Ouroboros Spine iii. out of this home

The paint-smeared dove dipped her head in acquiescence, a rueful grin spreading across her features at his joking though she couldn't bring herself to laugh at him -- not just yet. "I thank you then," the yearling murmured sincerely, ears lowering gratefully. It would be rude to insist that he keep it, an insult to his capabilities as a hunter and provider -- at least amongst her native tribe. "It will make for a good dinner when I get done digging," she praised gently, trailing after his broad build a few steps as he moved to walk away -- following Adrastus back towards the entrance she had been digging. 

"And to you -- in your hunting," the girl called out softly in farewell as he walked away, turning back to her work only when his pallid bulk had melded with the deep green of the pinewood and could no longer be seen. She rolled her aching shoulders and then got back to work, sifting the dirt out bit by bit as she dug her scrape in the soft loam.