Porcupine Ridge And the land of a billion lights

Their play too a swift turn from innocent time-wasting to dominance tussle, and it was a game that Farstep was willing to lose. The tumble of his hip gave way to his shoulder and he slumped to the ground, expecting Taggarik's paws to fall on either side of his neck, but the alpha male reined himself back. Confused, the gamma folded back his ears and rolled a questioning eye toward the lead male, but with a chuff the man seated himself in the churned snow, an end to his posturing. Reluctant to move too quickly in the event the alpha was just testing him, Farstep rolled back to his feet, and only when he had put several paces between them did he allow himself the satisfaction of shaking dirt from himself.

Tail waving, the tawny beast half-turned to regard Taggarik with a curious tilt of his jaw. If dismissed, he would merrily return to the cache he'd been digging, but Farstep needed to be absolutely sure that he was able to leave before doing so.