There was a subtle and quick change over the young lady. Her eyes glinted even more mischievously as her protector lived up to all she had ever known him to be. Never had she known him to miss a step in teaching and training him. Even through all her personality differences and ‘mistakes’ she had made in her life she had come back to him and he had been as consistent, and kind, as ever. Even now, when he huffed and muttered at her, pulling his black lips over his fangs she knew what to expect and knew not to be scared of those pearly whites.

She slipped easily to the side, her tail never loosing its wag but her body still lithe even in the wiggling movement. Over the seasons she had not been in Iromar she had trained every day in Taviora. Drills by herself and drills with the warriors there with the training Maverick himself had given were starting to truly grip her and take hold to where her movements were effort and thoughtless. Smirking, she sat beside him, her head held high… which meant it might have come to his shoulder… Is that any way to talk to your Alphess? She quipped, her voice a mocking haughty tone that was clearly not her. Her tail did not even cease its sway to raise itself to prove her rank. What if the rules changed? They hadn’t. In the moment after she spoke she darted forward to snap at the food. It was a test, one she loved. He would always keep her on her toes and never truly roll over and let her ‘win’ without her proving herself first. Queen or not, Alphess or not, he would hold her to the same standard he always had and she would always be the pesky little flea that had burrowed into his crimson fur.

Teeth snapping, she aimed nips at his paws and face, hovering protectively over the carcass. If she had not snatched it up in her first attempt, she was fairly confident she could playfully annoy his face away from it so she could at least grab a limb and bolt.