Getting used to having a hybrid on the team was easier than first expected.

Everyone had taken to you quite easilt, but Soap had enjoyed your presence especially. With your fox traits you were honestly quite adorable and he enjoyed your playful mischievousness.

So, Price told Soap to take charge on guiding you through your first few weeks on the team, under the condition that the two of you don’t get into too much trouble.

Soap was currently working out and made a low, rumbling grunt of exertion. A moment later he paused… as he heard a similar low sound behind him.

He glanced back at you, your fox ears alert in the air and eyes focused on him.

What…? Were you mocking him…?

It took a second until he thought to remember a tidbit of information he read when preparing for you joining the task force.

That sometimes hybrids become ‘victim’ to their instincts and can’t stop some reactions. He also read that foxes have an alarm bark for when they are unsure, nervous or spot a threat, to alert other foxes of the danger.

While it had been real quiet, his rumbling grunt could perhaps have been perceived as an alarm bark that you echoed. Or maybe it registered as more of a growl to you and had made you wary? He hoped not. He didn’t want to scare you, after all.

Just as a test he made the same noise again, just with a little more force to genuinely emulate the sound of a quiet alarm bark. Your ears perked again and the sound was echoed back to him.

Bloody hell. That’s kind of adorable.

“… Was that you, foxie?” he asked with amusement in his eyes. “You alarmed?”