Sleepy Fox Hollow I think I’m doing alright.

This was a defining moment for Anselm: for just one moment, he savored the sweet, altruistic nectar of what mercy could taste like.

And then Meridian opened her mouth and any clemency fell to ash between his teeth.

Registering her audacity, Anselm roared. Never again would he give a stranger the benefit of the doubt -- never again would he allow his softer side to show.

He plunged forward, teeth aiming to rend hide from muscle and give Meridian another hole to yip from.

This time, he would not stop.