always

oh your hands can heal, your hands can bruise. I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you.

With haste Arlo’s form had lowered, submitting and showing that he was not here with malicious intent. As the snarl died in Alcide’s throat, he took a moment to glance over his shoulder towards Lavender, who had fallen all but silent in respect for the elder wolves’ conversation. His eyes then turned back to the subordinate form of Arlo, studying him with stern eyes and asking him why he had dared to return to the pack for which he had challenged not so long ago. It could not be denied that this boy was brave, returning to the place of his defeat. Due to his continued efforts to show that he was not a threat, Alcide shifted his weight backwards slightly so that he was not leaning forward in such a domineering manner. His tail remained erect, however, and his hackles did not quite settle back against his neck. Though his body language translated as honest, there were those in the lands of Moladion that practiced the art of deception. Alcide could hardly be asked to trust this male so quickly.

The words the auburn wolf speaks seem sincere, and in its upright posture Alcide’s tail gives the slightest of wags. He too notices the waving of Arlo’s own tail across the ground. Dark eyes make a once over of the lad, curious to see how his injuries were healing. It was obvious that he had not been under the care of a healer such as Alcide had been, but his younger body was quicker to recover than the alphen’s aging frame. There would come a day when a young wolf would come forth to challenge Alcide and he would be unable to fight back as ferociously as he had against Tesseract and Arlo. He only hoped that day did not come before Daenerys was ready to assume her rightful place as queen of this realm.

Eyeing the carcass that lay before Arlo, Alcide is given to assume that this is part of his offering, part of his payment of dues. The younger male smiles, but Alcide’s face remains grave, calculating. “And this is what you have come to offer?” His words seem harsh as he gestures towards the hare. But if that was all Arlo had to offer, it was hardly a sign of the wish for a truce. It was a simple meal. His eyes narrow, staring at the wolf that lay before him. What else did he have to say for himself? Was he here to pledge fealty to the rightful king of the mountain, or simply apologize and be on his way? “Best get to the point,” he said, ears trained upon him, “What is it that you seek, Arlo?” The posture of the beast had softened slightly, admitting to himself that Arlo was not here to cause harm to him or his pack. But his stature still spoke of his lordship in these lands, and that was not something he would give up any time soon.

alcide | seventeen | moonglow | polaris of spirane
sleekwing, swallowbane, orca, daenerys, ceal, taliesin | ♥