Wheeling Gull Isle our professional relationship doesn't exist on this island

There were two newcomers, only one of which Ying had met. She didn't mind Hua's recruitment efforts (she actually encouraged them) but it was difficult not to wonder where this newfound friendliness with the foreigners had come from. Nuka was less of a surprise; she had washed up on the shores, rather than having been sought out. By Ying's knowledge, that was not the case with the three-legged boy (@Orochi).

The guardian rose from her afternoon nap and began to track his scent. He needed to be evaluated before any bit of her trust could be extended. Low barks sounded through the wood as she trotted, tail high and hackles on a lift.

For the first couple of days, Orochi could tolerate this place for two reasons: food and shelter. The luxury of eating whenever he pleased was great and he was able to rest his leg (or lack thereof) without worrying about something jumping him. After those first days gone by, Orochi began to see the island for what it truly was: horrible. It smelled gross, and the constant sound of waves crashing on land drove him crazy. It was too crowded here too. He couldn't go five minutes without smelling some new scent. He didn't know what was worse; stumbling around the world or being here. Oh well, at least he wasn't starving.

Orochi was laying against a tree, picking at his leg stub when he heard barks from afar. He ignored them at first, but as they grew louder he lifted his head and growled. Will you shut up already!? he called out into the trees. Maybe that would scare them off from wherever they were.

Orochi's first impression could have been better. She fell silent and listened to pinpoint his location. A low growl bubbled in her chest, popped in her throat, as she made haste to see his lounging body. Ying spoke through body language — watch your tone. — as she looked at him, sea-glass eyes examining the stump he'd been grooming.

A wolf without their fourth leg was defenseless, right? Ying wondered why he felt so comfortable speaking with such conviction when unable to bear the consequences. The guardian did not move to attack but kept her teeth bared, wondering how he might respond.

The woods fell silent. For a second he thought his yelling had worked, but then he heard some growling and incoming footsteps. A woman, more pale than the last, burst through the trees. Her stance hit a nerve within him. Orochi snarled, rose up, and leaned against the tree for support. Not the smartest move, but he felt like it was something that needed to be done. He wasn't going to look weak anymore.

Orochi breathed in the air around them and recoiled. It smelled just like the ocean, but much stronger and worse. You fucking smell like shit.

He stood and leaned against the tree, inadvertently inviting Ying closer. Everyone on the island smelled like shit— including Orochi! She wondered how he hadn't been able to smell himself and wondered if his nose was broken, too. Either way, it didn't really matter.

Hydra's reminder to maintain one's composure rang through Ying's mind. Orochi was overstepping, but he hadn't yet moved to attack. The fight would have been an easy win, which he likely knew, so she would withhold her bite until properly prompted.

She kept her gaze stiff and barked her first comment, You talk a lot for a wolf with no fight.

No fight? Orochi couldn't stop himself from grinning. He was all fight and no talk. It's surprising to think anyone would believe anything else. Attacking her would be an awful decision. He was still as thin as a stick and tired from his injuries. But of course Orochi flung himself at the woman. He was full of awful decisions.

doing some powerplay here

Well, it was his decision. Orochi came forward with a surprising amount of force, pushing himself into Ying's throat. She had reared up onto her hindlegs and opened her chest for attack in the process. Her arms were used to hopefully wrap around his throat and, if successful, would twist to push him onto the ground. The goal was to shed as little blood as possible; Ying really didn't want to take another bath.

He crashed into her body, but it wasn't enough to knock her down. That was one of the many disadvantages that came with the three legs thing; he wasn't as strong as he used to be, not right now at least.

Another disadvantage about the three legs thing; he was too slow. He was unable to avoid her legs and unable to wiggle away before he was forced to the ground. Goddamnit! Orochi snapped at the air wildly, hoping he'd grab onto something.

Orochi did not cease, even in his compromised position. He snapped upward in an attack as Ying moved to open her mouth. His jaws clenched around her own, his lower canines digging into the root of her mouth. She moved to pull backward but found herself unable. It was unfortunate that they had so few healers here, as she would likely need to see one after this encounter.

Ying could not retreat, so she decided to move forward. She bit down, knowing that Orochi would do the same. A game of chicken, in some ways.

When he got a hold on her snout he made sure to tighten his grip. This was the only way he had any chance of winning, so he wasn't going to let go without a fight.

He tried keeping his balance when she moved forward, but he couldn't do that and keep his grip at the same time. One must be sacrificed, and he chose the former. Down he fell, hoping to bring the woman with him.

His plan was successful. Ying toppled downward and onto her side, giving him the upper hand. She was quickly losing stamina but continued to hold her grip. Someone would have to yield eventually, and while she unsure of what it might take to get there, she fully intended to be the last one standing.

He had bought the woman down just as planned. Now all he had to do was stand on top of her somehow. It'd be know easy task; she had him by the snout and she showed no signs of letting go.

Orochi stood up, stumbling a bit in the process. Rather than tearing away from her grasp, he shoved forward in the hopes she'd let go first.

Orochi, now standing partially over Ying, pushed forward and forced her head further into the ground. This caused an unforgiving ache which resonated between spine and forehead, prompting her to defend with a similar move. The guardian bit down harder and worked her strength upward, continuously adding to the power of her grip. Soon, if this display did not end, one of the wolves would draw blood, and the situation would take a turn.

That didn't go as planned at all. She did not release her grip, it tightened. The movement didn't make it any better. Sharp bursts of pain flushed through his snout as she forced it upwards. The pain was too much to withstand any longer. He was forced to let go of her snout. Orochi tried stepping away to catch his breath, but he lost his balance and fell over in a clumsy fashion.

Orochi's surrender allowed a moment's reprieve. She watched him tumble while still lying on her back and rubbing sore tongue over the indentations left in her mouth. Blood stained the fur atop her snout, but if this was the case for him, she could not tell. You have some fight, Ying admitted, and it is good. Knowing that he could defend himself, even without his fourth leg did come with some relief.

Cousin @Xia knows to fix things, she offered. Later, Ying would have to make her own visit to the girl's whereabouts. She stood and shook the debris from her fur, wincing at the pain which radiated through her skull.

Why couldn't things be how they used to be? Everytime he got into a fight when he was younger, he would always win. Out here he'd either beat his opponent by a hair or lose in the most embarrassing way possible (like now for instance).

Orochi scrambled to his paws and growled. He braced himself for impact, but the woman seemed to be done with their scuffle. She complimented him. Orochi was bewildered by this. She wasn't supposed to praise him like that, she should be mad. Were all these island wolves weird like this? However strange the comment may be, it still made him feel a little better. He tried to hide that by snorting. Yeah, whatever.

Being at the mercy of his opponent's did not sound appealing in the slightest. You can go get fixed, he grumbled, I don't need anyone's help.

Fine, she replied, Rot. Unless prompted to stay for longer, Ying would make her exit, deciding that it was a fine evening for a patrol.