The Heartwood monsters of smoke and mirror

And just as suddenly as it began, just as he thought it was going to end… it did. Sort of. He eased only slightly when he saw that she started to back down from her aggression, thinking that just maybe she had seen the error in disturbing him. But as the smile began to spread across her face, a sense of distrust crept readily into his thoughts. He couldn't just believe that she would flip things around in such a way, and he was genuinely surprised. Disbelief churned in the depths of his gaze, and behind it came even further annoyance when she waved her tail alluringly. She had to be kidding.

“Leave, now,” he warned her. His tone withdrew the ire that had been there before, replaced by something much more calm, yet stern. Not that he wasn't impervious to her charm — he supposed in time she would most certainly catch the eyes of others — but there was no point in it. She wouldn't be sweet talking him to get him to drop his stance, but he was willing to overlook her threats if she took herself and left. If she persisted, then Mordecai would deal with it, and her, accordingly.