Swiftcurrent Creek I ain't happy; I'm feeling glad.

As quickly as Bane had locked his target, a wall of wolf came across him to hinder his advance. With bared fangs and defensive stance, the black-spined beast was enough of a sight for Bane to hold back and stand right in front of him, mimicking his posture and expression, knowing better than to ignore his warning. Bane had come back to a more savage state of his life, where rationalizing was hardly a priority... But the Bane that had left Blackfeather Woods was not the same that had entered, and a little strategy was never off the table for the assassin.

"Dindn't see you there," said the arctic brute in a coarse, yet measured voice, eyeing the weaker creature carefully. He could still feel his mouth watering at the unfulfilled prospect of devouring the boy, but he knew that was now impossible without taking his protector down first, which was bound to be a fair match.