Just one more day

Kichi was in a foul mood but, what else was new?  Life had little point to it as far as he could see so there was no reason to be excited about anything.  The yearling grey wolf had grown leaner with little interest in putting much effort into a hunt.  If the prey wasn’t each to catch he’d give up and go back to the little space in the forest he had laid claim to.  Kichi wouldn’t be able to defend it from much but, this little spot on the ground that had been cleaned was now his.

Torch, his little water deer, was nearby grazing.  It was cold here as most everywhere but the thick tangle of tree branches and vines did well to keep the worst of the snowfalls from making it all the way to the ground.  This made it easier for his deer to find food.  Kichi didn’t care more for his own life right now but he would take care of the deer.  His family was gone but at least he had the deer.  Torch would likely die someday also, anything he cared about died or left but, for now, he would protect it.  

Kichi could hear and smell prey nearby and his stomach rumbled a reminder that he hadn’t eaten in a while.  Raising his head up the young wolf listened for a time before glancing away.  It was close, but not so close he was going to bother getting up.  Either it or something else would come closer and if not he’d roam again eventually.