She's wandering when she hears it; she thinks it sounds broken, pleading. A cry for help to the child's ears. It's not another wolf, but she follows the sound anyway. Her heart beats fast, but she's curious and a little worried, and maybe she can help. Or, more accurately, maybe mom can help.
She's too young to fully understand what she finds. At first she can't really tell what it is — it's bloody and broken, and she may not know much but the angle of the body seems wrong. It's a rabbit, she realizes. She's seen these, but only dead. Her approach is slow and uncertain, limbs trembling.
Another high, keening noise comes from the creature and startles her. She jumps back with fur fluffed, but the new development only sets her back a few moments; she stares a bit and approaches again, just as slowly. Dying, she thinks, watching the twitch of its limbs and the quiver of its small mouth; this is dying. She sits near to the rabbit, so near her fur brushes against it, and she wonders.
She's too young to fully understand what she finds. At first she can't really tell what it is — it's bloody and broken, and she may not know much but the angle of the body seems wrong. It's a rabbit, she realizes. She's seen these, but only dead. Her approach is slow and uncertain, limbs trembling.
Another high, keening noise comes from the creature and startles her. She jumps back with fur fluffed, but the new development only sets her back a few moments; she stares a bit and approaches again, just as slowly. Dying, she thinks, watching the twitch of its limbs and the quiver of its small mouth; this is dying. She sits near to the rabbit, so near her fur brushes against it, and she wonders.
August 09, 2018, 12:39 AM
He had been passing by when the alarming shriek caught him off guard, ears flattening against his skull as he made his way towards the sickening cry. It was only when he caught a brief whiff of his sister did he find himself on edge, pace quickening to a run as he feared the worst.
Thankfully it was only a matter of moments before he spotted the small dark form in the distance unharmed, a sigh of relief slipping from his lips as he approached the young girl. His attention fell to her first as his nose gently washed over her, carefully inspecting to make sure she wasn't injured before his gaze eventually came to rest upon the disfigured hare. He paused for a moment before bending down and grasping the shrieking rabbit's neck between his jaws, a single crunch sending silence into the air.
Thankfully it was only a matter of moments before he spotted the small dark form in the distance unharmed, a sigh of relief slipping from his lips as he approached the young girl. His attention fell to her first as his nose gently washed over her, carefully inspecting to make sure she wasn't injured before his gaze eventually came to rest upon the disfigured hare. He paused for a moment before bending down and grasping the shrieking rabbit's neck between his jaws, a single crunch sending silence into the air.
The arrival of her older brother startles her more than the dying rabbit. She fluffs up again and shies from his searching nose, whining and tucking her tail between her legs. He's not very familiar to her despite their relation, but she knows, at least, that he won't hurt her. It's still nerve wracking enough that she cowers as his jaws close around the rabbit's neck, brilliant blue eyes wide and anxious.
She doesn't say anything. She presses her belly to the ground and stares at him, gaze flitting to the rabbit once and then back to him. Questions hide under her tongue, squirming and eager but blanketed by fear. For the first time (but certainly not the last), she wonders why she is so afraid. There's no reason she can put a name to — she's yet to experience any true hardship — but the feeling lingers nonetheless. So she stares quietly, trembling; she can't seem to do anything else.
She doesn't say anything. She presses her belly to the ground and stares at him, gaze flitting to the rabbit once and then back to him. Questions hide under her tongue, squirming and eager but blanketed by fear. For the first time (but certainly not the last), she wonders why she is so afraid. There's no reason she can put a name to — she's yet to experience any true hardship — but the feeling lingers nonetheless. So she stares quietly, trembling; she can't seem to do anything else.
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