Whatever he had been thinking the day he had discovered this patchwork pup at the base of a pine tree was far beyond him now, but found her he had, and raised her no less. She had grown strong and despite the rather permanent scowl that seemed etched upon his scarred features he was proud of her. He did not know everything she had done, but even with himself as her caretaker she had managed to keep a sense of airiness in her personality that he never quite understood. Even as he glowered into the darkness of his den now he was glad to she had come to visit him, though this lessened slightly as she flew out of the den and danced in a never-ending excitement. He had to take a second glance to be sure her paws were even touching the ground.

He chuffed deeply at her response, his green eyes flashing as he watched her ease closer to the meal he had dropped. In a flash he lowered himself over it, his black lips peeling back to reveal large fangs and despite the growl that rumbled in his chest there was an almost playful glint in his eyes. “You know the rules.” His gravelly voice rumbled, the rules he had always made her live by: if she wanted something she had to earn it. It was rather one of his core principles, he knew life would never give her anything and he refused to raise a child thinking life would be easy. Little did he know of how the last few months had changed her, what she had learned and how she had grown but it would be the perfect time for him to find out. His crimson tail flicked behind him, the red of its tip and underside catching in the muted light of the moors ready for her move.