She had been lured from her kingdom, like a mouse to its trap. Waking up to that particular sky, on that particular morning, had felt different. Albeit a touch uncertain of what that feeling was supposed to mean, curdling unpleasantly in her stomach like a warning ignored, she had never been quite so inclined to venture off into the unknown for a bit of good-hearted exploration. Her paws carried her in whichever direction that they pleased, and she had been relatively at ease to follow without complaint, of the belief that, wherever it appeared that she was going, something unfathomable would be waiting there to greet her. She did not question the momentum of her white paws until the earth below gave way to that of an unnaturally pleasant valley, rolling hills dotting the landscape, a vibrant rainbow stretching across the sky. So many others were capable of seeing beauty inside of those things, and perhaps she could have succumbed, looking up at the rainbow with the same admiration as her pathetic peers, had there not been someone, or rather something, far more gruesome tainting its prettiness.

It was by a stroke of luck that she had happened to be situated in such a manner as to approach from directly behind the beast. She had paused, stopping so suddenly, adjusting her eyes with a series of skeptical blinks, unable to believe that she seeing what she was seeing. Surely, her imagination had simply grown tired of the games, of the wondering when this exchange would happen, and had thus taken it upon itself to make her visualize something that she would sooner remain blind to. When the blinks did nothing to lessen the familiar black of his features, however, she found her lips forming a delicate smile, paws itching to inflict a few wounds. This was, truly, the perfect opportunity. As of now, he did not see her, did not so much as sense her, and yet she could not bring it upon herself to sprint the short distance that separated them in order to take him by surprise and, hopefully, kill him before he could hope to react. Instead, she walked calmly; with an air of pleasantry, as though she could not wait to shock a friend with her unexpected presence.

When she was close enough that he would be able to hear her voice without having to strain it, she contemplated her words, settling for something short and sweet: “It seems I cannot get rid of you no matter how hard I try.” Although she spoke with a clear element of sarcasm, the smirk on her face and the light-heartedness with which she addressed him could easily deceive an onlooker into thinking she was making a charming remark. She stopped approaching, anticipating the moment that he turned his head to see if his ears were betraying him, and his long-lost enemy, seemingly left behind in the Haven, was not directly behind him to continue playing the role of his antagonist. “I would contrast you with that of an annoying pest that seems to appear wherever it is that I go, would it not be most offensive to the pests of our beloved world.” She mused the likelihood that he was, in fact, already a pest without her having to make the contrast, and she felt the sudden urge to laugh despite the seriousness of this exchange. She made a path over and then behind her ear with her front paw, acting as though there was no threat standing before her, and thus no reason to be cautious. She did not doubt, not even for a second, that he wanted to kill her almost as much as she wanted to kill him. But it was not as simple as that, despite being ironically as simple as that. They were constantly toying with each other, and nobody could be dead - not one, and certainly not the other - until the game was complete.

When the curse word rolled over his tongue with such ease, a fluid smile stretched across her white muzzle, as though she very well was proud to burden him so. She did not back down as he neared within the span of a few elongated strides, meeting his emerald eyes directly, dismissing the challenge that etched itself into the authoritative positioning of his tail. She had expected as much of him upon gathering his attention. Even back in the Haven from which they had both traveled here from, he had always been quick to assume his right to power and to dominance. It had never threatened her. Not in the way that he likely meant for it to threaten others. She was aware of his strength, of his prowess in combat. If the two of them were to fight, here and now, or upon a later date, he would have an advantage with his size and his muscle. But she chose to not worry herself over it. She had fought plentiful a powerful, worthy opponent. She despised the idea of him being worthy in any means, but sizing him up as she did now - a deal had been forgotten, for her mind did not dwell upon those she would sooner forget once they were no longer a part of her life - she reasoned that it would be most interesting to see whether or not the odds tipped in her favour.

How pitiful for him if the great, hateful King - the type to spit on the grave of any female - was brought to his knees like a cowering fool by none other than the gender he sought to overpower and make slaves of.

“No, I dare say he was not fit.” There was no kindness communicated through her words. She spoke to him like he was nothing more than an insignificant pup that did not know any better than to ask stupid questions. “Though it appears that so few Alphas of this day and age are.” She had smelled this male's revolting scent all over Erenyx's grounds; it was what had drove her away, and kept her from joining. She would never tire of making sure he understood that she did not look at him and see something deserving of sovereignty. No matter what he amounted to in what remained of his life, and it happened to be quite a lot, she would never be impressed by filth like him. Standing her ground, the beginning of a snarl curling the edge of her lip, she refrained from responding to his dominance. As much as he managed to crawl under her skin and annoy her beyond the point of return, she would not show him any weakness or vulnerability. She was much too composed, too talented in the arts of being the deceptive bitch that he knew her as, to fall underneath his mere words and actions. “Has the previous Elite of Maple Woods gone and claimed himself a kingdom? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of a bunch of fools cowering in the face of how much you seem to fancy that tail of yours.”