Blacktail Deer Plateau Dissolving the seeds of a moment

Only after they were both full did the two pack mates properly acknowledge each other on more than a feral level. "Hey," Pied replied to Zombie's greeting, still licking her lips. "Good find," she observed, gesturing toward the half-eaten deer. "We can cache this for the pack. I know of a stockpile close by."

Pied glanced sideways when she saw Mag swoop down and land on the blood-spattered snow near the carcass. The bird hopped a few times, then stood next to the deer's head, her head tilting as she looked into one of its dead eyes. Pied watched curiously, yet when the magpie stayed deathly still for a few beats, she remembered to return her attention to Zombie.

"How've you been, Zombie?" she asked, stepping around the carcass and seating herself on slim white haunches, her muzzle pointing toward her companion.