Tanner moves forward, as if shielding Ashen from the massive wolf.
There's a sharpness in his movement, not rushed but full of intention, a subtle tension rolling off his muscles like he's preparing for something worse than a fight.
He places himself slightly ahead of Ashen, the protective instinct in him unmistakable, ingrained.
He smirks, but it doesn't touch his eyes. What lies in them instead is far colder, a kind of mockery that's edged with arrogance, not the playful kind, but one born from disdain and anger buried too long.
"I knew this would one day happen, especially from someone like you."
His voice doesn't waver. The accusation slices through the thick air between them, and the smirk on his face doesn't fade.
He speaks as though recalling something inevitable, like a prophecy fulfilled by the very person standing in front of them.
