Two Eyes Cenote víscera

triumph housed in that wicked gold stare, soto climbs the steps out into the woodlands. 

he hears both behind him - but the amazon’s gait sounds peculiar as they head uphill. as a practiced hunter, soto listens with one ear turned back, knowing darkly what the asymmetry in the sound means. 

he brings them to the periphery of the scrubland, where the cenote’s claim exsanguinates into open air. placing his muzzle pointedly at a section of stale marking, soto gestures towards it for both bushtit and the amazon to inspect. 

he moves to another spot and scratches it with long swipes of his paws. satisfied with the markings left there, soto lifts his hind leg and unleashes a stream of acrid urine on the spot. 

he turns back to them both, motioning that they do the same. 

conveying in unequivocal terms for all who come across that this place has a presence: a presence which authoritatively snarls mine to interlopers.