Moonspear comedic timing

It was readily apparent to Alya that the male had been spooked; she supposed she didn't blame him for being wary of her sister, but still couldn't help but think poorly of him for his perceived faint-heartedness. She kept this to herself, however, knowing that her opinion on his character would be unappreciated.

"Only recently, and not anymore," she replied, finding it curious that the male would come here when it seemed that other places must now suffer from an abundance of prey rather than the shortage that was coming upon the Teekon Wilds. "The herds have all gone because of it," she added, seeing no reason to sugar-coat it, since he would clearly not be recruited for the spear. "Things have been tense around here, lately. As you've seen."

Not to excuse the pale creature's behavior. Whatever she'd done, Alya thought the least of her. But not even she trusted Hydra's temper, at the moment. Her sister was endlessly patient and calculating, but not, Alya thought, above taking out her anger on a target she thought beneath her. And Markus was (if it could be said of anyone), truly beneath her.

They were nearing the outskirts of what Alya considered theirs, presently, and she saw no undue threat in the male. Her thoughts flickered, briefly, to the idea she's shared with her sister upon her return to the mountain. But it was yet too soon for cannibalism, and she had no pack to back her there at the edge of the foothills.

"May your travels be uneventful," she bade him, halting to allow him his leave.