King Elk Forest the pariah

Saena's eyes drew down to the glint of stained ivory below Skellige's lip, but just as quickly darted back to his bright red eyes. All things considered, matching his gaze was somehow steadying. Skellige wasn't the first large wolf Saena had come against, and certainly not the first wolf who refused to budge, but her tactic in the past was to call her pack down upon them. That plan still lingered in her mind, hovering near at hand in case he proved to be difficult, but she didn't want to rely on it this time. What kind of an Alpha was she, that could not hold her ground unaided?

None. And she would never flee again.

When Skellige snapped his jaws and made the air ring with the sound of his teeth coming together, her hackles flared with both alarm and irritation. There were dozens of woods, some even in this region. As she chanced a quick glance beyond Skellige, she knew there was nothing in this one that made it different than the others besides the neighbouring wolf pack. Skellige had no compelling reason to stay here that Saena could think of, which made her think sharply of Sebastian, who had pulled the same incomprehensible stunt near the Rise. In Saena's eyes, it had been arrogant of Sebastian, and so too was it of Skellige. Yet unlike back then, Saena made no aggressive move toward the larger wolf this time, having long since learned from her recklessness. Instead, she held her ground, legs slightly splayed in preparation of moving should it become necessary, eyes boring intently into Skellige's own, hackles flared and lips pinched authoritatively. Beneath her breast, her heart thrummed nervously.