The Sunspire pumped up kids

an overwhelming amount of protectiveness and-- was he feeling possessive?-- rose up in him. screech-- no, fuck that-- titmouse was insulting him-- disrespecting him-- challenging him. that's what this was now, terance realized, titmouse was trying to one up him-- and for seabreeze, who-- to terance-- was not a prize to be won. 

and that was it. "titmouse, get lost," terance said sternly, his gaze narrowed, "seabreeze you're-- in heat, you gotta... i don't know, i don't think you can be out in the territory-- we gotta find rannoch and liffey." he had turned to the pale delta, turning now protectively to block screech from her. his voice was softer with her, kinder, but he was still visibly dazed.