It's hard to say, that I'm back on a straight line

@Daighre has first dibs

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Akin to a bear meandering along, the beastly wolf traveled at a slow pace, placing wide paws over moss-laden rocks with precision and taking in the scenery before him. Dire wasn't quite sure how he had gotten here - perhaps he had just zoned out as he walked, or his memory was slipping as he aged - no matter, it was just more land behind him with every step, and he paid little mind to how he had gotten here. He focused more on where he was going.

These highlands were vast with rugged mountains in the distance. Dire could respect their unimaginable power, and he was well-suited for the rugged terrain. But he kept moving, as it didn't feel like home. To be fair, nowhere felt like home to the monstrous wolf - save for the lush forests and meadows reminiscent of the valley he was born in. The man traveled south in hopes of finding that place - though he knew monsters like him would more commonly hide away in ragged mountains like those in the distance, and become fabled tales that mothers would tell their children to keep them off the treacherous paths, he couldn't help himself. He longed for a peaceful meadow of tall grass on a mild, partly cloudy day like this, where he could bathe in the sun and let his mind wander more than his legs.

After all, without the grasses and underbrush this area lacked, he could never conceal his great form well enough to hunt, and food was also a high priority. It felt as if he hadn't eaten for days, and he could hardly recall if that was true or not. Less he found something slow enough for him to catch, he had to keep moving.
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The overgrown—oversized—brute brooded along, slow and heavy, and Daighre waddled by.

His ears pressed back.

His tail kept close to the hocks of his back legs.

He overtook him. Carried on the same path of straight.

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Dire stopped in his tracks, head raising to watch the other pass with his heavy brow furrowed. Interesting.

Few would pass so close to him, and put the beast behind them. But this blonde male acted as if nothing had happened. He must be either bold or foolish, Dire concluded, and assumed the latter from reading the tense posture of the smaller wolf.

Gazing after them with squinted eyes Dire wondered if he should warn them, either of putting monsters on their six or of their ignorance to do so in the first place. But, he knew it would be nothing but a waste of time, and resumed his heavy walk, this time behind the bold wolf.
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He cut ahead of him—

And he followed him, his path behind him.

His ears folded back against his head.

He walked faster.

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A slight smirk appeared on his broad muzzle as he followed, watching the fellow quicken his pace. Even if he couldn't see his expression, Dire could only imagine the tension in their hackles.

“If you are so concerned, perhaps you should have thought of that before putting your back to a beast?” The man's deep, guttural voice reached out to the blonde wolf, speaking it as a question with his tone implying he should already know the answer.

His head was lowered below hulking shoulders and his sharp golden eyes peering from beneath his dark brow, he practically stalked the male as he padded along their intervening path.
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Tch.

What kind of shitty fucking bastard called themselves a beast?

He did, apparently.

He scoffed. His ears pressed back against his head. His hackles stood on edge.

“Fuck off, fatass.” He called over his shoulder.

He had better shit to fucking do.

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A deep chuckle rumbled in his throat.

They would insult him, and next likely run off, “as most do.” He said only half, allowing the fellow to guess his meaning. Perhaps they imagined that they were being intimidating, by cursing and calling names? How scary.

Oh, how it would feel good to retaliate, Dire thought, but he knew it would be to no avail. He wouldn't waste his energy over what he presumed to be a bad guy wannabe - they weren't the first, and certainly wouldn't be the last. After all, Dire truly was the larger of the two men.

Perhaps he would just follow behind them, then. Stalk them, frighten them, maybe he'd even get the treat of watching them truly run.
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“Whatever.” He grunted. His ears still matted back against his head.

Fucking psychopath.

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He left.

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Dire huffed, amused. In his mind, 'whatever' was the same as admitting defeat. Whether it defeat from not having an argument, or too lazy to explain an argument. He couldn't say he was proud, though, winning brief squabbles against pups was futile to him.

The beast would watch them, until eventually their paths parted and he was left to carry on with his journey south.

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Done. Thank you for the stardust!!

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