Alpine Lake Orksingolerpok

Nippaitok didn't know Ikkalrok was there until it was too late.

Fortunately she gave herself away at the last moment, and whether it had been by her will or not, he was given enough of a warning to at least free his neck before her onslaught. Even still with a warning, as he withdrew from the cut, the ârnaluk's teeth were already at his leg, causing him to buckle his hindquarters away from her bite. He rebuked the act of surprise with a snarl and whirled to meet his attacker head-on, his retaliation on full blast as he did not at first register that he was familiar with this predator.

He fought her at first like an animal who was fighting for his life. Behind his strike there was no play, no gentleness, and no stay of fangs where he might preserve the skin of her face. Though, almost immediately, he recognized the powerful body returning his ferocity. He knew Ikkalrok, almost every inch of her— and it was this last inch he chased, patient and unrelenting. It was the only bit of her he wished to claim alone.

The iron brute broke from her, attaining space to that he might reorient his behavior. He was unafraid to harm her— she could take more than her fair share of abuse— but he could never face her with the intent to kill. He thought this way of several Tartok kin, but for Ikkalrok the sentiment, if it could be called that, would always be greatest.

Nippaitok panted to expel what remained of his anxiety, and set his dire sights on the she-wolf with a challenge in his eyes. He was aware of a thin bleed happening at his back leg, but he could only acknowledge it mentally before launching himself at his opponent.