But she didn’t leave. Like a glacier cracking, her facade fell. From the depths emerged the primitive power of wolves; instinct. It laced through her tail and up her back. There was one benefit to instinct - it was usually honest. Asunder’s stance didn’t change, but his heterozygous eyes recognized the posturing and he settled into his paws. Alphas were used to brawls and he was not. As a loner, Asunder learned to avoid them, and was an experienced escape artist. To the right were trees, and behind and to the left him were open plains; both were viable options for escape depending on the opportune moment.

Distaste punctuated “Iromar” when she identified the pack he was headed toward, as if the name smelled like a rotten carcass. Asunder let silence confirm the fact while he wondered, Why bother with me if she doesn’t like who I’m associated with? Her second statement caused his brow to furrow together, aggravation making his eyes small. He reflected on Flower, who seemed genuine and sweet and then on the alpha before him, who’s eyes were stoney with righteousness.

Asunder’s logic contrasted the statement to Flower’s chipper and denied the gray female’s words, but his instincts and heart were less reluctant. One he relied on, and it harmonized with the gray female’s primal display. The other’s paradigm was inclined to accept disappointment rather than rage in passionate protest. Two out of three.

Asunder felt as if mud were sliding around his legs, making it difficult to move away. He felt an ache in his chest - the one that he’d momentarily forgotten while he trailed south to a pack where he might have fit in. Asunder’s eyes drifted sideways and his lips exposed teeth. He should be used to the crack by now, but it pushed his ribcage outward, trying to implode him. Fury met his distress. He growled.

“Oh,” he huffed, and returned his gaze to her face, spiteful. She probably thought she’d done a good deed… but the knowledge spread roots of misery deeper around his soul.

Figures he’d follow someone who was an extension of the shadows in his past. Just once… it would be nice for things to be as beautiful as they seemed. He wanted to bite her for the damaged hope, but it would be pointless to let this alpha have his fury; it would only be wasted energy he would need to hunt something. She'd crush him, anyways. Asunder sighed, and then pivoted north. The south might be colorful, but it wasn’t any brighter. Head low, shoulders sinking, he took a heavy step. Now, he felt the distance he’d just traveled.

“Thanks, I guess,” He told her in a voice brittle and hollow. Asunder took a second step in his return journey to the expanses of isolation and snow.