I don't think too hard about thread titles tbh

The diseased wolf is entirely too fast for how it appears. Akito watches in real-time as it peels past him toward the girl. How did it get so close to her? Frustration builds in him as he pedals his paws faster. Closer and closer he gets to him, but he has to figure out what to do when he gets there. The wolf is clearly far too sick to get close to. How it stumbles and leaves its mouth gaping as if it can't breathe through its nose warns him of the sickness.

Could he push it from the ledge?

Just as the girl whirls on her paws, face to face with the wolf that stumbles before her, gaping maw slewing mucous and yuck, Akito also puts on the brakes. Moving swiftly, dirt churning beneath his paws, he reaches back to slide his bamboo staff from its sheath. Wielding it in his jaws, he doesn't quite put himself between the two wolves, positioning himself more beside her to keep room between him and the wolf as well.

Lashing out quickly, Akito pokes at the wolf's shoulder with his staff. Thrusting it hard so that the sick wolf stumbles back a step, but it persists. His teeth clamp down on his staff, a growl rising in his throat. His eyes flicker toward the cliff's edge. He would have to push it over if he wanted it dead without touching it. Moving his gaze to the girl, he tries to meet hers in hopes she sees his plan. Would she go along with it?