Arrow Lake shine on

fade here? <3]

had mahler the sense to rethink his words, he might not have spoken them. as it was, he could only find a brief, warm chagrin at ruenna's arched brow. it did not last long, however, for her touch against his shoulder set his thoughts only to her, and to the pursuit ahead. to act in tandem with a packmate was one thing; to move alongside one of similar mind was quite another, and mahler found himself distracted even as they set a steady gait for the interloping coyotes.
perhaps some feral part of him found it pleasing to shed blood with ruenna, to solidify her place within diaspora as only wolves might. he recalled how his bond with stigmata had been forged, in the scarlet life of their twin quarry. and so it was with the tessarius.
the thought pleased mahler beyond the reach of his own gruff words, and so he was silent, carrying them at a quicker pace now. the reek of vermin in the cold air grew stronger, stinging his senses and leaving him reeling with a growing protectiveness over diaspora.
steadied only by the small presence at his side, mahler swept down terribly upon the unsuspecting handful of coyotes, teeth bared, hackles abristle, and the guttural echo of a challenge in his throat.