I don't need saving!

He saw a situation and responded.

God, he should have thought this through. Not that he had the luxury; the behemoth turned to face Iarlaith, all fangs-longer-than-his-toes and eyes burning murderous intent. He almost had to remind himself that was exactly what he intended. Though Iarlaith was aware of the she-wolf in his peripheral as he charged, he hadn't the time to check on her, altogether more concerned with how each stride carried him toward his inevitable fate…

I'm an idiot.

I'm definitely an idiot.

There was no chance for him to talk his way out of this now, was there?

An audacious grin spread across his face, because he was going to regret this tomorrow. If he got to see tomorrow. His heart was racing, and he was certain if he actually tried to think, he'd end up dead. He had to be fast—his brother always told him he so. Of course, back then Iarlaith argued he only needed to think faster. He couldn't pretend now that he wasn't at least a little grateful for his brother's insistence on sparring together when they were younger. It had its uses.

By the time Iarlaith had closed most of the distance, she was on her paws. And running. Not gracefully. But he'd applaud her on her efficiency, if nothing else. At least she got away.

He was less sure about himself, however. He was about to go head-to-head, literally, with a wolf easily twice his size and then some. Just when Iarlaith figured the best he could hope for was a quick nip at the heals before he was sprinting away for his life, the woman turned.

She'd snapped for a hind leg.

Well, color him impressed. Running head-first into snarling jaws didn't strike him as his best idea; he was sure it wasn't. Still, he had momentum on his side, and he'd use it. He kept up his stride, trying to side-swipe the monster, aiming snapping teeth for another hind leg in the hopes he might somehow trip the beast up. If Iarlaith had to fight, he'd fight… even if it meant he was on the defensive. He'd always been able to outmaneuver his brother. Even if he was nothing more than a bee heckling a bear, he'd bloody well do it. And this was no exception.

"Speech"