SPYROS

•••

Ouch.

The claws of the female below him tore through his fur and into his skin, causing a yelp to sound though the continuous snarl that emanated from his throat. She was determined, he'd give her that. However, with his bite locked in place she struggles seemed merely of those of a pup attempting to escape an adults hold. Spyros had held firm, not enough to draw out a prolonged amount of discomfort but enough of a force that worked as to warn Red of his abilities if she were to further her attempts to free herself.

He would have chuckled at her feiry fury of words as she had attempted to wriggle out of his hold and how she forced herself to still when the realization of him seemed to kick in. His jaw kept its hold for a while longer, the rest of his body completely still as he held her by the scruff and until her wriggling had died down. Good... His teeth retracted from her pelt as he took a slow step back, back straightening as he observed her state carefully, his eyes narrowed as he took her in.

"Well then... Looks like someone must have lost their way. Am I right, darling? Oh, I must be..."

His lips pulled back into a toothy grin as he began circling her, taking in her scent as he looked her up and down. His movements were fluid and smooth, a mixture of cat-like and bear-like movements as his paws fell in front of each other. His voice was laced with a sarcastic sort of humour as he continued on,

"Because that's the only reason... Ahh..."

His body pressed closer, mockingly so, his words coming out in a silky, sultry manner, fangs getting far too close for any amount of comfort.

"Unless you, my dear, were attempting an escape."

Tsk.

"Oh it would have worked wonderfully if it had been thought through further. I'm must say, sneaking out on your... break was a decent choice."

He hummed to himself, gaze meeting the ground as he leaned back, pausing his movements as if in deep thought he seemed to speak to himself.

"We'll just have to make sure outings are rarer then. Hm..."

His attention flicked back to the female in front of him, his head cocking to the side, a sly wolfish grin on his face.

"I don't suppose you'll come willingly, dear, will you?"

SPYROS

•••

Her words would have been enough to draw out a smirk from him if she hadn't immediately followed them up with an attack. He had dodged the first couple of her moves with practiced skill, however, the further her advances went on, the further she seemed to be able to predict what he would do next. Which wasnt the best, in his case. He'd most likely earn himself a good few scars by the end of this... Which, to him, only made him want to fight back with just as power. He needed to hold back from doing anything major yet, he'd tire her out first. Like a hunter would do with an elk.

Spyros had slipped up.

Before her teeth had found his neck the male had managed a few small bites around her flank, another warning. He had caught her tail at one point as well, biting down on the sensitive, nerve-filled body part. She was smaller and quicker on her feet than him, agile and flexible - to his standards, more advanced than him in that area - and had managed to shoot for the throat as soon as he had attempted to pull away briefly. The grip was firm, reminding him of his own not minutes before. The teeth that sunk into his hide were strong enough to keep his attempts to relieve himself of her minimal. His breath left him in wheezing outbursts as his paws began their attempts at slamming against the earth, sharply pulling his body back, jolting as he finally shook himself enough that her grip on him loosened.

Bingo.

His eyes flared open once more, targeting on the front leg of the wolf thats teeth were still dug into his skin. Yeah, he'd risk it he supposed. Letting out a low growl he twisted, an unpleasant tear of his skin made was for his own blood to mix in with the fur on his neck. This made for the perfect angle to allow his maw access to bite down on her limb. And he bit. Hard. Managing to growl something against her body as her fangs clung to him.

"Do you want to survive this, darling? I'd suggest letting go if you do."

He stilled beneath her, though his jaw clung tightly around the leg of the she-wolf, tightening ever so gradually. He wouldn't break it... Probably.

SPYROS

•••

Blood trickled down his snout and into his mouth slowly as he backed away in a similar fashion. His lips curled back, his tongue licking over his nose to clean off the nipped skin of his bridge. The males neck craned slightly as he attempted to stretch, shaking it and finding an uncomfortable tear that ripped a mix of a growl and ragged whine out of him. When Spyros' gaze finally rose to meet the battered and bruised form of the familiar female in front of him, he couldn't stop how his eyes flicked across her wounds- seeming to mentally check just how much damage had been done to her specifically. He listened quietly. He listened, eyes narrowing when Red brought up the lack of death that came with... her, once more.

He didn't respond at her question, simply stared at her, eyes void of the emotions that were swarming his head. Why shouldn't he be rid of her as well? It'd be quite a bit easier to do that than wait for her pack to try and take her back, wouldn't it? Yes, it would. But... that wasn't the right question, was it. Why couldn't he? Be done with her, that is. Pictures, memories filled his head. Him, a yearling, in training with his brother and Red... The female he had silently admired for afar as his brother, the firstborn heir to the pack and its inheritance, pursued her. Knowing he couldn't do anything, as it would be seen as unjust. He remembered the short interactions that Red and himself had in the past, as he slowly started noticing his fascination with her. The obsession. And the knowledge that he'd never be allowed her... As long as his brother lived. Spyros blinked. He came back to reality when the dame before him, broken still somehow... captivating, shot him a blow that he was sure was meant to be wrenching. But it wasn't. Not really. He didn't know why his pack looked up to him as much as they did... But he was grateful for it nonetheless. It was her final comment that made him tense.

Silence. For a few beats, that's all there was. As well as the beating of his own heart, that he could hear in his ears. They he spoke. Quiet and dark, distant and somehow soft enough that it might be taken as fondness.

"Right right, my love. I'm not."

There was yet another pause, as Spyros' eyes took in her frame unashamingly thoroughly manner, gaze heated at he studied her wounds. He had caused this. He had hurt her. And now he was mentally cursing himself. Shoulders tensed and he took a small step forward, voice a meer murmur against the forest around them.

"You can go. But you won't last long with those wounds."

Again, his gaze flickered down to her leg and around to her tail.

"I'd hate to have your corpse lying about. I'd have to send out a patrol and thats... far too much work."

It wasn't. In reality, his abilities might not be limited when it came to her. He didn't want her dying. He wouldn't admit it, but it was still true. He blinked down at her, taking another step so he was close enough to inhale the earthy scent of her.

"My healer knows a thing or two."

SPYROS

•••

Their eyes met for the few moments when Red replied to him. He had observed how her frame tensed when he neared and he inwardly clawed himself. She walked by him, tall and straight, and he found his head swiftly swiveling to follow her movements as she made her way back into his territories forest, limp in her front leg still detectable despite how much she may be attempting to shadow it over with confidence. It was getting dark, the moon casting a faint white glow onto the water of the stream in which he gazed into briefly, taking in his rugged appearance, his dark eyes. Quickly, his attention turned back to the fact that Red most definitely wouldnt know how to get back to camp, more so in the dark than any other time. His tailed swished slightly from side to side as he shook his head lightly, chuckling to himself before turning to make his way into the woods himself.

She hadn't made it far, though she wouldn't seem as though she was lost to an untrained loner, she was headed a bit too far west. While Spyros had remained behind her for the first mile or so, as the scent of her an hour ago hadn't seemed to wear out, he hadn't quicker up his pace, shoulder brushing lightly against hers as he moved past her and ahead. Looking over his shoulder, his eyes appeared softer than before as he considered her, nearly running into a fallen log while focusing on the female behind him. Thank the wolf gods, he caught himself before he did so. Instead maneuvering around it instead.

•••

Camp was quiet by the time they arrived and the moon hung high in the sky. The only noises around them were the crickets and the few hushed voices of elders coaxing each other to finally head to sleep. The faint glow of fireflies hung around them, their flickering lights brighter near one of the dens to the left of them, spaced a little bit away from the others. One last glance behind him, to assure himself that Red was still in the process of following him, he paced forward, ducking into the den.

A light brown head popped in from the corner, bright yellow eyes focusing on Spyrus as he moved into the herb-filled shelter. The eyes settled on a space behind him for a moment before moving back to the male.

"Oh, gods. What have you gotten into now..."

A small sigh from Spyrus before he shook his head, eyes moving from the small tawny male in front of him to the reddish dame behind him.

"Focus your work on her for now, Brother."

He kept eye contact with Red for a little longer than necessary before turning the healer, nodded and moved past the female to take a seat on his haunches outside the den. His eyes followed the patterns of the dark trees around camp before his attention turned to cleaning his wounds.

SPYROS

•••

The night was quiet with a gentle breeze that rippled through the Alphas pelt. He sat outside the healer den and while his eyes remained focused on the outer lining of the camps trees, his ears flicked backwards in attempt to interpret the murmurs of the wolves inside the space behind him. Spyros couldn't pick up much but he had heard his brother mention to Red the importance of keeping her wounds clean with fresh wraps... Movement from his left caught his eye, ears pricking up to swivel in its direction. A small wave of relief washed over the male when Enoch, the packs Head Hunter, paced into camp, rabbit in his jaws. The beige coated wolf noticed his leader, sending over a brief glance before he dropped the rabbit off in the prey stash. It didn't take him long to make it over to Spyros after that.

The two greeted each other with a nod, Enochs tail seemed to wag confidently as he approached. Giving him a quick once over, Spyros turned his attention back to the trees.

"You went hunting. Alone I presume?"

"I did."

Their tones were neutral, quiet enough to blend in with the night. Spyros nodded once more and silence engulfed the two males. It wasn't until another murmur from inside the den that Enoch spoke again, voice hesitant,

"How is the female faring? Not causing too much trouble, I hope."

Spyros chuckled lightly, closing his eyes and shaking his head before letting out a deep, exasperated sigh.

"She snuck out tonight and I mistook her for a dispersal."

The leader risked a sideways glance to see the befuddled look on his comrades face, eyes wide, mouth slightly ajar. It was comical. Enochs head swiveled in the direction and then quickly back to Spyros,

"You didn't... "

His tone was a hushed whisper, filled with disbelief. Again, Spyros shook his head, this time looking up to the star filled sky as he whined out his next words, similar to a wheezing hiss,

"Sprained front ankle, minor twisted tail, and a few other nicks and scrapes according to Helios."

Another chuckle filled with disbelief from Enoch and Spyros' eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, you're totally winning her over."

The hunters teasing tone earned him a low, annoyed growl from his leader. Which only seemed to provoke his further. Thankfully, or maybe not so thankfully, Red exited the den, leg wrapped as her eyes met Spyros's. He nodded slowly, rising from his seated position to make his way to the front of the healers den. Before he entered he made sure to shoot a warning glance over his shoulder at Enoch, who seemed to get the memo to watch her when his leader was gone... Spyros, while knowing very well he wouldn't, hoped he would keep his mouth shut.