Redtail Rise [M] The past and the pending

They'd waited months for this. Not actively, though they both knew it would come in time, but driven by the natural changes fall brought. Aggression spiked in autumn, and hierarchy became more rigid, and everyone was on edge. It all led up to this, and though Reek and Saena were not necessarily aware of it all the time, their charged energy had been in anticipation for this. From here on out there could only be an unwinding of tension as wolves settled and the alpha female satisfied herself with the fact that no others would breed this year in the maplewood, at least not until late in the year, when their cubs were grown past their most dangerous days.

Reek closed the distance between himself and Saena and raked his teeth through the fur at her throat. She growled lowly, a sound born not of aggression but rather out of determination, of want. She trusted him not to rip out her throat, after all. She took a few steps, turning herself slightly to bump a hip against him, and stamped one paw on the floor of the cavern like some sort of bull. She wasn't even sure why; her body drove itself in that moment.