“If you let them go, I’ll eat your hide while you’re still breathing!”
How charming.

The thought of going jaw to jaw with that slavering beast flitted briefly through Riuk’s mind. He wondered what rage tasted like, if it tainted the blood in some tangible way. Would that creature taste different than the quivering, cornered femme before him? Something told him that one would taste like meat, and that the other would be like eating ash. Surely motherhood would soften the body as it did the mind and spirit. Surely the love for her tiny pups would seep into her flesh, making it sweet and tender. Shame about the sorrow of watching them die, ripped apart before her very eyes. Shame about the mortal terror of feeling her own body taken, mouthful by mouthful, while air still flowed from her.

He remained motionless behind her, silent, as the sounds of the chase, of puppyish terror and monstrous delight faded slowly into the distance. He watched her carefully, noting the narrow darting of her head, the tensing here and there of individual muscles. In the oppressive silence she was no doubt acutely aware of his huge frame hovering so close. She was looking for her escape, her window to rescue her fallen child and make a break for it. It was hilarious, really. Did she not realize that she could do neither? If she went for the pup, he would be upon her before she could work out a way to lift his torn and broken body without hurting him further. And if she chose to leave the bloodied lump where it lie and make a break for her own hide, he would run her down like so many other prey animals before, taunting her for leaving her son as a snack the entire way. He felt a laugh boiling up in his throat as he imagined the terror of making such a choice play through her smaller frame. It was everywhere, in all those subtle glances and shakes. He made no attempt to suppress it and let the ghoulish sound rip itself from his maw. He flung back his head and let the deranged sound bounce from the rocks all around them.

He cut it short with a forceful, audible snap of his jaws and advanced on the other wolf, slowly closing the already short distance between them. He brought himself with feather-light steps level with her shoulder and regarded her with wild eyes, head cocked to one side, a terrifying mockery of a smile plastered over his features.

“I bet you’d like to run, wouldn’t you?”

He whispered, speaking aloud for the first time since arriving on the bloody scene. His voice was a purr, deep and resonant with a velvety smoothness even he did not recognize.

“I bet you’d like to go to your poor, broken pup there and try to save him. Lick his wounds, tell him that the big bad monster is gone. Such a good mother.

He darted lithely in front of her, crossing to the other side of her body to speak directly into one pinned ear.

“Or perhaps a shit-poor mother. Maybe you’re thinking that you can save your own pretty hide if you just leave him here for us and make a break for it yourself. Tsk tsk. Well, go on then. I would love to see you try. I would love to run you down and take you myself.”

With these words he darted his head down to snap his teeth at the femme’s paws, as if daring her to take a step. He laughed aloud again when she did not. Changing positions again, he brought himself nose to nose with her, fiery gaze boring unblinkingly into her own eyes.

“What’s the matter, mommy dearest? Don’t you see him over there? He’s dying, you know. Just like that little screaming bitch is dying somewhere as we speak. And what can you do? They're dying, they're all dying, and you just stand here, a trembling, worthless waste of meat !”

A sharp edge had worked its way into his voice. Half of his words were spat at the femme now instead of whispered.

“He’ll be back any moment. You know that, don’t you? And then you will die where you stand, you cowardly little bitch ! Go on, take a step. At least try to do something other than stand there and wait.”

“Give me a goddamn reason to taste you.”

. | . | . | .