Fighting Giants

It wasn't long before Naiche was on the ground, and Azure took only a brief moment to hold his muzzle there before releasing him and allowing Naiche to stand. He stepped back, rolling his shoulders and shaking out his coat as the other man collected himself. His grin confused Az, and his brow lifted in an unspoken question. He'd felt nothing but animosity from this wolf the moment they'd met, what had changed?

Naiche declared it a good fight - and damnit, Azure had to really swallow back his reply of 'well, you did your best.' Diplomacy. Mortis was right, and none of these wolves would willingly follow him if he did nothing but beat them down. "You too." It was vague enough that it could have meant 'yes, good fight' or also 'you're faster then i expected too.' Azure did not like to lie through his teeth if he could avoid it, and it took a lot to have him declare someone a worthy opponent. After a beat he decided to offer a little more, reaching out in a small way to his defeated pack-mate. "Don't take it too hard, I've been training since I could remember. If I can't beat you then how am I to avenge you if you fall in battle? Or any other pack member, for that matter." Although he could count on one paw the amount of wolves he liked, he'd still defend any one of them who happened to need him.