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He felt more than saw the wave of Taggarik's tail and, satisfied that his action had pleased his superior, Farstep fell into stride with him. They crunched quietly along the ridge, forming a path in the pristine snow, the subordinate in line behind the alpha, with his head and tail accordingly lower. Yet his crown rode above his shoulders now and his ears pricked alertly forward, the stance of a patrolling wolf rather than a submitting one. He placed his paws carefully in the prints Taggarik left behind, doubling up the scent of each one. Their presence would soon be unmistakable.

When Taggarik slowed, Farstep swept around his hindquarters and came to pause, his muzzle adjacent with the dark-haired wolf's left hip. This time, the alpha's vocalizations only made his ears twitch downward, but his stance remained firm. He glanced at the alpha, not comprehending the sounds, and then without response (for he had none to give) he dropped his snout to the snow and sniffed tenderly the undisturbed snow to his right. Nothing noteworthy there.