Verdigris Ravine and the rest hope for a shoulder

today zoug kept to the cool cast by the archways of the ravine. he panted to cool himself and by turns toyed with a piece of sharp bone he was slowly whittling with his side teeth.

the other one was new, draped in intriguing scents. but her stare unnerved him, and so zoug pretended that he did not see her. 

yet it went on. the clan customs of politeness were instilled in him: staring was rude. he sat up and slanted his ears backward. usually he would have slowed his signs for another of tribe, but now he moved in quick gestures and a single hard grunt. "say what you want. i am resting."