His condition had made him more volatile than most. Maybe he would have been calmer or more passive if he could only communicate with others but since he was left with no voice, he always felt like no one understood him, in more ways than one. He couldn't say his wants and needs so he had to be more aggressive. He learned to exaggerate his body language to make sure others got the message and when in doubt? Go for the bite. His sister certainly didn't try to fight back. She would start defending herself then yelp when he bit too hard and run to tell their parents. Then his mom would try to mother him softly and get a bite for her troubles and Dexter would step in. Eztli was a little more careful with Dexter because his father was learning just how rough he could be with his boisterous son. His own bites were getting deeper just to get Eztli to calm down and leave the others alone. Dexter didn't like to see his own family getting hurt. He was getting better at disciplining him.

He snapped at her when she spoke of finding HIS tree again and she seemed a little sad about it, asking if he didn't want to play with her again. He tilted his head, his ears twitching in confusion. When had they played? He had peed in front of her and snapped at her and she had done all the talking. Where was the playing? He must have missed it. He snorted and shook out his coat, figuring he'd have to show her what real play is. Maybe she didn't have any brothers to show her how it's really done and she truly thought that they'd already been playing. There would be plenty of time to correct that. He was interested when she brought up her mother. She couldn't speak either? He'd never met another. Maybe he could learn something from her! Maybe she had figured out how to communicate! He certainly had to try. She called him grumpy and he growled. So what? It was his way of talking. She'd have to get used to it if she wanted to hang out with him.

He started pushing her to take him to her den and she started bristling a little. He couldn't help but smirk a little. He always felt a little victorious when he could get under someone's skin. She told him he didn't have to be so pushy and he snorted again, flicking his tail in disbelief. It was all he knew. He snapped at the air as if to say "like what?," his eyes questioning. But she was on the move and so he followed in her wake, curious to see this wolf who couldn't talk. He trotted along beside her, letting her lead but just barely. His ears pricked as they got closer to a den. He could smell other wolves, his own father among them. He showed puzzlement for a moment before he composed himself, shaking his head as he reminded himself that that's not why he's here. The girl called out to someone and then an older female came down from one of the trees of all places. He stepped back in surprise, ears folding back as his eyes widened. How did she do that? He was hungry for knowledge already.

He wondered if it had anything to do with how Dexter could climb trees. Not nearly as easily as she made it look but he had been trying to show his children how. Eztli was clumsy so he found it harder than his sister. He blinked a few times and tried to compose himself, tilting his head in curiosity at the other female, his nose twitching. He stepped up beside his young female companion as she introduced him, wanting to show that he wasn't scared as he straightened up and met the older female's gaze evenly. He scowled at the girl when she called him grumpy again, growling softly so that he'd know she heard it. Then he huffed and looked at the older female again. She tilted her head at him and smiled and his ears folded back again, brows furrowing in suspicion as he snorted and shook out his coat to show he wasn't impressed. He wasn't going to worship her or anything. Not till she showed him something he didn't already know.