Serach fell into the background. The arrival of his uncle and leader was a clear signal that this was now officially well and beyond him. Triell came to stand beside him, but the pack's leader said nothing. Leaning in, Serach nudged Triell under the chin in submission before withdrawing back into his own space, pale eyes focused back on Valora. Triell had been silent, but his body posture had spoken volumes, indicating that this was Fenru's opportunity to take the lead. Serach had broken Fenru's silence with his question, and now free to take control of the situation with Triell's blessing, Serach's older brother did just that.
The juvenile watched on, unable to keep his face impassive as Fenru approached the stranger with such aggression and hostility. Serach's pale eyes widened in surprise as he watched, the hair along his back rising in anxious response to Fenru's clear display of dominance. This was not a side of Fenru that the cub had ever seen before. Was this how his mother had behaved at the borders too? Parents. The orphan visibly winced, his posture instinctively drawing backwards from the conflict. Maybe they left her... he cried out in his puppy brain, but he bit his tongue, unwilling to risk Fenru's wrath for pointing it out. Valora would have to defend herself.
![[Image: AplcUOC.png]](https://i.imgur.com/AplcUOC.png)