So it ever was. So will it always be. Such is the nature of evil.
There is only the bare resemblance of family that keeps him from snapping at her. From ending her existence because in truth, if a child was foolish enough to wander from the protection of parents then didn't that make them too foolish for life? Some might say that scaring her would be a proper admonishment. Underidge was not some people. Death seemed an attainable goal and easily defined. He wonders, almost snidely, what kind of parents that Sidriel had - he was sure they were the same ones as Paravana - that they let such a small one wander from beneath them. Did they truly have that many children that they could just make more if one was lost? The idea is preposterous as it is disgusting. This world didn't need any more of the weak. Only the strong, the liberated, the powerful. So he snaps at her with words, refraining from physical assault, and she listens to him.
It is that small step that causes his silver eyes to spark with something more than disgust. Interest. Sidriel perks up, standing straight and refrains from cowering. He can see the thin tremble of her tail, the knowledge that she wishes to hide from him but does not a tasty thing. So he takes a step closer to her, leaning down so that her small head was beneath him. And he licks her.
Just a lick. It is not meant to comfort, not meant to cajole, it is the touch of a predator to prey, a reminder that she is but a morsel. Not that he would ever feed on the body of another wolf. She tastes like his Paravana, like how she had tasted when he first wrestled with her in his den, when she had tried to run and failed. Now she ran with him instead of from him.
Underidge shifts back, away from her, and the left side of his lip quirks up into a smile but it carries no warmth or affection. Dead.
"The Shade is a part of the shadows and so am I. I do his bidding but he requires more than just me for this." He stares down at her to see if he she will understand his meaning. The girl stares at him and there is intellect there, slowly shoving away the fear that had controlled her before. Her question, however, sees a rise in his lip to reveal one fang, clearly not used to the idea of someone questioning him.
"Weak breeds weak, don't you see? A weak wolf will only find a weak mate and together their children will be less than the sum of their parents. Would you allow a calf to live if it had a broken leg? No, you would kill it so that it did not slow down the herd, so that it's mother did not die in defense of a creature no longer capable of helping itself. If we allow those who cannot care for themselves or their packs to succeed then the world is doomed. They will eat and others will suffer. Would you like it if a wolf older than you ate all the food in your pack and demanded you bring him more simply because he is old and you are young? So that you must hunt for him because he has spent years upon this earth?" The words are raspy at first but they grow longer, more sibilant as he speaks, trying to get his point across.
UNDERIDGE
FIVE - MALE - NO HEART - STARSHADE'S SOUL
OF GLORALL - ENDERLY X BANSHEE - KILL COUNT (III)