Firefly Glen crashing out into the noise

iliksis followed the gesture of drogon's paw, his gaze focused on the crawling expanse of bare trees and splintered rocks in the distance. he would not go much further than the glen, that much he knew was true -- all his life, he had avoided packs for reasons drogon was only on the cusp of deciphering: there was something innate about his nature that made him uniquely unsuitable for cohabitation.

it occured to iliksis that as close as they were to packs, it was so cold in the valley it would take several days for meat to sour and a corpse to attract attention. the cold did not conduct scent well, nor did it facilitate decomposition -- iliksis had worked under such conditions before, and favored them strongly.

iliksis deliberated his choices. drogon was presently too healthy to challenge, though iliksis dearly coveted the bright, almost sapphire-like gleam of the boy's gaze. if he had not just eaten (and if the evidence was not so plain on his muzzle) he might have invited the boy to a hunt in which some sad and tragic accident could have happened, and iliksis would have made out with two new eyes to bolster his collection.

such thoughts were simply thoughts - iliksis had no intention of following them into fruition yet. "that is good to know." he offered simply. he was not by nature a loquacious critter. "you belong.. to.. the one to the west?" iliksis drew this conclusion only because it had been the first the male favored - often, individuals betrayed their allegiences in small perceptible ways, and iliksis had spent his life studying them. it was possible his assumption was wrong. "your name?"