Ouroboros Spine Under billowing sky

@Lótëë

By the lake's edge he had stalked for three nights, having found the prints of wet, webbed feet in the mud. Where a stream leaked away from the lake a beaver had chosen to build his dam, but not so far away another water-dwelling mammal had begun to frequent, making its home in a burrow dug into the muddy bank. Roots kept the den's entrance from collapsing under the rain, but could not protect the otter and its family from the wolf that stalked in the darkness, watching its habits to anticipate its movements. Routine would prove to be the otter's weakness and when it poked its nose out of the small, dark mouth of its den, the pale wolf was waiting.

It took him some time to cleanse himself following the brief but loud struggle. The otter wasn't strong enough to pose much of a threat, but the footing had been slippery and the creature had thrashed just enough to send them both toppling into the murky water. He wanted to preserve the pelt as much as possible, but drowning the otter wasn't an option- it would be able to hold its breath longer than he would, he figured. It didn't take long for the creature's struggles to bring about its exhaustion and death, but by the time it went limp Adrastus was soaked and muddy. Hardly how he wanted to appear to his betrothed at all.

By the time he'd gutted the otter, cleaned himself up and had fetched the lynx pelt from Kukutux, the sun had begun to set. With his ulaq as prepared as he thought he could get it, he placed the otter's pelt on the ground, and called out for his intended bride.