Bitterroot Valley space is about to fold

He doesn't anticipate the reaction he gets, so he doesn't think to move even as Kratos snaps to wakefulness with a fiery storm of movement. Stunned, he loses his grip on the ear he'd managed to snag. Guilt strikes at him briefly when he tastes blood. The thought is lost in the next moment as his mate slams into him, teeth sinking into the more sensitive of his forelegs, the one still healing from how thoroughly it'd been chewed weeks ago. He doesn't expect it to hurt as much as it does. A snarl bursts from him, more instinctive than anything. He snaps at Kratos several times, certain his leg is bleeding and desperate to loosen his mate's iron grip.