Alys’s invitation did not move Regan forward, but it was enough to loosen her hold on the earth beneath her paws. The pull to belong tugged at her as she saw the familiarity with which Cassian and Alys regarded one another. It was a wanting not isolated to her animal form which made it all the more powerful now.

Regan’s eyes met Cassian’s, and she tentatively stepped forward. At first, she kept herself low, but as she neared Alys, Regan raised up, lifting up on to her hind legs and full towering height as she looked down on her. There was still a rumble in her throat, though not as unwelcoming as before. Cautious, yes, but hopeful.

Unless Alys pulled away, Regan would stoop to sniff her.

There was no denying the tension as Regan grew near, the two females unsure but with the surety of Cassian egging them on, they seemed to take small steps. Regan rose up tall, but Alys only shifted to face her more directly. The rumble from Regan was met with one from Alys, her hackles rising a bit and body tense but she didn’t move.

Instead her snout went out to sniff at Regan as Regan moved in. The two sniffing at one another with caution in their eyes. She wouldn’t roll over, in fact, she’d remain standing just as strong as she had before and keeping a close watch on the younger werewolf.

Cassian was ready to run. The women, however, weren’t. He delayed for their sake, nostrils flaring as he read the air between the two. He’d intervene if he had to.

Regan let Alys sniff her. Eventually, the younger wolf moved back, hair along her back lowered but the look of suspicion still flickering behind her eyes. It wasn’t an acceptance Regan offered, but a truce. Raising back to her hind legs, Regan howled, a jet of flame exploding from her mouth and lifting to the sky as she did. A warning of sorts. A caution that she did not intend to bend, to be lesser. Peaceful coexistence is what she offered, and for now, it would have to be enough—for both her and Alys…unless the other witch protested.

Regan’s eyes would turn to Cassian then, paws dropping back to the ground as she slunk low at his side.

The small human part within her wanted to laugh at the theatrics. But the wolf only flashed her teeth, baring them because if the other thought she’d roll over to her, then she was about to have fur between her teeth. She may have been away, but she was not going to fall second to anyone else.

Just as flames stopped from the other were, flames erupted from Alys’ beastly form. An incantation rocketing into the air; Regan wasn’t the only one with fire. She didn’t fall back to all fours, instead watch Regan, and as long as she remained, only when Cassian would move would she turn her attention slightly more towards him.