It is an addiction for Zaphkiel. The adrenaline that courses through his veins burns, a type of burn that makes his heart thump and makes every breath more potent. Each scent heightened and he fancies he can feel each snowflake as it melts upon the tips of his thick fur. To him there is nothing more worthy in life than defeating ones foes or risking ones life for the reward was even greater, measured in relief and the details he could pass on in his stories. If he exaggerated a little, well, that couldn't be helped. His was a boisterous nature fed by the bloodlines of Azrael and by the otherworldly nature of his mother. That Astrid seems to fall into his path each time he is out hunting something to do could be a sign from the fates above, a star in the darkness, or just sheer luck.

She didn't seem too put out by his presence though despite the bite to his ear or the shoving to the ground. Zaphkiel suspected that she was like him. That she enjoyed such moments of surprise; she hadn't demurred when he had mentioned the bear. Just took it in stride even if she managed to play the grump card, but it would take much more than that to wipe the intense sensation of enjoyment out of him. He liked her bravery. He liked that she didn't cower or whine. She just pushed through it with a completely unruffled air except perhaps for the hot glare in her eyes and he was pretty sure it wasn't out of anger either.

Zaphkiel lets out a booming laugh as soon as she does, thrilled to hear such out of her. It was a personal achievement for him. Probably for anyone. His yellow eye turns to gaze at her, taking in her alabaster figure against the pale backdrop of winter and the dark mark on one side of her face. She was lovely, glowing almost, and her green eyes stood out in stark relief. "Maybe that is why you are so flawless," he replies smoothly back at her, flashing another grin as he rolls over and finally stands, making sure to shake out his fur so that some of the snow would land on her.

The brush of her nose against his fur stops his movement though, his body shuddering beneath it as he turns his head to look at what she was doing with ears pricked and a surprised look on his face. Physical connection was not frowned upon in his family, it was something cherished, but he figured with Astrid's prickly attitude that she would be more annoyed by such attempts. Yet here she was, combing out his fur from beneath the thick snow, her touch making him feel suddenly hot and cramped.

"After I deal with a bear, it won't want to come back to find me!" He boasts, puffing up his white speckled chest proudly and his tail wagging abruptly. "You might be able to hide at first but what if someone stumbled upon you. What if I was a rabid wolf and I found you in the snow? What would you do?" He jests, suddenly leaping forward at her in an attempt to knock her over and nipping at her foreleg with a chuckle.