Porcupine Ridge authentic battle damage

She humored the dark wolf with a mousy squeak, her expression full of mirthful surprise. "Squash me, sir?" she echoed, a laugh hidden in her tone. "I believe you'd have to catch me first." Her eyes twinkled, and had neither wolf sustained injuries in the previous day's skirmish, the conversation might have enacted a playful challenge between them. As it stood, however, the Alpha and subordinate shared a quiet laugh before the moment passed. Smiling, Diane's aurelian eyes drifted towards the horizon thoughtfully. When Taggarik spoke again, it was to say he glad to have her as a member of the Ridge. When she turned to look at him again, he was still regarding her kindly.

Silver eyes turned speculative, and Diane was thoroughly embarrassed by what he said next. Not because he said anything particularly shameful, but because she didn't know how to respond. She began fumbling slightly in what was becoming a personally clear sign of her mental distresses. "Oh, I never—! I mean, I don't think..." She wanted to protest, to insist that she had little to no honest bearing on rank. And she certainly couldn't see herself being over anyone. Novak was beneath her in rank, and still, she couldn't imagine having to assert herself to him. In fact, if he wanted her rank, then Diane wasn't sure she wouldn't just paw it over.

"How?" she asked at last, allowing her curiosity to trump her misgivings.