Horizon Ridge Out where the lightning splits the sea

Although I'm hoping others (*prods @Kisu*) hop in here, I wanted to go ahead and post again. :)

Just as she'd feared might happen, a male—and a stranger, to boot—appeared from the gloom and walked closer. Although he did not appear threatening, Pied nonetheless felt incredibly defensive in his presence. Her fur prickled and, where she normally would've lifted her tail to indicate dominance, she instead curled it between her legs. She then crouched somewhat, as if trying her best to keep her hindquarters—and the enticing scent emanating from them—as far from him as possible.

"Stay back," she warned. To answer his question, she replied, "I'm fine. I'm just waiting for my mate." She punctuated her words with a pointed look. Although the fact that he smelled of Akhlut was reassuring, she still didn't know him and certainly didn't trust him, especially not in such a vulnerable state. Even though he wasn't particularly large, she was aware that he could probably overpower her if he tried.

Pied shot a furtive glance over her dappled shoulder, fretfully searching for her mate. She then faced forward, keeping her eyes on the stranger. She hadn't told him to leave, per se, though she'd dropped some pretty strong hints that she wanted to be left alone. Suddenly, the Gamma felt bad for being so brusque with him. And, much as she refused to admit it consciously, she felt a strange yearning, a certain stirring in her belly...

"What's your name?" she asked after giving him a long, speculative look. She couldn't make out the features of his face too well, since it was dark and she'd asked him to stay back. "I'm Pied, the Gamma," she offered, still maintaining her defensive posture, even though she subconsciously began to loosen until she was sitting rather normally on the sand.