It would have been truly ironic if the young wolf’s attempt at heroics had ended with him knocking over his stepmom, doing far more damage than an owl ever could have. Fortunately, he managed to narrowly escape that tragedy, and Oksana was quick to reassure him that she was unharmed.

“A-are you sure?” He gasped, still catching his breath, but her attention had already turned to his bald spot. The boy cringed slightly, still feeling the feint burning sensation of the fur’s violent removal. Still, he was quick to respond: “Y-yeah, just… feeling the air a little more.” He even added a crooked smile as he felt his heart rate finally slow and the last adrenalin leaving his body. “She let me off easy,” he added with a half shrug of one shoulder. Considering how close those terrifying claws had come to his hide, he was lucky they hadn’t broken skin – the fur would grow back soon enough. “I’m just happy that you’re alright!” That was the most important part, he couldn’t have lived with himself if she’d gotten even the smallest scratch.

Thoughts ”Speech”

The adrenalin quickly faded as it became apparent that both of them had escaped with their fur intact; Well, mostly… Leo even offered a proper smile at Oksana’s concern, wagging his tail to show there was no real harm – already the pain was mostly gone, and within long the hairs would be back in place.

They really had gotten off easy, as Oksana made clear too. Somewhat sobered, Leo nodded, following her gaze in direction of the trees. “Right,” he answered, ears flattening back at the thought of someone else wandering into their same predicament. Turning back to the dark woman, he dipped his muzzle lightly, gesturing for her to take the lead back along the coast. They’d need to take the long way round, but a little walking wasn’t gonna hurt them. He’d stay half a step behind her, just in case, but they seemed to have escaped the owl encounter unscathed.

Thoughts ”Speech”