she had gone on patrol. that was not what she would call it, but what it looked like; leaving the child with the man, as they did their lesson.

now that she returned she carried the twisted body of a hare. it looked old, bloodied; born with some malaise, though. its legs were twisted awkwardly without her involvement, its eyes bulged. it had not been difficult to find or to dispatch, but she found her stomach turned at the thought of eating it.

as she comes to where the man sleeps, sulukinak regards him over the hanging body. this she throws to the earth before Tugix — then settles to haunches, drawing her tongue across her nose where blood is caked.

not far from them the seal-child is playing, again.