The Heartwood monsters of smoke and mirror

She had to be a headstrong yearling, there was no other explanation for it. Mordecai could only think of how some of them had acted here, there, and yonder (himself included at one point), and it always added up. Some of them were just arrogant and cocky enough to go out picking fights. And while there was that inkling of rage that tempted him to go and start that fight, he held off knowing better. Taking note of the step she took backward, he took a tentative step forward, keeping their distance the same. It would only take a few steady lopes across the earth to close that gap, and Mordecai wanted to keep her out of the comfort zone of fleeing.

This time, he offered her no words to parry back with, only a growl.