The wolf was getting so close, Kichi rumbled in his throat body tensing and adrenaline starting to flow and – and then the wolf stopped when Kichi was about to spring to meet him. That threw the pup off balance for sure. He remained standing with his legs taut ready to react. Kichi was giving the guy a wary face, head lowered to protect his neck. The look in his eyes wasn’t some naïve innocent pup, it was a young wolf ready to risk his neck in a fight.
As the wolf took a breath and seemed more under control Kichi slowly relaxed his stance, but he continued standing between the deer and stranger. Kichi wasn’t concerned with a guy hollering in response to who knew what. Kichi’s experience with other wolves only went so far and unbeknown to him, his own family was far from the normal.
“He’s mine. Not as in my meal, he’s my pet and my friend. He’s smarter and braver than normal dumb deer.” Yah, aside from laying claim to it he could even stick up for its value. “Anyone ever tries to eat Torch and I’ll rip open their belly to see if that solves their hunger problem.” Kichi turned his head so that it was facing Torch as he made the threat so the threat would seem more generalized than targeting Ignis. Kichi didn’t desire to get in a life and death fight with this wolf and potentially die, only advise them on how important the deer's safety was for him.
There was definitely a darkness to the words and demeanor but then it faded as he turned his attention back on the strange wolf, “I’m Kichi, who are you?” The question was casual and lighthearted as if it had been two different wolves speaking. The darkness of life and the joy of a puppy both having their place in his small life. Maybe there was a reason the wolf’s odd actions earlier didn’t seem to affect the pup.
Juggernaut
