Steady Breath

Wilder releases a whooping howl as he watches Tarnish emerge from the shadows. Keeping on the doe's heels, he doesn't relent. Even as Tarnish grabs ahold of the deer's neck, there's no telling yet the boy will be able to hang on. Snapping at the deer's rear legs, he bites and clamps down and releases, over and over again until the doe is leading a trail of blood behind her. He can tell she's slowing as Tarnish's claws and teeth dig into her tender neck skin.

After what feels like forever, the doe drops to the ground. Wilder slows, breath ragged, tongue plopped out and panting hard. He steps up toward the head of the deer to look down at her. Her eyes flutter softly close as she takes her last breath. "She's a good size, ain't she?" Wilder says as his eyes wander down the doe before looking up at Tarnish.

WILDER