Bearclaw Valley lionizing

Ice in Avicus' eyes met molten lava in Aventus'. He met her look with one of his own, drawing himself up and snarling at her to hasten her retreat. He would have liked to follow after her, snapping at her heels like a true lead wolf sending another into exile, but Aventus wasn't confident he wouldn't falter in his stride and present a weakness to her if he tried to move from here.

When she was out of sight, he realized that the only wolf remaining was the frozen Ashlar. He shot the man a contemplative and severe look, but decided that the chocolate-furred Starbone was more likely to piss himself than to challenge Aventus in Avicus' stead. He didn't think he had anything to fear from Ashlar.

So he let himself slump to the ground, first into a shaky sit, then an outright drop to his belly. Only then did Aventus allow himself to take several hard, haggard breaths, and then he set about tending his many wounds, wincing with every swipe of his tongue over raw flesh.

Eventually, he would fall asleep right there, too exhausted from the fight and blood loss to even drag himself to a more secluded place.