The preparation is a mental one yet it is so swift; she is ready. Ready to tear into his scrawny hide and rip from him the pelt that stinks. His flesh would be so much cleaner. Yet she does not yearn to eat him, nor even to see it. She will though if he doesn't back the hell off. Aithne has had enough of males and their domineering attitudes. She has felt the sting of rape and known the joy of revenge. There isn't much lust for killing in her body but she would do whatever she had to. A harsh life breeds such harsh morals; she had few scruples. It was probably not wise to get into an altercation with an Iromar wolf while she was waiting admittance to the swampy domain, but neither was it wise to take whatever shit this male was planning on doling out. Clearly he wasn't here for some sort of festive word game between them.

As their growling intermingles she notes the way his ears prick forward and his blue eyes - they were shockingly blue, beautiful - stare at her, no longer with the insane expression. Curiosity? Surprise? Yes, she decided. He is surprised by her own violent display. It satisfys her to think that this male does not expect such behavior from her. Probably he had been one of those same males she hated that used their strength whenever possible against those weaker, and many females were that. Weak. They didn't realize that standing up for themselves was a possibility - Aithne was lucky she had such a bulky figure. But it wasn't luck. It was practice. It was hardship. Life had done this to her and she couldn't say she was disappointed in the way she looked. Maybe she wasn't a delicate princess but in situations like this that hardly mattered.

Suddenly Malikye begins to laugh. It is a flowing, seducing kind of laugh. It sets her teeth on edge because it is so at odds with his earlier behavior. Was this boy just that crazy that he could shift moods so quick? In return to his own gaze she eyes him back, never backing down from her stance. Was he playing some game with her? Disarm her with his disembodied laugh and then disembowel her? Not going to happen. If this was some sort of test sent by the alpha she'd make sure she left her mark on Malikye.

His grin is rather macabre and she can imagine his muzzle covered in blood. Underneath the filth that covers him (and the sharp stench) she could see how he might be a striking figure. Not that she'd be impressed even if he was. None in her life had earned such respect from her. That would take a long time and lot less of this growling and snapping going on. Besides, trust didn't come easily for Aithne. Malikye had already aligned himself on the 'distrusted' list with his greeting. She had no doubt had she spoken a few words to him - because, let's face it, she would've said something snide - then they would be brawling in the dirt.

She notes with distaste the saliva that drips over his maw. Did he have some sort of disease? Maybe it ran rampant in this swampland. She wants to look but refuses to take her watchful gaze from Malikye. Whatever is going on in his head must seriously be amusing. Aithne, however, is not amused at all. She is wary. Her snarling has stopped but her eyes remain narrowed and body ready. Then he does something she does not expect. He backs up. With each step back her ears begin to lift and her hackles fall partly - it is clear she is still distrustful of his actions.

Both ears swivel forward as he speaks in that strange voice once more. Should she answer him? After all, he wasn't the alpha. But if she was planning on staying here then she'd need to be friendly with the others. Again she thinks this might be a test. She wasn't going to look like him if that was the case once she moved in. So that better not be a requirement. Not that she found herself very pretty but she did have some vanity. "Aithne. Is there a reason to all this?" A brow lifts sardonically and she shifts her weight to her hindquarters but does not lower them. She should be polite and ask his name but at the moment she doesn't feel very.. forgiving. If he is prideful it might hurt a little, if not, what did it matter anyways?

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