Forgive us our Trespasses...

When the sturdy gray wolf's flicking ears detected the sound of paws racing over the rocky ground, it was already too late for him to do anything more than turn his head slightly a flash of golden pelt before the larger wolf slammed into his side. The breath left Shay with a sharp grunt as the impact sent him rolling. He regained his feet clumsily and quickly took stock - his side ached a little, but it didn't seem anything was broken. The other wolf had managed to catch the scruff of his neck as he went down, so there was a stinging pain and a bit of blood. No serious injuries - acceptable outcome.

Shay turned to face the other wolf, his head cocked to the side as he studied her form with his silver eyes. Her extreme reaction to his presence in the territory suggested she was Tortuga, and her scent confirmed it. Body language showed readiness to fight. Anger? Anger was likely. Perhaps annoyance. Anger and annoyance were sometimes indistinguishable to him. Logic suggested that having trespassed on pack territory, this body language represented a serious threat to his safety. His previous observations had suggested a wolf confronted with such body language would display submissive postures.

Belatedly Shay lay down and rolled partway onto his back, flashing his belly to the other wolf. He checked it over in his head - belly exposed, throat bared, paws tucked in. Everything seemed right. If this situation stayed true to previous experience, the posture would inform the other wolf of his submissiveness and lack of hostile intentions.

All the while these thoughts played out in his mind, his eyes stayed fixed on her with that same curious blankness. No fear, no anger, just a mild interest. "I am called Shay Bearkiller," he informed her, his words tumbling out quickly and in a near monotone. He evinced no pride at the surname, nor any other apparent emotion concerning it. "I am running an experimental analysis of the dynamics between Tortuga wolves and unaffiliated intruders." He saw no reason to tell her anything but the truth, in his own logical manner.