Larksong Grotto nigredo

a fox hung from her magled jaws, and the old scar on her neck bled again. diesel walked proud, smiling to herself.

she hadn't seen the shadow, not until close enough that she was certainly seen first. 

there was that second of instinctual wariness, but it was still just a literal second. after it was the wagging of her meaty tail. 

the fox swayed as the mastiff came closer, swagger in her step. she stopped maybe three leaps away from the wolf. a brow - the intact one - rose and the dog slightly shimmed her catch.

in the style of waving a hundred dollar bill in front of a beggar.