Porcupine Ridge catcalls and mercy blows

Upon seeing the small smile Reyson carried, Anselm's face split into a toothsome grin. He couldn't help it: first this stranger knew his parents, then he offered food, and now he was bringing him home! If the boy was a less phlegmatic creature, he'd tapdance from excitement.

The knowledge Reyson willingly shared with him about animals under rocks and knowing to stomp them was temporarily forgotten -- but Anselm would recall what Reyson said about tree roots at a later date.

Anselm did not need second urging. Greedily, he ate the first -- and then, looking at Reyson curiously (did he want the other two? did he not?) Anselm went for the second. He stayed his hand at the third, licking his lips gratefully after two voles had seamlessly gone down the hatch. He hadn't even tasted them!