Arthur's gaze drifted toward the dense heart of their territory, where golden fur and gleaming eyes prowled beneath the canopy. His voice was calm as he spoke to the beetle, though his intent was anything but passive.
"I'll give them a chance, but if they force my hand, then they will serve in another way," he said.
Every interaction was a choice, ally or summon. Either way, he would walk away stronger.
...
Unfortunately for Arthur, or perhaps for the Golden Manes themselves, Arthur had no way of knowing that he was about to cross paths with the most arrogant and volatile member of the entire pack. What he assumed to be routine patrolling behaviour was, in truth, a consequence of inner-pack conflict.
This particular Golden Mane was not simply standing guard. He had recently been involved in a serious altercation with the pack leadership over a transgression that had violated one of their fundamental laws.
