"Lupus, Lupus, Lupus. You never learn, do you?"

Aryel was still smarting from the embarrassment she had suffered at the hands-paws, rather-of Lupus when she found herself stuck under a large root. So it was no surprise that, discovering him on Throat territory, she was quite prepared to beat him to a pulp. Or, more preferably, char him to cinders with the new abilities she possessed. She had heard his howl all too clearly, and from the middle of the godsdamned Throat, of all places. Did he want to die? If that was the case, she'd happily oblige.

Java had been left to sleep the day away in the thicket she frequently bedded in, she planning to do nothing more than patrol today. It was a good thing, though, since she would doing an awful lot of rearing up and smashing her hooves into Lupus's body. Having her young companion clinging to her back would make things difficult. Now, ambling towards the white wolf, she shook her head slowly, almost sadly. "I told you, didn't I?" she asked as she neared him. "I told you that you weren't welcome here." She reached within herself to feel the fiery magic that now sang through her veins, and brought it out. Her eyes, normally the color of the deepest ocean, now began to crackle and flicker with electric blue flashes, then achieved a solid blue glow. Blue flames, seemingly conjured from the air itself, began to lick around her hooves and spark at her wingtips. She didn't release all her magic just yet, she would wait until they actually fought. For all her showiness, she was still unable to maintain the flames for long before they fizzled out, leaving her tired. "And yet here you are." she said, standing before the wolf, head tilted. "You know what that means, right? It means I gotta kill you." The flames began to jump again. "And I wouldn't mind doing it, either, considering the treatment you gave me when I was stuck. But because I'm a forgiving horse, if you give me the reason you're here, and I deem it a good one, maybe I'll let you go with just some minor branding." As she said the last word, she stomped a front hoof, sending up a puff of blue flame. Oh, how good it felt to be the one swaggering around instead of bearing the insults.

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"Well see, that's the problem." she said, still advancing. "Because that's sort of how territory works. I'd expect a wolf of all creatures to know that." She was acting as unconcerned as the wolf was, although she believed she had more reason to act so. Even she could handle him in a fight, and now with her magic, it would hardly be a fight. She watched as he rolled over, almost laughing at how foolish he was. He could bluster all he wanted, she still had the upper hand. She stopped for a moment, considering as he asked what she would brand him. "Nothing so long." she assured the wolf. "There's not enough meat on your skinny flank to print a message so long. I'm thinking of something more traditional. A good old-fashioned hoofprint right on your tail end." She had had enough of bantering, now she got down to business. With a snort, she broke into a charge, hooves churning up sand and blue embers. She lessened the grip on her magic, allowing the flames to fizzle out so she could save it for the attack.

She never got the chance to finally end this wolf's miserable life, though, as a sandy-colored she-wolf joined the group, giving them a pleasant greeting, and, of all things, a nuzzle to Lupus. She stopped just short of them, sand flecks spattering the white wolf as she glared at the brown wolf. She knew this one too, from the Heavenly Fields where she had met that Basin filly. And yet now she bore the scent of the Throat. "Unless you're here to help me chase off this trespasser," she said to the female slowly, her words heavy with barely-restrained fury, "you should leave." By that nuzzle, it was obvious the two wolves were friends, something that utterly baffled the the blue mare. Lupus didn't have a heart, how could he possibly have friends?

But friends or no friends, Lupus was leaving this territory, and he was going to do it now. If the she-wolf would not step aside, then Aryel would make her. The Sergeant was not one to exert her authority any more than she had to, but she would use it here if the female proved stubborn.

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Lupus's order to leave was met with a puzzled look. The blue mare blinked, then erupted into raucous laughter. It was several seconds before she could get a hold of herself. "You..." she managed, sides shaking from laughter "are in no place to give orders." She gave herself a shake, still grinning. Lupus thought he could tell her what to do, on her own herdland? He was even more of an arrogant idiot than she thought he was. How in the hell did Ayaka fall for him in the first place?

Her smile became less broad, however, as Ayaka refused to back off. Great, now she would have to make bad blood between herself and the wolf. "You aren't in any position to give orders either." she said, swishing her tail. "As Sergeant, I'm quite sure I outrank you, therefore I'm to be the one giving orders. Likewise, Lupus, you being a known enemy on Throat territory, you'll need to listen to me too if you don't wish to be chased out." Daring a smug grin, she turned and began pacing in front of the two. "You two have a couple options. The preferable option would be for Lupus to leave immediately. Need I remind you, Ayaka, that he is part of an enemy group? Or, you can stay, provided I stay as well to keep an eye on Snowball here." She fixed Ayaka with a serious glare. "Kri would not approve of you speaking with a Basin member, you know. I could report you. My job is to protect this herd, and that's what I damn very well intend to do." She turned again to face both of the wolves, tilting her head to one side. Was she aware she was being an enormously obnoxious ass? Quite. But how she loved aggravating Lupus.

"So what's it going to be?"

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Aryel tutted as Lupus snapped at her. "Talking like that in front of your girlfriend, Snowball." she said, shaking her head. "She takes orders from Kri too, you know." That was directed at Ayaka as much as it was at Lupus. Her eyes narrowed as the male declared he would be coming here frequently. "Well, I'll just have to increase my patrols, eh? Can't do to let an enemy in without supervision. Frankly, Lupus, I neither trust you nor see how someone like you could possibly feel love." Her implication went unsaid. She still didn't totally believe Lupus and Ayaka weren't conspiring together, and she would be keeping an eye on the she-wolf.

She scowled again as Ayaka spoke, but stayed quiet until she was done. "I most certainly do not." she snapped. Why in the hell would she ever become friends with a Basin horse? Every last one of them was arrogant, racist, and deserved no better than what they gave. Still, maybe Ayaka somehow thought differently of them. Aryel ground her teeth and rolled her eyes once before speaking again. "Ayaka, I think you're an idiot for trusting him. And if he causes any harm to my family, then you'll suffer after I'm done with him. I will not report you, and he may stay, but so will I." With that, she walked off a few feet, locked her knees to a comfortable position, and stood quiet, glaring at both of them with hard eyes. She would not make any more comments unless they spoke to her, but she would listen.

Every bone in her body wanted to chase the white wolf out, and possibly the brown for good measure.

(Edit: You can skip Aryel for the next several posts unless someone talks directly to her.)

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