Emberwood devet

too recently had the chieftain been kicked with enough force to bruise his foreleg. he had sworn and leapt clear, thanking the caribou spirits that the bone had not been broken.

a day of rest, of resisting the hunt would be necessary. his limp was open but his stance proud, unbothered. 

below him, ice diver harried an aged animal. a rare pleasure touched sun eater's mouth with approval. she was strong, that one, born not to lanzadoii but bearing their name all the same. already she learned many words. sun eater hoped that ice diver and ridgeback would bring children to the saatsine, welcoming their brood as firstborn.

he was not able to rein himself for long; he kept far clear of the sharp hooves, chuffing sharply to see if another hunter was near to help. but if not, sun eater was able to ignore his pain. such harshnesses were the lot of those who followed the caribou.