sunlight filters into the den, a summery glow of dancing yellow and gold. tuesday's dawn, at the present moment, was transfixed by this; the shapes of the shadows and the way they carved out multidimensional figures. being as young as he was, a lot of this was still new to him as his brain got used to controlling this gray-pelted meat sack, and as such, the simplest of things entertained him.
such as a centipede, which now crawled along between blades of sharp grass and skittered effortlessly across the dirt and clay. the dawn boy felt as if it was taunting him!
he rolls out from his nest which was settled in the back corner of the den and begins to crawl toward the entrance, squinting as his eyes adjust to the brightness. he waits for a second, and then another, and then —
a shockingly loud slap could be heard as he squishes the creature down into the dirt, smushing as hard as he can with all the might in his two forepaws. when he peels back, there are slimy bug guts between his toes.
he cannot quite decide if it was worth it or not.
but, now thinking himself to be the greatest predator who ever lived, he whines and whuffs for his family to come see his accomplishment.

a sibling arrives. the boy shrinks away as he watches her come in, guarding the squished insect with a chubby forepaw. his first thought was that perhaps she had come to steal it!
but she does not, instead crooning a soft note of appreciation and settling down beside him. the dawn boy averts his gaze, tipping his head to the side as his tail swishes along the ground. then, he drops down to his belly and scoots closer to her, snuffling at the corner of her mouth in the hopes that she has brought him food. if she was not here to take, she must be here to give.