Blacktail Deer Plateau Homeland

He partially expected her to lash out at him and for the situation to get heated. Instead, Vires kept a cool head, levelly pointing out that, while his circumstances weren't of his choosing, he could decide whether to let it affect him this way. She also assured him that she wasn't threatening, merely advising him. She tartly observed his flair for insubordination and Peregrine frowned at her, stymied by her unflappable temper.

"I only bared my teeth because you startled me," he retorted, albeit without the earlier vehemence. His lips parted to say something else, yet Peregrine came up empty-handed. And, suddenly, the fight went out of him, leaving him feeling sullen. So all he said was, "Whatever," which was his passive/aggressive way of acknowledging Vires's rectitude. It wasn't his nature to pick fights with she-wolves anyhow.