Overture Downs You should go and love yourself*

The cat's attack on his alpha disturbs the blue-nosed wolf. He feels that he has failed as a beta, to not have picked up on the presence of the threat, and to have not been within range to assist his leader when he needed it most. Mordecai could have lose his life; but for some inexplicable reason, he had lost only an eye and a bit of flesh and fur. Perhaps some of his confidence. It bothers Luke to think the cat had meant to send a message, that the incident was not to be isolated. He worries for his pack.

He focuses on patrols. He scours the surrounding territories for evidence that the cat was still around, but for now finds none. Instead, as he lifts his nose to pick scents from the wind, he catches a familiar one. It warms his heart, though it remains heavy in the wake of the incident. Fondness lends speed to his paws as he searches for Saena, alerting her with a woof from afar as soon as his silver eyes finds her.

Without hesitance, nor even a flicker of thought about the last time they had met, he lopes over and reaches forward to greet her affectionately with a nuzzle, his snout seeking the soft furs of her cheek.

That was a challenge actually, quite different! Lol