Noah rode the last of the smoke's updraft on Ares's back, watching the water close slowly over the wreck below, when a streak of white and blue cut across the sky, Storm's tail whipping around Ares's flank in a sharp, playful snap.
Ares snarled and caught Storm's tail mid-swing in his jaw, not hard enough to hurt, just enough to make his point, exactly the way an older dog corrected a younger one that hadn't figured out where the line was yet.
"Hey," Noah said, laughing despite himself. "Be nice."
Ares released the tail with a low huff, and Storm circled back around, entirely unbothered, wings flaring in what Noah could only describe as smug satisfaction at having gotten a reaction at all.
"You're getting old, you know that?" Noah patted Ares's neck. "One tail whip and you're already growling like a grandpa. Makes me wonder how you two handle being cooped up together in the domain when I'm not around to referee."
