As the tattered wolf approached, Naira's nostrils flared to take in his scent through the metallic stench of blood. Two scents were readily identifiable and it caused the hair along her spine to prickle. Triell. Ice. Two wolves she had counted among her family once and while the two would always be as dear to her as blood, in Ice's case, she could never be sure the feelings were mutual. She wasn't exactly game to find out. The white male had a way with words, but she never doubted he could back it up in battle if he so wished.

The idiot was just lucky he hadn't encountered Marsh.

Such wounds could only mean one thing. The dolt had thought himself good enough to set foot in the Grove before being given leave by Corinna. Perhaps he was even more lucky it hadn't been her to encounter him... She took a moment to question whether he would have escaped with his life? Probably not. She was far faster than the guardians, and with Indru gone, she imagined the woman was in need of a beating post. Maybe she could drag him back as a peace offering?

Greatly amused by her own train of thought, her eyes narrowed as she watched the stupid wolf wade into the water. Deciding regardless of his name he would forever be known as Numpty in her mind, she inched her rear from the ground to be far better prepared should he decide to pull anything stupid on her. She wasn't much for words when not with those she considered family, far more content to let her body do the talking... or her teeth.

As Numpty drew close her hackles inched higher, her posture stiffening significantly as her tail drew level with her spine. A low grumble sounded from her chest as she inched away from the tattered man. His admission of his willingness to die - striking a chord in the broken woman’s mind. If he wanted to die, and she was frustrated enough to kill... Perhaps she would be able to assist the stupid beast. But perhaps it would be more cruel to let him live? She was still playing with the idea of bringing him back to the river, after all, she was yet to become a mindless killer. She needed a reason.

Her train of thought was interrupted as her name was spat across the space between, the familiar voice so cold in her ears. Her eyes slid across the pale guardian, now torn as to who she should be watching closer. “Ice.” her own greeting was smoother, softer as her tail lowered in his presence. It looked as though she had found herself in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Perhaps the stranger had caused more damage than she had known for him to be followed so far? Perhaps that thought was enough to push her over the edge... Her eyes slid back to watch the closer wolf cautiously as she backed up a little further, not willing to be taken unawares by a desperate lunge. Her head dipped lower to protect her delicate throat but her shoulders did not hunch... yet.

The pale guardian’s question had not fallen on deaf ears, but she would not risk her friend getting in trouble with his pack. Truth was, she had taken to frequenting the area more of late, the peaceful mirrored surface was good for her soul. “Looking for Rhysis before this thing came and threw itself on the floor.” she admitted quietly, her nose crinkling in disgust. What would it hurt for Ice to know he had left her? Left their pack... There was no time for her explanation of her own absence now, perhaps between the two of them, there never would be. But this wasn’t the time for apologies either. Eyes darting from Numpty and back to Ice, she had to question which way the guardian would jump. Between them, they had the fallen wolf cornered.

The tawny woman was grateful for the arrival of her friend a small smile the only indication of the relief she found in his approach, and his familiar scent. Ice however, left her flinching away from the words he threw at her. He was right, after all, wasn’t he? Hadn’t she asked herself the same question over and over? But what if he had come looking for her? What if the landslide had trapped him too? What if he had gone back over the mountain?

She watched with narrowed eyes as the white wolf drew closer, fighting back a growl her tail tucked and ears pinned as she skittered backwards and out of reach. Torn between staying for a stolen moment with her friend and fleeing for her life, she found herself rooted to the ground, wondering if perhaps wading into the lagoon was a safer option... but all things changed with time, how could she be sure opening herself up to drowning was a better option?

No, she would stay where she was. She watched Ice closely as he stood over the battered wolf - wondering. Some twisted part of her would prefer to watch him die slowly, maybe even hear him scream, rather than just watch the blood drain from him. Another part of her knew that unless he fought, she could have no part in it. Her paws shifted beneath her as her head remained low, every fibre of her being straining to see what the white wolf would do next. Torn between fight and flight.