Phoenix Maplewood love as if you were a child

he'd intended to bring a bunch back to the pups to eat, but instead, he'd lined his stomach, instead.

there were plenty more, though! aditya guiltily licked his lips, tongue stained a black-blue from the berries. they had this pop of vibrant taste that contrasted nicely against the gamey squirrels and rabbits he had been consuming, and they didn't sit in his gut like rocks. perhaps they would digest poorly, later--

but no--he had long known the merits of these berries. an herbologist long ago had educated him as to the pros and cons of these fruits: which to avoid, which to savor, and so on. he thought he had remembered her lessons well enough to stay clear of the bad ones. besides, he'd seen the deer eat from these bushes with no harm done.

deer weren't the brightest, but they certainly weren't stupid.

it was a day lazier than he was accustomed to. having patrolled earlier in the morning, he now lounged in the depths of the maplewoods, appetite sated from berries. adi now blinked slowly, looking around with hooded lids. keeping his mind off the thoughts that had plagued him for some time. for if he focused too closely on the problems that his beleaguered pack faced. . .

well, it was easier--if not better--to think about berries, and that was that.