Redtail Rise We are close to war.

The Blod’s head ducked. Only then did Masquerade consciously realize their own posture in contrast to his. Their tail continued waving as they pondered how it felt to exert this slight authority over Riley. It felt unusual but not necessarily unnatural. Experimentally, the Ulfr raised their head properly and arched their tail in a much more blatant display of dominance, just to see what he might do.

If he decided to glance upward and meet their eyes in a challenge, he would find them sparkling with curiosity and perhaps some of the mischief from their previous encounter. But before that could even happen, Avicus’s face flashed through their mind’s eye. In truth, the former leader’s expression hadn’t given away anything but Masquerade decided to stir the pot a little further.

Did you see the way my mother looked at you just now? they asked lightly.