Ouroboros Spine Nothing in the world belongs to me

He didn't stray too far, most days. Hunting was still a necessity, but he'd been bringing back smaller game so that he didn't have to spend too long away. A weekly group hunt was still called for, but Valiant always hurried back to his wife and newborn children.

Today, he made an exception. He'd cause Ludo's scent on the breeze, and eagerness to see the boy returned pushed him further from the den than he might normally go. He wanted to find the boy — the young man — and be sure that he was actually coming home. He worried that, if he howled, Ludo might find the time to change his mind.

So he hunted Ludo down, sneaking until he actually caught sight of the boy. At which point he was unable to help the jaunty wag of his tail as he hurried forward.

"Look at that!" he said, intrigued by the geese. He'd seen them before, of course, and the meat was as good as turkey despite the extra muscle that the migratory birds packed on. "You're brave, messin' with the snakebirds."

Valiant was fairly sure he still had a scar on his cheek from the last time he'd hunted one.