wc:342 If I'm having a derpderp moment, and she actually did pass out there at the end, please poke me. XD;
The stranger's reaction to his sudden approach was swift. The way she lowered herself to the ground and averted her gaze spoke of obedience and proper submission and the sight pleased the instinctively territorial part of the Marino. But the display went further than that, her painfully obvious fear mixing with the musky scent of urine. He had never seen someone cower in such fear before him, though he could hardly blame the girl. She was skin and bones, weariness seemingly etched into her submissive posture. After pushing through such an apparently rough time in the world, Ehno would be afraid of what to expect from the borders of an unknown pack too.
The entire display tugged at his heart, and he already felt himself loosening up from his stiff stance. As defensive as he was around strangers approaching their home, it was quite clear that this youth would hardly be capable of stirring up trouble for them in her current state. She muttered a single word before collapsing into an even further dismissive display. He shook his head very slightly. Subtle displays of submission were all it honestly took to please the Italian, though he understood quite well how such behavior was bred into those who grew up in the heart of the wild. It appeared that putting up such an appearance was only adding to the girl's strain, and Ehno pitied her. He was too kind to play the part of territorial pack member for long with a sight such as this in front of him.
"There's no need for that," he said, words slow and careful, now longer containing the edge of territoriality. "We have food, back in our home farther in the territory. What is your name? Can you walk?" He wouldn't feel right leaving her here like this. He could bring her to the manor, whether he had to carry her or not, and offer her a meal to fill her weary belly. It was the least he could do, and he knew Savina and Anu would be understanding.