Northstar Vale a chest filled with diamonds and gold

Saena relaxed only marginally when Rigr submitted, for there were at least 3 factors working against him, and Saena was a far more demanding creature when she had any sort of advantage. The cream-haired bitch sought to close the distance between herself and the loner, hearing his words but not immediately acknowledging them. There was a sharp edge to her eyes as she drew close, and she sniffed the air gingerly, but the information she wanted came from more intimate sources. So she peeled her lips back over her teeth and wordlessly demanded that he submit further, but she was unable to mask a wince. It didn't matter. There would be time for talking later.

Among her wolves, there was not so much submission and dominance required. In general, the lead wolves stayed in the lead because they were most respected, and the others were free to establish themselves from there, but such displays in any sort of severity were hardly needed except where discipline was concerned. They were first and foremost a family, and Saena treated them as such by keeping her dominance mild unless called for. Toward an outsider, however, Saena was even harsher than she probably needed to be. Most wolves were raised with the same belief she'd once held—that a pack territory was completely off limits, which didn't hold for Duskvale's territory—and most wolves would sooner leave than cause trouble, so when they were brave enough to pass into claimed territory, she was very demanding of them.

Rigr wanted to get around the mountains. The fastest way was through the valley, but to get through the valley, he would first need to get through the pack in his way, and Saena was his first test. She had no qualms with him passing through if he passed it, and the fact she hadn't called the others down on him yet was a clear indication of that. She herself could not attack him without risking her life, a fact he was likely as aware of as she was.