The scent of the other wolf was still there. Fen contemplated picking up Xerxes and taking him back to the Grotto, back where he could keep his brother safe. But he held his ground when he heard soft steps coming through the bushes not too far from his location. The growl of his words gave way to a more feral growl rumbling in his throat as his eyes searched the bushes for the other wolf. When she came into view, his hackles vibrated even more, the tip of his tail flicking in agitation. She looked him over, seemingly more curious than anything else but she was close. Too close. When she spoke, one ear flicked forward to listen, his eyes darting from her to her surroundings in case she wasn't alone.

She said if it wasn't more than rodent, she wasn't interested. Then she scolded him for his reaction to her. The growl deepened in his throat as his paw pushed the skull further under him. "Not food. More preciouss." His curiosity then got the better of him, his own stomach growling as if to remind him of the whole reason he'd left the Grotto in the first place. He glanced around, sniffing the air as if she might have food with her, but he didn't come up with anything. At least, not at first. His eyes widened as he took in the scent of fresh blood. Something was bleeding, and it wasn't either one of them. A wounded deer perhaps? He licked his chops, just thinking about it before he remembered that the other wolf was still here. His lips twitched as he took a step toward her. Maybe he could use her, if she was hungry too. That is, if he could trust her not to come near Xerxes. "Hunt the wounded. Eat. Don't come here." He used his paw to motion to the ground where he stood, showing her precisely where he didn't want her to go.