Duck Lake in the belly of the beast

Hello there!

His travels had left him ragged. In the past several weeks Jagoda had grown thin and there was redness in the corners of his chartruese eyes. He hadn't anticipated the famine having touched these lands as well, but there was little to be worried about at this point, because he was already used to being hungry. He would have to find food in one way or another, so onward he went, leaving the coast for futher inland, thinking perhaps things would change.

On this day, they did. The smell of blood hit him in the face, and his body immediately reacted, the lurch in his stomach just as strong as the saliva that pooled in his jaws. He also smelled water, and, to his distaste, another wolf. In all likelihood the canine was the cause of the wonderful blood smell and he would have to fight his way to a meal. But hunger was beast of its own and now, Jagoda did not care what he had to do. As he neared the lake the sound of duck-calls rang in his ears. There were many of them, and that made him think perhaps he had more than one chance. If he had to fight his way to a meal and lost, he could hunt, or vice versa. 

It was a creamy female that had made the kill. Though she looked hungry, Jagoda noticed that she was also pretty, and it pained him to think he might have to hurt her. His ears low and a frown crossing his features, the masked male approached her. 

"What have you got there?" he asked, stopping short of the woman and her meal - a bloodied duck.