straight shot no chaser

She appeared first in the corner of his vision, a dark blur in his peripherals that made his heart stutter a beat. Skull whipped towards her as quick as he could manage, straining the tender muscles. Wide eyes, whites rolling. He stared at her blankly for a moment, before his brain caught up. Auds tipped back towards his skull, still wary of what she might decide to do. There was a pelt at her feet, golden brown but not reeking of ichor. “Good morning, how are you feeling today?” her voice was warm, and not unkind. He looked at his forepaws, avoiding eye contact with the potential new master. That was what he ought to do, so as not to find himself deserving of her ire. "Better than I deserve, ma'am." he rasped. Good little slaves made sure to thank their masters for allowing them to live another day.

The pelt was dragged across the ground, laid out beside him. The vague shape of limbs, and a partially intact tail. A coyote, probably. He did not move from where he lay, assuming it was meant for the larger female. She didn't want to sully herself upon the dirt. It smelled lovely, a faintly herbal aroma. He rather liked it. “I brought some Boneset for the cramps.” she added, and a small bird dropped a bundle of small white buds at the master's feet. "Thank you, ma'am." his throat was beginning to ache from talking, though his voice could not yet rise above a strained whisper. "You are too kind to me." he added, acidic gaze flicking from his dark paws to the pale flowers. It was for him, and he would be rude if he were to reject her kindness. Slender neck extended so he could grab the bundle gently between his teeth. Grinding it between his teeth, he gradually turned it to a paste on his tongue before swallowing it down. It didn't taste too wonderful, but he wouldn't dare to comment on it.

"What would you have me do?" he questioned. Obviously she was here to put him to work, now that he had been given some time to recover. It was more than many of his masters had given him in the past, and he would not fight for more if it was not given. Already he braced himself to lift his front half from the earth. His muscles protested, but he was more than used to it. Epitaph panted once, twice, and then silenced it as his ribs began to throb dully. Sitting mostly upright, he looked to his newest master.