Redtail Rise Maladroit

Reek dismissed himself and Saena let him go with one last affectionate nudge to his cheek. She watched him go, no doubt back to Wynter in their den near the top of the ridge, before turning her attention back to Arion. He'd confirmed he was a fighter and an outrider, both trades that pleased the pale wolf. Poisoning had limited usefulness as far as she was concerned, so on that, she said nothing.

Of the others, she noted, "strong wolves to man the borders are in need here right now. Good Outriders, too. I'm one myself," she shared. She wasn't worth much in a fight, but she knew travel took just as much, if not more, strength than fighting did. It was the tactic of a fight and not just the raw power that tended to win it.

"I'm not a fighter," Saena told Arion, "but all the same, if you wouldn't mind a quick spar, I'd like to see what you can do." Any wolf who was better than she was a worthy fighter. Any wolf that was worse than she... well, they were probably lousy. It wasn't always a great gauge, since fighters had good days and bad days, but hers was perpetually bad where winning was concerned. Arion would have no trouble besting her in a spar if he was a wolf worth his word.

Perhaps it would reflect poorly on her capability to hold her title and her land, but Saena didn't believe that all-out strength made a good Alpha. The strongest wolf could rise to rule, but he would not win the pack's support without more than that. She believed she had the "more than that", and worried not for Arion's opinion of her as a leader if she lost. As if to invite him to prove himself, she squared her stance, lowered her snout slightly, and readied herself.