Swiftcurrent Creek Hell or high water

Because he hadn't been raised to put any emphasis on anyone's rank besides his father's during the winter, Phoenix wasn't honestly aware of Chusi's doghouse status. Perhaps it had been explained to him at some point that she was in trouble, of some sort, but whatever that implicated had gone right over his fat, sweet head.

He walked about aimlessly for half an hour before he found one of the round bellies he'd been looking for, and he was quite embarrassed to have caught her lounging so... prone. Not that he was shy about the feminine body— quite the opposite, really— but it was something about that swollen belly that weirded him out. It made him feel overly cautious in situations where he'd normally storm the bitches beaches. He tried to make a lot of noise as he drew nearer, and then he dropped the fish with a squishy flop.

"Hey, I was wondering if you were hungry, er... Chu... si...?" He was hoping, guessing, and asking all at once.