Redtail Rise still miles to go till i arrive

the birds circled back to them, after a while; the rustle of feathers drew a twitch of their ear. piece by piece, precise, tuhin stripped each length of rib-bone of their lingering scraps of flesh and cracked them between their molars to seek the marrow. no piece should be wasted; they had not the luxury.

they buried their muzzle further into the hollow of its chest for what neglected remnants of frozen skin and organ might remain. and it was then, above the crack of meat and bone, that the crows began again to caw and take wing, and tuhin's ears caught and held the soft crunch of snow and a low, growling huff of breath.

they lifted their head, whitebirch muzzle streaked in drying blood.

he was larger than they, tuhin noted at once; broad-shouldered and night-black, certainly better fed...though if he had a pack to summon, they were not nearby. not that tuhin imagined it mattered; they had no doubt the man would easily overpower them should he choose to.

but though they regarded him with watchful caution, their visitor seemed content to wait at a distance. they made no further move but to cant their ears forward, their meal for the moment ignored.

"as well as one can, given the season," tuhin said, deep voice rasping with the cold. "is that what you are here for?"