carve your name [challenge]

Bacchus' challenge didn't bring out anger or sadness in him. He wasn't upset, he wasn't worried. He was surprised, but that was the most he felt. He knew when he became the alpha of Fiori that there was always the possibility that he could be challenged. He felt lucky to have gone this long without a challenge, raid, or war of some kind. He became the ruler of his pack exactly a year ago and for an entire year he had been given the peace to live in a pack he loved with his beautiful wife and young children. He was surprised that it was Bacchus that would be the one to do this, but he was not upset about being challenged or mad that one of Athena and Amalia's sons would be the one to challenge him.

He wouldn't hurry to arrive. He finished his patrol around the border and went to his den first to ensure that his sons and daughters would remain in the den until he and Svetlana returned for them. He did not want them there at the challenge. They were far too young still to be in such a place and to see him fighting like this. Only then would he make his way toward the battlefield. He didn't want to rush. He wanted to remain calm and collected as he strode toward the large group of wolves that had gathered. He recognized many of them, though there were a few that he did not. He wouldn't stop to speak to them all, but he would go to Svetlana first to press his nose to her cheek and give her a reassuring smile and he would give the same smile to his mother, Amalia, and Athena as they sat near where Bacchus was waiting for him.

Leo would approach Bacchus and stop several feet away. He held himself tall and proud, his shoulders relaxed as he looked to the larger white splattered man. "Well, what a surprise," he'd say with a slight smile. "To think it feels like only yesterday that you and Absinthe were asking to go on some journey. You finally return just to challenge me." He chuckled softly and gave a little shake of his head. "Fine. So be it." He was too proud to refuse his challenge. He had to try to protect his claim, even if he would fail. He lowered into his defenses, with his paws settling at equal distances apart, his toes spreading, and his claws digging into the loose soil. His ears would fall back against his head and his eyes narrowed as his lips pulled back in a snarl, baring his teeth. His hackles raised and the skin bunched around his neck to protect it as his head lowered to be even with his spine. His chin tucked down over his throat and his tail fell even with his spine as well. His knees bent slightly as he tensed his muscles to brace himself for Bacchus' first attack.

"Speech"