Moonsong Glacier mundaka

it was a young cooper's hawk he snared today: breast still quite white even though dappled with much brown, eyes still wide and full of wisdom not yet imparted.

adi's gaze met the quarry's for an instant before his final death blow;

a snap of his teeth, a snap of the neck, a stillness under his grasp.

not for the first time, he wondered what could have become of him, had some predator taken advantage of his youth and naivete as a pup all alone. he stared down upon his kill, jaw slightly agape, breathing hard with the pursuit.

it didn't seem quite fair, that he should live so many seasons and this magnificent creature should not.

maaf karo, he whispered, then began to drag it toward the nearest cache. pups would be born soon enough, and mouths a-plenty to feed.

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुणुयाम देवाः।
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाग्ंसस्तनूभिः।