dig a tunnel dig dig a tunnel

The second the wolf whirled around aggressively, Eru immediately bolted backwards several feet, crouching defensively and suspiciously. Ears were flattened, teeth baring in return, body tense. He wasn't going to fight this wolf; there's no way he'd win with the size difference. His people also were not fighters; his people were hunters and survivors. Fight or flight ultimately led to flight, because they wouldn't survive otherwise. To fight - when he was on the larger end of the spectrum for a male, and the majority of his people were smaller - was a death sentence for most. Now, if they were fighting as a pack, that was different; they have, could, and would eviscerate someone who invaded their territory or hurt their pack. Betrayals led to death as surely as trying to fight a giant dire sized wolf by yourself.

However, it seemed like the second the wolf laid eyes on him, that at least some of the tension left his body. Was he expecting someone else? Or just startled, inasmuch as Eru was startled by the extreme reaction? One thing was for certain - this wolf was not alright. He seemed afflicted by the disease that was in this land, a disease that apparently was brand new as of this past winter. Creepy. This guy didn't have... weird growths from his body, but he was oozing blue goo out of his orifices and clearly something was affecting his head. Still, though, he wasn't sure about overall engaging this wolf. At the same time, he had to tread carefully; he didn't want the male to think he was aggressive or threatening when he wasn't.

With a quiet huff, he forced his body to relax. He straightened slowly, one ear pricking, though the other still twitched nervously. His lips dropped back down and his paws were firm on the ground, eyes kind, yet not showing fear. "You don't seem fine," he commented quietly. "However, I am unafflicted as of yet." He wasn't sure he wanted to be afflicted with this strain most of all... the others seemed uncomfortable but at least he wasn't... this?

"It's a hole, yes," he confirmed, nodding. "It's your hole, I see. A very nice one." He took a seat, slowly and calmly, still several feet away from the wolf. "A very important hole, it seems. You don't need to hide it. I won't take it from you." No one could say he wasn't astute, but then again, this wolf wasn't exactly being... subtle. The frantic words, tone, and the attempting to hide it from his sight... yeah something was important about this hole, and Eru wanted nothing to do with it.

"Speech" "You"