one last breath

Cassiel was careful when he carried his precious cargo winding around boulders to where the male had lain these last days. It was a leaf-wrapped bundle, but even so he was careful not to put his mouth on the leaves protecting it, but only on the single broad leaf that he'd wrapped around the whole thing to provide a makeshift basket.

Cool-eyed, he stalked up to the male and dropped the bundle between his sire's forelegs. The leaves fell open to reveal the contents, but Cassiel had eyes only for Kassander Xanilov. He puffed out a sigh, and lowered himself, carefully arranged his body to curl around the wasted auburn form. "You've been having a right rough time of it," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, "but I'll help you now."