Verdigris Ravine palm

at first it seemed as if the woman would understand. she went out of the ravine in their hunting way and zoug watched her eagerly as she disappeared from view. he had started to rise when she came back, empty-jawed. a sniff of the air brought him the arid scent of the same images.

his impatience grew. at last zoug shook his head at the female and this time he left the water, pausing to see that she came along. already by way of their species he had formed a sort of attunement to her, knowing their safety was in multiples.

he breathed deeply as the sun burned upon all the land around him. zoug found a dry hare track. "rabbit," he said in the shifting tones he knew now she did not understand. his one good eye blinked. he tapped his own chest. "zoug." his name-sound, said twice for her ears.