enfilade

Already, he had company. He smelled it before he saw it, the shadow of another wolf moving through the foliage. Distant and difficult to make out, but the movement was unmissable. Someone was coming to intercept him. Nycteus kept moving, staying on the trail. He won't get to it before this other wolf got to him, he knew. He was already out of time.

"You there, that's far enough," said a man with an abrasive voice.

Nycteus stopped in his tracks then, turning just a bit to meet the stranger head-on. His feet were planted solidly on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Silver eyes scanned over the wolf. A guard or a soldier, no doubt. His stance was strong and his body well-conditioned, with a face incredibly dour and harsh, dark eyes. He noticed a tear in his ear and he could swear a couple of scars, too.

The grizzled stranger demanded he be gone. Nycteus considered it for a moment. Most times, he would comply. However, prey that was rightfully his lay just ahead. He'd come this far. He'd all but killed that doe; time would do the rest of the work for him. He wasn't going to let his effort be wasted.

"I mean no harm," said Nycteus. "My quarry led me here in its confused, frightened wandering. I'm here to claim it, then I will leave."

Razza

By the first words out of the grizzled man's mouth, Nycteus knew he was not interested in negotiating. He had a thought, then, to heed the man's words and leave... he could wait a few hours and come back for his kill. However, he wasn't certain the guard would move on from this area and if he did, it was doubtful he was the only one patrolling tonight.

He'd likely get caught again, and even if he managed to get to his kill undetected, something else will likely have gotten to it before he did.

It was worth it to persist.

Nycteus stepped forward just as the other man had, sweeping over him with an up-and-down glance before meeting his eyes. They didn't quite match -- the left one was murkier than the other, not quite focused the same. Nycteus's lips were very slightly upturned at the corners, almost like the shade of a smile but it did not at all reach his eyes. "You and I both know that would be a waste of time," he said. "I was not asking. I will claim what is rightfully mine."

Razza

A step to the side and a flash of sharp teeth, the guard's snarl pierced through the night. Nycteus was unfazed. He stood still, stance squared, directly facing his adversary. His unblinking stare was heavy and intent, waiting. It was those words that ignited a flash of anger within him, his expression dropping in an instant.

With darkened eyes, he spoke, his tone chillingly calm. "Try, then."

Razza

Nycteus watched his opponent spread out his paws, lowering his center of gravity, his eyes focused on the man's feet then his eyes right as he dashed forward, something dropping off of him at that moment too quick to discern. It was a split-second's distraction but there was no time to wonder or care. There was barely time to react. A swift backwards hop let him miss the snapping of teeth by just a hair's breadth. Kicking off from his landing, he flung himself towards the wolf with his forepaws half-tucked, aiming a bite for the leather of other wolf's nose.

Razza

His fangs missed their target, slicing into his opponent's shoulder instead. The taste of iron was was just a fleeting trace, but the first blood always roused something fierce in him. His jaws parted for more, only for his next attack to be interrupted by a hard slam into his flank, the impact knocking him back. On reflex, Nycteus swung his back half behind him and tucked his chin, bringing his front right in the line of fire.

Jaws clamped down on his muzzle before he could move, teeth searing into his skin. Nycteus bucked up, in an attempt to yank the other man up with him, and brought down a raised paw to rake his claws into the man's cloudy left eye.

Razza