Mount Apikuni go among the lost

lucifer tilted his head, his smirk faltering into something more neutral—almost innocent, though the flicker of disappointment in his eyes betrayed him. so, the stoic giant wasn’t so easily provoked. peccato, he thought, hiding his frustration beneath a shrug of his shoulders.  

ah, ma no, he replied, feigning surprise at the notion that his earlier comments were anything more than idle musings. i am not here to complicate... familial arrangements. it seems your mountain already thrives with strong bloodlines. his tone was smooth, measured, but the sparkle of mischief in his golden gaze hadn’t entirely disappeared.  

at the question of his usefulness, lucifer straightened slightly, allowing a more earnest expression to settle on his face. i am here to serve, he said, his voice softening as if to drive the point home. my skills as a hunter are proven. i can track prey across impossible terrain, find their dens even in the dead of winter. i bring meat to the caches, ensure the pups and mothers are well-fed.

he paused, lowering his gaze momentarily as if humbled by the thought. that is all i seek. a pack where i can put my skills to use, repay the hospitality of a roof over my head— his gaze lifted again, sharp as a blade, —and perhaps earn my way out of this... bottom of the pecking order you speak of. 

his tail flicked lazily behind him, his demeanor shifting back to something lighter, though there was still a subtle challenge in his smile. but tell me, grand guerrier, does a wolf rise here only through bloodshed? or is there another way to prove oneself?