He could tell she didn't understand what he meant when he said it was more precious but she wouldn't understand. Who could? Xerxes was his and his alone. His to cherish, his to grieve. But at least her curiosity was short lived. She smelled the blood too and he saw her gaze move from trying to pry beneath his defensive body to whatever it was that called to both of their hungry stomachs. He could tell by the way her body tensed that she was redy to go after whatever it was but she didn't seem to want to look away from him either. She didn't seem to trust him. Good. Xerxes was safe as long as she stayed over there. He remembered well the way the last female who'd come into his Grotto had treated his brother and left him with a cracked jawbone. Fen wouldn't take that chance again.

He gave her the conditions and was patient as he could be while she thought about it. But then she said okay and he felt his body relax a little, though he didn't move from where he was. As she turned toward the smell and took a few steps toward it, he felt himself relax a little more, his tail waving behind him in approval as she then stopped and said that he could lead. He nodded, nudging the skull more under the bush before he stepped away from it and closer to her. He brushed past her though careful not to touch her as he stalked the scent. It didn't take him long to find the fresh marks of hooves and he licked his lips again, his nose to the ground as he licked at a fresh droplet of blood on a leaf. "Fressh. Closse." He hissed as he moved on, crouching once he saw movement ahead, one ear flicking back to make sure she did the same. When he saw the limping doe, his mouth really started to water. She was definitely injured, barely limping a few steps before her legs collapsed beneath her as she let out a small cry of pain. His muscles bunched as he got ready to lunge. "Get before sshe runss." He whispered when he heard her behind him and then he was off. Launching from the brush, he charged at the doe from the rear, leaping onto her back before she could do much more than cry out in alarm.

Her eyes rolled in panic as she started to rise and he knew his weight wouldn't be enough to hold her down. His dull nails scrabbled at her hide as he bit at her neck for purchase as much as to injure her more. His gaze searched for the female wolf, hoping she hadn't just stayed back to watch him fail. Even injured, the doe would get away if she didn't help bring her back down.