Redtail Rise She Swam Higher

When she arrived, she saw Augur butchering the carcass. Despite failing to capture the coyote, they had successfully laid claim to the meat. Masque’s tail twitched as she sauntered over to watch the Ulfhedinn work. The stench made her eyes water, though she did not blink as he tore a hole through the cow’s thick hide, accessing what was left of her viscera.

Augur stepped back to clean the blood and gore from his jaws, leaving Masquerade to stick her muzzle into the opening he’d made and fish out a few relatively fresh morsels. Thin as she’d become lately, she didn’t swallow a single mouthful. Instead, she pinched each bloody chunk with her teeth, gathering what she believed she could carry easily.

I’ll be right back, she said after a time, gathering a length of intestine in her mouth like a segment of sausage links and trotting away.

After delivering this choice meal to the very same place she’d left the badger skin, Masque made her way back to the dead cow. She scattered several blackbirds upon her return, though she paid them no attention. She did glance at Augur, the tip of her tail twitching, then stepped up to the carcass once more.

After two more round trips, Masquerade finally allowed herself to eat some of the carrion. She only ate enough to take the sharp edge off her hunger and boost her flagging energy. The yearling then padded over to Augur and flopped down in the churned snow, letting out the sort of sigh that always followed hard work.

No worries!