he stands not alone

Akhlut supposed his ire might have been hasty, but despite this thought the Alpha was still disgruntled. The lighter wolf's quick submission and handing over his lunch was a perfectly acceptable response, generally speaking, but it only served to displease the Kesuk-Nereides. The ebony wolf gave a small shake of the head and nudged the piglet's bloodied body back towards his subordinate. "You killed it. It is yours." That was the way of things, for the Light wolf. "I do not ask for groveling or for gifts. These things I reserve for Sun and Sea and Earth, not for myself."

The dark wolf searched the other male's form, noting his scars, and the obvious signs of age that the older wolf had earned through a few more years of life than Akhlut had yet seen. Curious, the leader supposed, that this wolf would choose to follow him and not to command his own pack. Yet the younger male would accept his loyalty and not question it. Instead, he said in a warmer tone than before, "You have seen more of the world and for longer than I have. My mothers taught me to respect my elders and I've forgotten it. I'm glad you're here in Horizon Ridge, and I'm sorry for snapping at you." A smile even flickered onto the Kesuk-Nereides' features, lighting his pale blue eyes with a spark. "Tell me, what do you think of the place?" Akhlut, quite obviously, was in love with his seaside ridge, and had no intentions of leaving the place.