Starglow Basin The jungle

the ocelot's paw raises and for a tense moment soto wonders if the blow will come. he is used to cruelty, a language consistent and fluent and without preamble; there is much of osiel soto does not yet understand.

the strike does not come. soto glances from some nebulous fixed point in the distance to osiel; a fairer man than juarez, perhaps. he nods in acceptance but remains silent, tongue still fixed to the roof of his tightened mouth.