Stairway to Heaven

The curl of the lip wasn't missed by the young phoenix, whose own features were briefly marred by bunched muscles of his snout to reveal the tips of his canines in response. If he wanted to play a game of veiled threats, the titan would play. Cerulean gaze flickered over the harsh lines of the male's colouring, so different from the typical mottling of his kin. "I haven't seen you around before, either." the smaller male replied coolly. The smooth pivot of his bulky form to face the auburn male was matched with an appraising, cold stare. "I'm a member of this pack, same as you...apparently. Though I've not scented you around very much. What'd you do? Run off and came back?" the burly, crimson eyed male sniped.

One brow lifted at the unwarranted aggression, though a steady rise of his own temper began to simmer beneath his pelt. The mortal was walking on thin ice. "Unlike you, I am always welcome within the borders of the Empire, no matter the length of my absence." he retorted with a curled lip, auds flicking back in irritation. Plush banner swept a few more times across his heels, only a fraction too slow to be considered a lashing. "What's your name, mortal?" he reiterated his earlier question, though now he asked it for the sake of committing it to memory.