Fox's Glade lush life

had shardul developed a taste for canine flesh, he might have struck at the child. as it were, he rumbled a low growl at the mention of the ugly beasts he loathed thoroughly -- it seemed he and the tiny jackal shared a common enemy. resilient also was the cub, to have altered herself in such a manner.

pushing his broad face forward, the panther took in the scent of the bleeding flesh. there upon the fringes of the reek lay the threat of infection. the child had lamed her body only to die of putridity.

lowering himself to his haunches, shardul pinned the child with his cold eyes. "thou shalt die," he told her pointedly. alone and with no one to tend the wounds upon her youthful frame, nature would reclaim her -- by sickness or cold.

shardul could not be said to be a merciful beast -- he showed none unto wolves -- but there sparked in his breast the briefest shadow of sympathy. "is this thy wish?" if so, the cat would spare her the agony and slay her quickly.