Ouroboros Spine digitalis horridus

The boy shoves himself belligerently across the path and up along the ridge, scrambling when the path cuts out or bends in a way he does not expect, but otherwise doing his best to keep ahead of those sharp teeth. He is not agile - he is too bulky - but there is a desperate kind of speed to his steps.

The stranger quickens, likely due to frustration or merely knowing the paths better than the boy, and he thinks he feels her hot breath on his heel. There is no telling the snap of twigs from the snap of teeth; but all that matters in the heat of the moment is escape, so he continues to climb and fight his way across the terrain until the crevasse comes in to view. It looks so different from the outside in, and he wonders if he has found the right place.

The scent of himself overwhelms the closer he gets. There is a discarded pile of bones near one ledge (a forgotten breakfast given to him by someone or other) and a ratty piece of red fox fur by the entrance to his cage. It is discolored from his use; in pieces after he had shred it during an emotional first night as a captive.

Now he sees it as a target to aim for, and hurries to the cover of shadow which the crevasse affords. Kiliutak tucks himself as far back as he can manage within the chasm, which has only grown smaller as he's matured here beneath the watch of guards. His heart is hammering in his chest; but he looks out from the darkness at the mottled wolf who pursues him and hopes she stays out.