objectives.  She hesitated and then asked one of the other questions that had been on her mind.
"Why do you call him that?"
"Who?  Old Cloak?"
"Yes, when I met him he told me to call him Hack.  I know it isn't his real name but Old Cloak isn't anymore than a name than 'Axe guy' or.."
"Spider Witch?  Cleanhand?  What would you call yourself if your name was what you truly were?  That is why I call him Old Cloak, it is who he is.  He may wear another's cloak, but the burden of his own still weighs heavily upon him."
Salvia looked down and noticed the white, needlepoint spiderweb she emblazoned all of her robes with.  It was really just their to make what was otherwise just a regular, women's medium, black robe look more witchy.
"And what are you?  Ga-Vok philosophy student?"
"Scholar.  I graduated from the Academy some years ago, but have stayed on to use the library and study more advanced techniques with those instructors willing to provide me with their time.  My name is Braga, of  the Blowing Leaves Clan.  And I have not yet earned a," he made a sound like he was sneezing backwards, then a short yowl, Salvia knew only enough Ga-Vok to know it was a word and not an injury.  He paused and continued, seeing her confused expression.  "I believe the closest word you have is 'title'.  It is much more than that, but there is no proper translation of the concept."
"Ah."
"So then, now that I have introduced myself, I believe the traditions of your people..."
"Right," she extended a handshake, politely if hastily, "Salvia Hex, Witch-Errant."
Braga took her hand in his own.  It was rougher, but more padded than that of a man, but she was relieved to find that the claws were far less sharp than they appeared.  "It is an honor to meet you Miss Hex.  You probably are not aware of how much good you have done for my clan."
"I have no recollection of your clan whatsoever, if you'll pardon my ignorance."
"Some years ago you investigated the disappearance of a young whelp named Shano.  Your findings prevented considerable disgrace from falling upon the Blowing Leaves Clan."
"If I remember correctly, Shano was disintegrated by a rather bigoted mage.  How exactly did that prevent disgrace?"
The full case had actually been rather more complex.  She'd only even been involved because his young sister had shown up on the doorstep of the local witch's guild crying hysterically about how her brother had abandoned her, mistaking the covenhouse for a police station.  The attendant witch had begun to panic herself, neither speaking Ga-Vok nor being sure whether to report it to the police or go looking for a fully grown Ga-Vok warrior in the dead of night.  Salvia had been in town, she couldn't quite remember why, only that there had been a lot of pasta sauce, porcupines, and a tribe of very small people who communicated by making clicking noises, and was quickly assigned the case.  After hiring a translator, she'd discovered only where he'd last been and that it was unthinkable for a Ga-Vok to leave a female relative unattended in a strange land, especially a young female relative.  Long story short, rascism, occult activities, she'd had to shoot the mage, and the little Ga-Vok girl turned out to be...Oh, that's where he got the disgrace part from.
"Oh right, cause he was a prince or whatsit?"
"The son of the Chieftan, but you grasp the concept.  Not actually the cause of disgrace though, had he been alive and abandoned his young sister he would have been shirking his duties and casting the values of our people into the gutter.  Instead you displayed that he was honorably defeated by a wielder of power beyond his own."
"He was disintegrated, how is that honorable?"
"He did not forsake his duty, even when it was in his best interest to flee.  It is expected of all warriors, including those of your own people."
"I guess.  Never really cared much for honor myself."
"And yet you are known to my people as a one who possesses it.  Perhaps you will come to know this better in the coming days."  Braga rose and departed.  Salvia turned back to the stars and whispered a prayer that she'd never have to meet an 'honorable death' herself.