Larkspur tightened his grip as the girl attempted to wriggle free. Instead of continuing on with his assault, he patiently waited for Sahalie to figure out how to free herself. Unable to really talk and let the girl know she was doing fine, he settled with a grunt and a tail wag. For a few moments they didn't do much. Sahalie was trying to figure something out and Lark kept his steady grip on her. He quietly growled to urge her on, but then started to feel the girl move —
actually move.
He attempted to move, but wasn't quick enough. Sahalie's legs forcefully jammed into his throat and shoved away from her. Lark lost his footing and stumbled away from her, gasping and coughing as he tried to collect himself.
"I'm okay," he sputtered out before she could try to ask him. A few more deep breaths, throat-clearings and a cough or two for good measure and he was as good as.... Well, as good as Larkspur could be.
"You might be better off if you didn't think too hard," god forbid Larkspur start out with something positive. She had done well. Hell, she'd done a lot better than he'd anticipated.
"If you practice, you'll get better," it was something she probably already knew, but it didn't help to be reminded. He was finished playing around like a pup, so found a sunny spot under his tree (
his tree, mind you) and plopped himself down.
"I doubt anyone would really try to fight you," he mused,
"Being the Darling and all." He somehow found it hard to see Sahalie in a fight. Not practice, but something where her life would really be in danger. Hell, he couldn't see someone challenging her when she became an alpha (and she would be, some day, he felt pretty certain of it). Sahalie wanted the best for everyone, and who wouldn't want
that at the head of a pack? Larkspur put his head on his paws, his throat ached and the small wound on his chest burned.
"Plus, if they do, I'll kill 'em."
And he meant it.