Ankyra Sound shame spiral

But the queen of the Sound was not a woman for turning - at least not for free. Vlad's eyesight adjusted in time to see the dark figure of Caiaphas stalk stride right up to him, head and tail held high above her narrow body. Traitor flew from her mouth, burning a bitter brand into Vlad's heart - and for one shameful moment he considered the implications of doing as she had asked.

"Salty veenter peck, Bleckface. Veenter feenish," Vlad reminded her in a voice that wasn't quite as 'fog horn' as his usual blaring. His tail drooped and he shot a look at the nearby Rosalyn, wondering if Caiaphas had the wolf-power to follow through on whatever threats she might make next.

Rosalyn had other ideas. Her words coincided with a spike of anger that whipped Vlad away from whatever sensible option he had been considering (if any). He flashed teeth, glaring at the incumbent Alpha of Saltwinter. He thought of every time she had made fun of him, or rejected his advances - and amplified the whisper of hurt he had felt until each memory was almost entirely false. "Stenderds heving so gud idea of brain! Theenk you Vlad believing thees promise of meck wife? Ha! Bleckface liking better leek ess of Rett. I no meck keel Stenderds for so no gud deal. I meck now best deal - Bleckface go to cave, find so leetle, much dark hole. Thees new home of Cee-aff-us."