Welcome to the Circus

Zephyr smushed even closer to Artorias' side as more fights broke out around them, his eyes wide with anticipation and fear that they might end up next. Each new wolf who approached the group made him slink a little lower, but so far none of them seemed to be dangerous or even unfriendly toward his father - and by extension, to him. There was talk of maims and taking of body parts, Artorias explained that this was how wolves fought over leadership. It was beyond anything Zephyr had imagined, and only reaffirmed his understanding that an angry canine was not one he wanted to get on the wrong side of. Remaining mostly quiet while the adults spoke, Zephyr only dared to reply when directly engaged. One such engagement was Artorias introducing him publicly, and the young raptor wilted slightly beneath the attention. "I could be a threat"He murmured beneath his breath in a typical child-like fashion, kicking the dirt with his talons and missing his training swords desperately. Maybe he'd feel safer if he had them in an environment like this, ready to decapitate any who came to strike at him or his Aegis.

One of the wolves to whom he was introduced addressed him directly and Zephyr offered the man a respectful bow of his head in greeting. "Most haven't." He gave back shyly, knowing full well how unique he seemed to be in this strange land. It was not the first wolf of Menagerie he had met, and the other two also seemed spooked by his appearance. Ducking lower so his head was well beneath his protective father's, Zephyr returned his attention to the main event and the battle between alpha and potential-alpha. "Did you have to do this, too?" He asked Artorias softly, just as another wolf came into view. As with all the other approaching strangers, Zephyr clacked his beak shut as Chimera came to stand with them and simply tried to blend in with the crowd as best as he could. Behind all the commotion and energy, he didn't even notice his grandfather attempting to pull the rest of his extended family away.