spring and snow

The cold winter months were coming to and end and spring was starting to take hold on the land. Taiga spent the majority of her time with Rannoch and the others, but of course she had to go away to hunt. The lioness had become a little thin due to often forgoing her meals in sake of staying with the group. There was no way in hell that she could eat grass and leaves, though she'd tried in secret. That morning she'd killed a very plump boar and had feasted until she felt like she'd burst, so today was just for relaxing.

The giant elk lay with legs curled in a patch of spring grass and blooms. The huge feline lay sprawled out beside him, her side against his while she lay on her back. Taiga caught little snatches of sleep here and there but even then she was still rather alert. The steady sound of Rannoch chewing his cud was soothing. The woman was still surprised that she and a hoofer had connected so quickly and completely. It was a total unknown where she was from. It would be a blasphemy among her kind to be associated with dinner. Taiga didn't care either way. Rannoch was hers. This herd was hers.

Waking up from another stint of nap, the lioness rolled into her full belly before placing her legs beneath her. She stretched, curved killing claws sinking into the floor of the meadow while she yawned. First she stretched front legs then hind before standing and rubbing her cheek against the top of the elk's bald head. His antlers had fallen as antlers do but it didn't make him look any less dashing. Taiga's rough pink tongue protruded and she pulled it over the round nubs where Rannochs antlers had been, knowing that the spots were itchy still. That deep, lowing of content pulled from Taiga as she cleaned her elk.

"Taiga"