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Young, cocky and intruding on pack lands? There was a time Ralastor fit that description. Not anymore, though, and as the alpha male followed the scent of the outsider he held himself with the confidence of a wolf who knew he had the support of his followers with one call. Even if he had grown from the swaggering bully he'd been in his youth, Ralastor was still pretty cocky, so he didn't bother to summon backup immediately. He didn't want to alert this intruder just yet, and he was sure he could take him in a fight.

He stalked the silver-blue stranger from a distance, observing how he carried himself. When Ralastor was satisfied that he seemed to be hunting - clearly past the boundary markings into Warugaruga lands - he moved in. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he rumbled, coming up behind the other wolf.

The odd reply threw Ralastor for a loop momentarily, but he regained his composure quickly. "You really should be," he responded smoothly, body language screaming dominance. "If you knew what was best for you, well, you might even be begging for forgiveness in advance." The dark wolf pulled back his lips a little, not snarling so much as showing off his weaponry. "Not that I plan on showing any mercy."

He took another step forward, willing the intruder to take a step back. Ralastor stared, intense and direct, at the other male's face. There seemed to be a fight in the air, and adrenaline coursed through his body in response, setting him on edge, willing him to act.

It was either bravery or stupidity for this male to stand and fight, or else a combination of both. Both could easily be moulded into a suitable pack member - into a soldier. Possible plans for the stranger began to develop within Ralastor's thoughts - but he was still intruding on pack lands, and talking back to the alpha male. "As you wish," Ralastor growled darkly. Before any sort of recruiting could happen, he had to be put in his place.

Without any more warning than that, Ralastor launched himself at his opponent, aiming a bite at his legs or chest.

Calmly taking the counter-attack, Ralastor endured a bite to the back of the head in order to grind his teeth deeper into the young male's leg, hoping not to cripple him but rather slow him down and flood him with pain. Then he released his grip, ignoring the sting of hurt in his own senses, and danced back, circling, looking for an entry point. He wanted to pin the other wolf, if he could, so he watched for a way to get him off balance.

Convinced he could see something akin to panic in the expression and body language of the other wolf, Ralastor felt victory draw near. A dark satisfaction filled him, blocking out the sting of the wound to his crown. When his opponent charged, he surged forward to clash teeth on teeth, hoping to bowl him over with his own momentum and expose his neck and belly.

Ralastor loomed over the fallen male, a front paw on either side of him. He snarled, bringing his teeth close, inches from the delicate tissue of eyes, ears, nose. "I could split you open and leave you to die," the alpha whispered, enjoying the taste of victory. "Should I, do you think?" Suddenly he whipped his head down, with the intention of locking his teeth around the packless wolf's windpipe; just tight enough to have him at his mercy, but not enough to kill him.

Ralastor released him with a cruel smile, slowly backing off, giving him the space to get to his feet. He examined the defeated wolf, various thoughts dancing behind his auburn eyes. At last, he spoke.

"I am Ralastor, alpha of the Warugaruga. Now that you've learned your proper place... I might consider offering you a position within my ranks." Gathering himself to his full height, his tail raised, chest swollen, he began to ponder the ways in which he could use this brash young adult. "I admire your fearlessness." He snorted. "Your form could use a little work though. If you are willing to submit to me - to take orders without question, to fight without hesitation - my pack may find a place for you."