Wapun Meadow a hellish glow of hot orange

he burst like an apparition from concealment, his hungry eyes on the bird. she froze, a high warble of alarm moving her throat -- and with a flap and a flutter spun round. her escape was cut off by the coywolf, and she faltered on long limbs, talons scratching into the earth as she skipped into a long-legged sprint with wings flapping.

he fell upon her and she sunk to the ground in a scream -- with a shake of his head he snapped her neck and her movements slowed to a still -- for a moment her limbs still worked in a running pattern before they too stilled.

victorious, ich'aak turned to his comrade with the turkey tufted in his mouth: in silence he met the male's gaze for but a moment, dropped her body there, and retreated into the woods.