He hadn't meant to be late, you know. It's just that he had other things to do that seemed mildly more imporant. Don't get him wrong! What had happened to the wolf in Iromar, though he did not fully understand the gravity of the situation, had been a heinous thing and something he knew ought to be punished and yet, well, he kept getting distracted by how perfectly pretty that girl was, you know? Her fur was just so pure and lovely and her eyes! Ah! Like a clear blue sky after a storm had passed and all the spring grass rose to celebrate. Of all the wolves in the world, he expected Jackdaw might understand. Didn't he have some pretty lass he wanted to impress anyway?

In any case, he had kept an idle watch over the old man. He had followed, too, though at a distance. He was still young, Israfel was, and so he understood that even he couldn't take out some monstrous brute with that kind of strength - after all, this Aranck guy must have been some savage monster to be able to do that kind of thing! No, Israfel would leave the dirty work to Jackdaw. That didn't mean he'd stay out of it entirely though.

So, he had followed and paid close attention to the tracking. He would wait several minutes for Jackdaw to advance before he darted from his hiding place, sniffing wildly at the scent with narrowed eyes and a suspicious nod - yes, yes, this way indeed! Then, he'd be off, his mother's justice in his blood and his father's chivalry at his hip. However, at Jackdaw's summoning, his lope had turned to a sprint, a wild howl of confirmation erupting from him as he tore up the ground beneath him. He'd been born to be swift! Like the wind! Justice!

Yet, he hadn't the slightest clue what to do when he did see the stranger and Jackdaw. Jackdaw pummeled after him, a breathless mess of words that made Israfel crack a smile despite the seriousness of the situation. As he spoke, Israfel had broken from the tree line to his left, another wolf in the fray (albeit a small one at that!). Yet, he moved with a deceiving confidence as he let out a bark of warning that mirrored Jackdaw's own. "If you go there now -" urgh, it really did suck trying to yell while keeping up with an absolute mad man, "- maybe...you will be shown.. a degree of mercy!" True? He didn't know. But if threats hadn't worked maybe a little bit of feigned compassion might. Besides, if they got him to Iromar, Israfel could give him a good bite or two so that he knew to never, ever go near his sweet, perfect snow goddess.