Redsand Canyon You look a fright boy

At two months old, Cornelius wasn't much to look at. He'd scaled up a few inches from his size at birth but that was the only obvious change; he was still bulky, with a pronounced gut that even Germanicus' training couldn't work away.

He had gotten bold since his initial training days began. It hadn't occurred to Cornelius to be careful, or to include his siblings as he went roaming from the den; he felt secure with all eyes on him.

The smell of meat intrigued his senses. He stumbled along with his nose down in the dirt, as if the soil had the answers, and drew up to where the man with the cache was working. He stopped to stare, then barked, and the sound shifted in to a needy whine.