Water dripped from bloodstained lips as the beast lifted his head in response to the deep-throated rumble which echoed across the lake. His hackles raised and his lips pulled back from his teeth, revealing canines still tainted by blood. The rumbling subsided but the brute still stood on guard.

He had felt somewhat crazed by the time he finally found the lake. He had gone what seemed like days without finding water to drink- the pass was a labyrinth and his terrible short-term memory kept him going in circles as he searched for a stream, a pond, something. Eating mouthfuls of snow helped to quench his thirst but he knew fully well that he would easily catch hypothermia if he continued to quench his thirst by swallowing snow. He felt the pain in his gut every time he swallowed more down- his body was becoming more and more reluctant to take in any of icy snow that melted into icy water in his mouth. He knew he needed real water, and he needed it soon. He could not sleep, could not think. His lips trembled and he bared his teeth at the slightest sound; it took nothing for him to snap.

The warmth of blood helped to satisfy his thirst, and he had torn a snowshoe hare to bits not long before he'd found the lake. Thus, his bloodlust and thirst satiated, he felt more like himself, though it did not make him any calmer when he heard the dark, deep rumbling sound coming from the mountain.

It was a challenge, a threat. Staring vaguely off over the lake, the beast raised his tail and growled back.