Shadewood With all the fire we can breathe.

Riley appeared and, together, they asserted their dominance over the woman. She buckled beneath her and Masque held on tightly, pressing all her weight to keep the other wolf on the ground. Growls rumbled out of her through the folds of flesh and fur in her mouth, her tail swinging up in a severe arch.

Once beaten into submission, the stranger yelled something odd. It wasn’t just her choice of words that was peculiar but the way she said them. Masque tried to catch Riley’s eye, then snarled when the woman shifted beneath her. Her legs were flailing, though not in any aggressive fashion. In fact, the motions reminded her of someone…

At last, Masque loosened her grip, then released it. Hastily, she stepped to the interloper’s front. Every muscle in her body was taut, her fur standing on end. She glared down at the she-wolf, who looked old enough to know better. At least she acknowledged her mistakes in that same uncanny tenor, offering to make things right with several flicks of her limbs.

Masque’s own foreleg throbbed. She resisted the impulse to assess her wound. Instead, she exchanged a glance with her mate as she weighed what to do, what to say. The stranger was older, though she was strong, and Masque’s victory over her sweetened the bitter notes of her indignation.

You will bring us twice as much meat as you took, Masque decided aloud, marigold eyes watching carefully for any further sign language.