Bearclaw Valley asa no mori

The preparation of the hares was effortless. A grace that continued into the somewhat gruesome act of bleeding out the catch. Though he had never seen Keiko hunt, her repeated displays of precise cuts and techniques made it clear she knew how to hold her own in that court.
 
Their meal lain to rest, his companion gathered up various bits of foliage. One coarse, the other heavily fragrant.
 
He made his way to the water's edge and plunged his large paws in. With a steady stride, he immersed himself in the water, waves rippling from him towards the far edges of the pool. The water cool as it slowly penetrated his thick coat. Not yet cold, but the season had not yet fully transitioned.
 
His head dipped below the water, a brief polar plunge before surfacing again and facing Keiko.
 
Not too far from her, he took a seat in the water. Sitting on his bum as he lifted his paws out of the water and began attempting to free them of dirt, uncertain of Keiko's intentions.