Verdigris Ravine shadow

kusuma had disappeared into the ravine. 

as she had allowed, he followed her tracks to find the den. after two curls of her lip, he learned to leave the prey on the stones further from the shelter's mouth.

now darkwoman returned, and zoug trailed after the new mother. she left milk and the fragrance of babies in her wake.

he remained silent and kept a polite distance between he and kusuma, not wanting to seem too eager to meet her new brood.