The sight of the female alpha rolling around and dancing in the mud and filth of Iromar was certainly surprising for him to come upon, but then he shouldn't have been, the more he thought about it. She was young for an alpha at only four years old, two years younger than himself, so why shouldn't she be spirited and playful sometimes? It was a new thing for him, choosing to follow someone not seasoned and aged by battle as others had been but that didn't make her any less a leader in his eyes. Only time would tell that. So far she had already made a story for herself. There were rumors that she dealt the killing blow to the former alpha. It's almost sad that Cuirass didn't learn of his name until after his death. He was only thinking of him as the alpha in his mindset, only to find out that he was known as Aranck and he was fiercely loathed throughout most of Moladian. Alas, Cuirass wasn't known for following alphas who were well liked though. Didn't suit so well for his reputation as a vampire and cannibal. Better yet, the liked alphas didn't usually keep their own reputation so well with him around, mostly cause of his tendency to eat other wolves.

When the female started pulling at reeds near her den is where Cuirass decided to tell of his presence, clearing his throat before speaking so she would at least know she was being watched. It was only polite and though it wasn't a common thing for him to be polite toward anyone, he could at least give her courtesy for her rank if nothing else. She had told him he could stay here and that meant something. Especially now that he knew Belhara had come back to stay as well. When the alpha turned to him, he saw a sudden change in her that was also surprising. It was like a switch had been hit and suddenly she was no longer the youthful sprig dancing around and digging up reeds but a warrior ready to do battle and look the potential of new recruits. Her gaze was intense and unyielding but he held his ground to it, his own features unreadable as he let her do her due diligence of looking him over, sure that she would recognize the wolf who told her he would stay if she would allow a cannibal vampire wolf in her ranks. Surely there weren't a whole lot of those around, at least not openly admitting their cravings. He had stopped trying to hide it a long time ago. His parents had taught him to be proud of what he was and what he could accomplish so why stop now?

Finally that spark of recognition hit her gaze and she smiled, her body relaxing as she offered a wag of her tail. He nodded his head in greeting and respect to her rank, his dark blue eyes glistening as the moment grew with a thoughtful silence. It was like she was debating on where to go from here so he gave her time to make up her mind. Yes, he had approached her openly about what he was and what was expected as far as his very nature but he was sure she might have questions about his loyalty to the pack, especially having just changed leaders and since she wasn't on good terms with the last alpha. You don't usually kill a friend or ally, generally. She must wonder why he chose to stay at all if he liked Aranck but the truth was that he never really knew Aranck. He was newly back in Moladian and needed a place of safety since his kind tended to become hunted after some time. Aranck's pack was the only place open to those of his kind that he could see since most of the other packs had either made their standings clear or just didn't seem that appealing to him. He needed secrecy and sanctuary, both of which he could find in plenty here in the swamp. The alpha was altogether irrelevant at the time. Sure, he was ambitious and he wanted to move up, to show his worth. Eric had shown him that from a young age. If you want something, go for it; don't just sit and wait for it to be handed to you because it's likely to get passed to someone who was willing to work that much harder for it.

She approached him but he could see the caution written in every muscle of her body. Reading body language was something he had picked up on in his early hunting days since you have to know a lot about your own kind if you plan to kill them. His lips tugged into a smirk.

"I can see that."

He responded, his brow rising as he gave a gentle swish of his tail. He took in her size difference but he knew better than to even let the thought cross his mind of seeing her as prey. She was his alpha and for better or for worse, he had pledged to her and he would protect her. He would prove his truth just as he was sure she would prove hers in time. Maybe she would stick around longer than the last alpha did. Maybe he would actually learn her name. She apparently already knew his. He nodded in agreement when she said it and asked what she could do. He tilted his head a little.

"The real question is what can I do for YOU? You see, when I first approached the last alpha...Aranck, I believe? I had goals in mind. I never just join a pack and expect to get by on minimum effort. I like to pull my weight and I want recognition for said weight pulling. For him, I was going to find a traitor and bring them to him but I never really got that chance. I guess he was paranoid for a reason. So tell me...what can I do for you?"

He looked at her expectantly, figuring if she was going to question him right now about his loyalties to Aranck, he would answer as he always did, straight forward. He didn't like to beat around the bush unless he was teasing or flirting with someone so he reserved that mostly for Belhara now a days. If she read out of that that he was just am ambitious wolf looking to move up in the ranks then maybe she could tell him which way to turn his head. She had already given him a task and he planned on doing just that. He was sure the opportunity would present itself to let him protect someone and in the meantime, he would start combing the free lands for someone who might find worth in the swamp like he did, but maybe there was something else she would trust him to do. Something of a more delicate nature. She did, after all, know his particular skillset. Maybe she had prey in mind. He could always hope.