he did not feel the other wolf immediately. still very much entranced he was by the snowy peaks that were home and not all the same. it was the voice that drew him out of it, that brought his eyes to shift from the mountain for the very last time. what he sees is but a young wolf approaching him, sterling silver coat to match his bright eyes. the words given just prior are lost to him, he does not know who or what the Shade is, and he does not have the time to contemplate. rio is just barely parting his grizzled though still handsome muzzle to greet the young fellow, when his breath stops short in his throat. there had been no aggression from him, and perhaps he was an old fool to let anyone close any more. he had always been a social wolf, warm and welcome to those that he met and came across. he knew well how to defend himself and had on many occasions- but this was something he had not ever known. a darkness tainted such innocence of youth, while rio has mostly dealt with the oldest and strongest.

to see and witness first hand the loss of innocence to this extent is enough to stop him from retaliation. he can do nothing but defend himself against a mere child, but when fierce teeth find the soft and supple flesh of his leg there is pain that is most profound. gasping as if he had been holding his breath, his body instinctively pulled against the clenching of jaws but the action brought on nothing but pain. but his freedom was his own when the wolf let go, moving to his backside as the redhead struggled to keep up with him. the youth proved to be much quicker than the hardly young male, and it was with an audible crunch that rio realised he would be going nowhere. but the sudden immense pain of it all, as well as the brutality of it, had the red head slowly turning so that he could see his attacker and if he may continue. he could not support his weight any longer, and he could do nothing but recline on the spot, refusing to lay down on his belly just yet.

he made no move for the boy, merely watched him long as he could with glazing over golden eyes, overtaken by occasional panting due to such pain and adrenalin in his veins. he did not actually have anything to say to the wolf, beside a curious wonderment of "why?" that he managed to get out before the young one fell upon him again. he was blissfully unaware that there may be spectators to this gruesome show this day, but he is very much aware of the blood that bleeds down his legs and spills onto the dirt beneath him. how he wished it were ice and snow instead, even if it were not Eis he would have liked to know at least one more Winter. rio doesn't bother to turn to look at his wounds, he knows just how they will bleed and how they will look. the exposed muscle and flesh there, showing off what little fat he still possess. in his prime, he had been a magnificent specimen. but time takes its toll, and he is not what he once had been. he doesn't even know the boys name, but he knows that he's death all the same.