"I mean it." He turned the ball in his hands, then tossed it back, gentle and persistent. "I have a whole clan but I was left mostly alone after my parents died. I had to sort myself out and isolated myself for a while, which made it hard to get back into anyone's good graces but... but it worked out eventually."

He shook his head, tilting his head to show the scars on his face. "Maybe had to get squished by a big rock, but hey, the shock value worked in my favor."