as the animal kings breathe their terror upon you

Now that her eyes were adjusting Qanik could see that the male's heavy body was scruffy and battle-scarred, obviously the scars of a brawler rather than acquired through misfortune. Either a respectable warrior or a dangerous potential foe, either way she would be cautiously diplomatic in her dealings with him.

Qanik inclined her head to acknowledge the male's respectful nod of greeting, but the politely interested expression faded into puzzlement at the stream of foreign words that tumbled from his muzzle. "I'm sorry, I don't understand you." She studied him in the roiling orange light. Did he understand her any better than she did him? She took care to speak clearly in case he did have some understanding of her words. "My name is Qanik. I am from Tortuga in the northern lands."