His laughter was ingratiating and she was surprised at her self control as he mocked her. She simply kept her cool and remained unmoved in the face of his scathing sarcasm and debasing smile. His words wore away at her polished outer shell, chipping her confidence down until she felt like she might crumble beneath the heavy weight of his expectations. How could he accuse her of being an idiot? A fool maybe but was she really an idiot? A day ago, she would have never considered it as a possibility but now she wasn’t so sure. The only thing that stood in her stead was the fact that she had not challenged him for that most assuredly would have been a brainless thing to do.

Looking up, she saw him flick his plumage haughtily and bit back a growl. It was as a result of her self-awareness that she heard a soft whine drip from his scars. Her jaws parted in confusion before she rapidly shut them again and played dumb. She didn’t want to goad him into doing something she’d later regret. However, her mind was a bubbling turmoil of confusion as she attempted to place him into a category. He fit into none. Every wolf she had ever met had had a personality that, once learned, could be followed like a rule. Kong seemed to have two that blended and twirled into one unpredictable mess. How did he survive? How could he live with himself, never knowing the rippling majesty of self control? These were dangerous and philosophical thoughts for one so young and Ladyhawke was pleased to be ripped from them as he gave her a glimmer of hope.

The ess watched calmly as he stood with exaggerated relaxation and yawned placidly though she sensed the uproar that clashed within. He spoke again, this time her orbs creased in the corners as her lips rose slightly, revealing one white dagger. However, she was grateful that he did not see it as he had already disappeared, laughing, into the darkened forest. As soon as he left, Lady felt the tension rise from the atmosphere around her as if the entire clearing was shrugging off a depressing shroud. She exhaled loudly and her muscles rippled from fatigue as she wondered whether to follow his rapidly fading scent into the gloom.

He had told her not to disappoint him and she fully intended to prove her worth. She would reappear in the territories again, her adult, honey-splashed coat with one or two extra scars and a large piece of prey dangling from her maw. The time for her training had begun.