Seemingly digging at the air between them, perhaps trying to carve a space out just for them, Ripper looked to her for approval. She immediately mimicked the motion, and with that, the dance was on. Her joy at his willingness to try filled him to the brim. Everything he needed to know was brought to light in Masque's luculent expression, for she hid nothing from him. There were no tricks to her actions, it was an open request for him to join her in this celebration. And he could do nothing but oblige, though he did not stop to question why it was that he felt this great need to do all that he could to keep that glowing smile upon her features.

So much as a wolf of his breadth and heftiness could, Ripper pranced forward, shadowing her movements as she withdrew back into the center of the gathered wolves. Though he could feel all of their eyes on him - on them - his hazel-green gaze was given only to her. A single ear flicked back and forth, aware of the wolves around them only so much as to ensure they kept their distance from the girl who now rolled on the ground exuberantly before him.

This action gave him pause, for it was a sign of submission to expose the underbelly to another. Her limbs flung in the air and she left herself open to attack from any wolf around. Ripper did not know these wolves, and he did not trust them. His sister was nearby, and he knew her to be one to take advantage of other wolves' weaknesses. So he did the only thing he could do in this moment - show that she was not for the taking. Jumping forward once more, Ripper placed himself over Masque's body. He stood with his forelegs on her left and his hind legs to her right. He curled his head around towards his shoulder to look down at her and offered an odd smile, goaded on by the writhing paws that tickled at his underbelly.