Greatwater Lake burned but not buried this time

the boy was marked by rat blood.

he crawled closer and begged, pathetic.

zharille grimaced around her kill and loosed a prominent, guttural sound to warn him away from it. he'd eaten; this was her own! if he wanted more he should have done better.

she swung away after that to drop the otter carcass against the dirt and straddle it possessively, head lowered over it and shoulders bunched, prickling. would he try to take it anyway? how desperate was this child?