Redtail Rise XLIV

the rise waited. the rise went on even as it waited.

augur brought meals for new snow as well as thorn caller; he did not press his presence.

in the evenings he lay down among the pups and allowed them to wrestle in that last hour before sundown.

soon they must hunt again. red woman had been a skilled killer of meat. he must continue in her stead.

evening found the man upright against the silhouette of falling night, ears upthrust and yellow eyes watchful toward the moving shapes of ruminants in the distance.