King Elk Forest something beautiful happened here

Aerlinn brushes up against him, and given Mato does not expect the contact the empyrean starts with surprise but does not create distance between them. His skin quivers with anticipation, fur bristling for a second (though not in hostility!) to dispel the electric jolt that races through him. It catches Morwinyon off guard but he does not particularly find the sensation, nor her warmth or the press of her weight as she leans against him with fondness as unpleasant. Quite the contrary, in truth! He hesitates when she encourages him to go forth, assuring him that she will not be far behind. He almost argues, if only because he wants to discover it with her by his side not behind him but concedes to her wishes, nevertheless. As he was taught to do.

He ventures forward, but halts suddenly, ears perking atop his skull and steps ceasing at the sound of nearby footfalls. He draws in a deep breath meant to analyze the scents of the air, to discern what beast makes the sound of approach. “Who goes there?” Mato calls out to the stranger, for the empyrean has heard him, can smell him. He is not close enough to discern much from his scent aside from that the stranger is a male. The King Elk Forest bears no pack scent and thus Mato does not fear he has intruded …instead quite the opposite. He is met with a sudden burst of territoriality: a heavy sense to protect what is his — which also happened to include Seabreeze in a (much) less possessive way as Mato instinctually adjusts his stance, seeking to be a shield between her and the stranger in case the other turned out to be hostile.