Bearclaw Valley dead dolphin sounds

It didn't take long for the boy to realise their newest warden was even more distant than the one who had slain their real mother. Though, she did on occasion show both he and his brother these strange places with bones, animal flesh, and other trinkets Astyanax did not care much for. He wasn't sure of the purpose of these visits. He did, however, remember where they were, and often stole away bits of the carcasses left at the altars when the woman wasn't looking.

He carried one such bone now, a long femur of some kind, his head held back awkwardly as he dragged it along the grass. Both he and Glaucos had turned into quite gangly-looking things, the two once pudgy pups growing tall but lacking the bulk of properly fed adolescents (even despite Astyanax's constant thievery).

He wouldn't gain much sustenance from this bone, either, as the meat had mostly been stripped away, but it did make for a good chew toy. Once he was far enough away from the altar, the boy finally plopped down in a patch of sunlight, beginning to gnaw absent-mindedly on his new plaything.

Earp slunk through the territory on his usual rounds.
Guarding stuff, poking his nose where it probably wouldn't get bitten off.
Thriving in his memories; he desperately needed new ones.

Though, a child of Ursus may be a poor choice of prey.
So when Earp found himself looking at a chew toy chewing a chew toy, he had to remind himself that he would not harm it. At least, not physically.
He put on a pleasant smile and sauntered over to the youth with a soft chuff, hoping for some sort of conversation. If it had the ability to do so, unlike the Bruin-tooth, it seemed.

A quiet chuff distracted the child from his chewing, and he paused mid-bite to look up at the dark form of an adult strolling over. He did not move, save for the bristling of his neck fur in response. The man seemed amicable enough; there were no signs of aggression in his approach (signs Astyanax was far too used to due to the torment from the other pups).

Yet, he was wary all the same, and lifted a lip partially as he wiggled backwards, dragging the bone with him in a move that said stay back.

No words.
Barely a peep.
Earp stopped, letting the child ruffle his feathers and pull himself away.
Too young for Earp's...misguided thoughts.
This was not a yearling like the swamp girl, or poor little Charles.
No.

Earp took another few steps towards the boy, his smirk ever-growing.
Then he dropped to his belly, tail flicking behind him. This would be interesting.
"Duh yous speak, hm?"
Maybe it did. Maybe Earp would teach it. He could teach a child a lot.

The few steps forward by the other caused Astyanax to shimmy back even further, placing a paw protectively on the bone. He expected him to take it, like the other children always did with his playthings. Day by day he was catching up to them in size, but it would be a while before he could take on a fully grown male. If he so decided, the sable-furred man could quite easily take away his toy.

Instead, however, he fell into a reclined position, asking a question Astyanax barely comprehended with what little language he had learnt so far. The boy stared back at the stranger's void-like gaze for a long moment, before letting out a soft bark in response, wondering if that would elicit anything more from him.

Ah. So he didn't know many words -- if any -- it seemed. Perhaps one of the silent witch's brood.
But also, probably not. Looking at him, he was smaller than he should be. Perhaps Motherless then.
Earp only smirked.
Easy.

Plus, would the children of the bear couple run away so easily? He thought not when both were so bold. Those children were likely bred to kill.
To rule.
This one was not.

"Name?" Maybe he knew that much. Probably not.
This would be a trial.

He spoke curtly. A demand, the boy guessed by the tone, though he was certain he had heard of that word before. Name. Averna had pointed out what certain things were called before in her strange, impassive way. Though, it was mostly the things scattered about the altar she often visited. One ear fell to the side as the cogs in his mind slowly turned, before the boy finally uttered an unsure response, "Mm...Sithis."

The pale woman had mentioned that word a few times, and Astyanax had grown both accustomed and fond of it. For Sithis. Hail Sithis. Bless Sithis. She left offerings upon the altar in the name of this Sithis, and she let him take said offerings. What was he called then, if not that? The dark cub's ponderous expression was quickly replaced with a blank look as he focused on the stranger once more expectantly.

He was slow.
Words weren't something he seemed to be accustomed to. Shame.
For a few, damned moments, Earp thought he wouldn't speak. Were mutes easier to control?
Well, Merrick had one, but was she controlled? No. Not at all.

Sithis.
The word seemed to slither over his ears.
What an ugly name. Whoever names the child that shouldn't be having children.
"Horrid," he muttered in a dismissive tone. The kid wouldn't know what he said unless it was Earp's unlucky day and it was the one word he did know.

He inspected the youth. His eyes conjuring images that were too unsavoury to be commented upon.
He licked his lips, feeling that familiar warmth deep in his stomach.
Perhaps he should re-name the youth, but that would mean a test to see if he was worthy of the name in mind.

Earp lurched up, feigning a snap at the boy. To see if he'd simply cower or actually stand up for himself this time. 

He muttered something else, a word that caused Astyanax's ears to prick before splaying out once more in confusion. Indeed, it was a word he did not know, and so the insult had no effect on him, though the boy did still wonder at it. He stared back patiently as the man looked him over. Although he did not yet have a grasp of speech, he understood body language, and the way the stranger's tongue swiped over his lips, pinning him in place with his charcoal stare, caused a strange feeling of discomfort in the boy.

He almost made to slink away before suddenly the man pounced, a flash of white teeth filling Astyanax's vision for a moment. He stumbled back with a surprised growl, only to fall into a bow, barking back at the adult as if to say what was that for?

The youth debated.
He could read Earp easily, it seemed.
He looked put off certainly, but didn't seem mesmerised like Charles. Probably because this one was more exposed to the world. Rather than closed in like the Easthollow boy.

His attack wasn't met. Not by teeth at least.
The youth lurched away from him, but with a growl. Like a final warning.
Earp laughed, dipping halfway into a playbow himself.
"You is fun Abigor."
He followed up the attack then with another gangly lurch towards the youth. Ready to catch him whole.

The adult let out an unnerving chuckle before mirroring his stance. Astyanax's ears pressed forward as he listened to him speak, latching onto the last word Abigor. Of all the words the man spoke, this one he understood the least, yet he also liked the sound of it, and so added it to his ever-growing vocabulary.

Only that was all it seemed he had to offer the boy. With a suddenness that Astyanax didn't anticipate, the shadow lurched forward again, causing him to scramble backwards before parting his jaws in a snarl, hoping to catch the man's teeth with his own like two clashing swords.

Closing up

This time, he rose to the challenge.
A deep snarl burst forth, matching the clacking of teeth as they met.
Thoughts not to be put into words swirled in his mind as their mouths met.
He didn't act on them today.

Earp snarled back, pushing with his jaws still searching to keep clasped against the youth's.
He wanted to urge him further. Wanted to see the anger in his eyes as he fought back.
But they fell apart again. Earp stood for a few more moments. Lingering.
Thinking.

Before he did something...reckless, he left Abigor to his own devices again.