Porcupine Ridge things my heart used to know

Farstep watched from a nearby ridge as an unfamiliar female lost her footing and crashed down the side of their squat mountain. The Beta male's limbs swept him into a flowing gait and he traversed the distance between himself and Diane with practice grace. Their joint time on the ridge was not yet substantial, but the wolves of the pack were already accustomed to their rocky home. It would take time for the newcomer to adjust, herself.

Before he reached Diane, Jhala was on the scene. The new Beta held her head high and squared her shoulders, and Farstep paused to eye her a moment before moving forward. The tension between the Alpha pair, coupled with the abrupt shift of power among the females, had put Farstep on edge and though he had respect for Jhala, it was not so high as his respect for himself. He had won his rank and they were equals in name, and so he approached without hesitation or deference of his own, but instead of insisting on dominance over the newcomer, he lowered his head to sniff gingerly at the hairs splayed across Diane's shoulders.

When he caught Taggarik's scent, he whined softly, wagging his tail, and nosed at her cheek as though to silently ask the question he didn't know Jhala had verbally posed.