He’s being teased. Played with like a wriggling worm on a hook. And yet, he permits this. He takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes. If he cannot speak, then they shall feel each other. And he would take her to the ends of the earth and back again, if that is what she desired. He will be her ferryman down the styx! He doesn’t flinch as he hears the snap of her beautiful jaws, in his left ear and then his right. With every snap, like every click of her blunt nails on the rocks, he learns her rhythms. What makes you tick my little princess? After half a minute or so, her teeth are clasping and pulling at the long, dense, and matted fur around his ears. At first, he lifts his lips at her in a sneer. A nice warning to ask her to back off, please. If she persists, he will try to start blocking her assailant daggers … With his face.

He grunts, and purrs as fangs end up … In his nose, up his lips, down his tongue… Was that the sharp flint strike of tooth on tooth? Is that blood? Is that my blood or hers? Ok, this has to stop. BUT I WANT MORE! He withdraws his head and barks at her. In a single leap, he launches himself from the boulder, and catapults himself backwards. His front paws land with the grace of an angel but his back legs hit the dirt with a loud thud. Within a few seconds he is back on his feet. He looks up at her again, the moon peeks out from behind a cloud. Her form is dimly illuminated moonlight. Are you my moonlight shadow? There was both reverence and defiance swirling in his molten gold eyes. Sorry, my love, this time you're not hurting me. And I am going to make my stand.

He bows his head to her, tail swaying lazily behind him. He will submit to her, but he will always be his own beast. But, she is very fun to play with. A golden eye trails to the criss-crossed branches just behind her. What other secrets did this forest hide? Something was calling to him back there. Something … ancient. He casts his full gaze back to his brindled princess, will she stop him, or be his guide?

Black lips twitch upwards into a twisted smile. Locking four giant paws into place, he parts his crooked jaws and throws his massive head to the sky. His howl starts low at first, but he has enough control in his lungs to gradually change the pitch. He holds his melodious notes for as long as he can, soon everything in this forest will know that he stands here. Let them all come and face me, or see me. I will have … my war!