He remains now as he is, the child ignored, for she is nothing. She is not food and she is not adult, she is something in between and his blackened mind cares little for it. Her submission is accepted, his dominance over her assured and as such he simply allows his perfect form to rest upon the earth, emerald eyes of serpentine stillness turned upon the tree and bush once more, waiting, watching, though it cannot be said for what or whom he waits. He feast’s upon the young of this land, again and again he allows his jaws to slice flesh and muscle, tender and youthful, the blood of the young a sweet and delectable treat that runs hot and thick down his throat. Yet hunger does not stir him this day, he simply rests, though his eyes and form remain unmoving, like a stone of black obsidian he lays, one ear flicking with the movement of the girl child and that is all. She has been accepted, she has offered him a show of her weakness and desire to live and as such removed herself from need of punishment or showing herself as little more then a meal to sate himself. She is bold as no other, perhaps her childish youth lends to her an exuberance the adult is lacking, her curiosity out-weighing her fear, for indeed he has permitted her approach though none yet has dared to signal her intent as she does, none but his own children attempt such folly before him and even for they…he will not play.

Dark head lifts slightly from the earth as she pounces, small teeth seeking to find purchase upon his ear as his head simply rolls to the earth once more, ignoring the young one and her teeth, allowing her to hold and savage his ear as she treads upon him. She is beneath him, weaker, smaller, it is by his grace alone that he allows such things, though for how long this indifference will last cannot be said as a huff of air parts his jaws, blood-stained fangs glinting within the light before ebony lips move to cover then once more and the girl growls playfully, lunging from him once more to bow her body in the gesture of play. He understands- and yet he does not. His mind recoils from this even as it had done as a child as he simply stares with deadened, void features, those cold, fathomless eyes held upon her and nothing else as his own growl hums within his chest. It is not threat, not warning, it is merely a display of discontent in her actions as once again he lays upon his side, attention returning to this space of tree before him. The girl mock charges, racing at his side though she is ignored entirely, just as she is the second and third time. His mind has shut off from her completely, or seemingly so, for it is not until her fourth charge that his patience wears thin.

He moves as he has always done, like a blackened streak, his attack so sudden, so unseen with no warning given as he rolls and lunges, seeking to seize the girl as she charges at his side, teeth aiming to grasp her scruff before he rolls once more, entirely content to toss her upon the earth beside him. He does not harm her, does nothing but seek to bring her to the earth- to lay beside him before lifting one large paw, laying it atop her, aiming to keep her pinned upon the earth as he desires. He does not like her play, does not like her noise and motion and as such seeks to stop her by forcing his chosen activity upon her, lifting his paw only when it is she should settle as he continues to lay, expecting the child to do as commanded, seeking to push her down once more should she try to rise his actions firm and yet…..gentle, the creature calm this day- until is that the trees beginning to move, his form rolling upward once more to fixate his emerald gaze upon what is sure to come, a growl coiling within his throat as he simply waits with the child beside him.