The closer Skoll drew closer to home, the more confident he became. The scents of his pack and family bringing him the sort of reassurance he needed now that he was back at home. Since leaving the edges of the Marsh, he had not spoken a word to either of his companions. He still had a mind to abandon the two of them and retreat back to his hideaway in the heart of Willow Ridge. If it weren't for this whimsical need to make sure his younger brother had been minding pack borders, he might've been sound asleep by now in the middle of the day - like he was supposed to.

When he stopped at last to take a look at the two of them, his doppelgänger and the near look-alike Piety, he scowled. She seemed to be looking at @Wraith for a sense of certainty. It almost made him laugh; truly, in the prince's mind, the only thing she ought to be afraid and wary of was him... The killer of Hollowheart Keep's Leader, the murderer of his own cousin, the manipulative man of a mate, the smiter of the true Queen, the preacher's son whose divine intervention never, ever came...

He gave Ayla a particularly judgmental glare as she stood there, waiting for instruction from either of them. She might as well have been a lamb lined up for the slaughter. His head tilted subtly to one side. On one thought, he supposed he could just dump her into Grizzly Hollow's - Rook and that gray fellow's (@Veho's) territory - backyard. If it had become such a sanctuary for Piety, then maybe Ayla would find it just as suitable. Maybe. But, first, the Archer royal had a test to conduct with her. Just a test. After that, she was welcome to leave, unless something became of what was soon to come.

A sudden smirk appeared on Skoll's ivory muzzle and he finally eyed his fellow pack mate, "You can start looking for the little brat if you want, and I'll catch up. Don't want to bore you with this... initiation stuff." His lips drew into a harsh line as he waited for an indication over whether or not the man would remain.

With satisfaction, the royal watched as the still nameless man, his "friend," walked out of sight with a simple, "I'll get started then." The tip of his tail flicked. Most excellent... Before he could even do or say anything else, let alone really look her over, Ayla seemed to find herself. She was no longer a mouse but a lion. His glare kept on his face. It was bold of her to open her mouth; even then, however, Skoll was not impressed. "I was speaking to my pack mate," he enunciated every word as though he were trying to speak to someone who had trouble hearing. Each syllable ringing loud and clear. "I offered you a place to stay; if you want a place to stay, you have to be cleared by my superiors. Niles is my concern, not yours."

Stupid, he scoffed silently in head. What a waste. Obviously Hecate, his current main squeeze would find no challenge in Ayla. At least, not intellectually or, perhaps, even physically. Shame.

Her gaze had hardened and the prince gave her no signs of letting up. He might not have been awed with her in the slightest but he was sorely mistaken in thinking that he could pull off the whole "nice guy" shtick - and, now, he wanted nothing more than to be relieved of Ayla's presence. He would just tease Hecate instead, verbally claim that he met someone at the Marsh and gauge her reaction then. Her question caught him off-guard, but her slick tone definitely rubbed him the wrong way and it showed. His hackles came up and his tail began to rise from its already tense position at his back.

I AM THE KING! he had nearly roared in her face, but he knew the outcome of that decision would only drown him in humiliation if his mother or sister heard him utter such a thing. No, he wouldn't say it until he reclaimed the position back from his uncle... Save his breath and spare him the time and unnecessary emotions.

The demon prince was about ready to simply storm off when the two were joined by another dark figure. It wasn't @Wraith, though, like he had anticipated, but his sister, the current reigning monarch of the Ridge. He cursed under his breath, the actual word camouflaged by the sharpness of his inhale. Morganna growled at him, as was customary, and he rumbled back in return. To any outsider it might have sounded like a challenge or a means of disobedience, but between siblings, litter mates no less, this was how they loved and respected one another, no matter who was in charge. Skoll's eyes were kept trained on Ayla; only the swivel of the ear closest to his sister showed that he was paying any mind to the Queen.

"More ears fer my collection?" she teased, the words hushed against his eardrum. "Yer shouldn't have." Skoll's muzzle wrinkled and he turned to her, speaking normally without a care about whether or not it affected Ayla at all, "No, not this one." His voice was agitated and, finally, the fur along his spine fully bristled. He swept across Morganna's path, lifting his tail to hit the underside of her chin, stopping at the edge of the borders with his back to the two women. "I've changed my mind."