Stirring the Embers of Desire

Bane dipped his head down and tasted the water to savor the flavor of the winter mountain slope runoff that flowed downstream. Winter was finally over for Bane, the season of new prey and warm weather causing the male to give a content sigh as the surrounding forest was surveyed. The snow had cleared up in the last few days and the waters of the river had risen noticeably almost to the point where he had considered relocating. The water level had died down though to a comfortable level and right now Bane was standing in the shallows waiting for fish to come by upstream from his den.

Tahlia had fished a few times. She had been a good fisher, bringing home river salmon and bass along with the occasional trout. A memory swirled up out of his foggy mind as he watched her fish at one point before he was exiled. She was missed, though he was glad she had brought their young to see him a few days ago. That was an interesting day dealing with pups and Tahlia at the same time, lots of input to keep the old wolf busy that was for sure.
Right there, there was a generously sized bass, coming closer towards his contemplating but motionless form. The fish came right up to his leg,?Bane casually reaching down and picking up the flopping meal with a quick snap of his jaws.

He held it above water for several moments and with a slight back and forth skewing of his jaws sent his fangs through it's scaled hide. Blood began to enter his maw as he sat down to feed. And then the scent of one dear to him drifted into his nostrils with the upstream breeze. He'd fed on the ribs off his fish, good enough, the bass sinking low in the gently moving river as Bane loped to his den. A wolf's nose never lied, and as the elder wolf tilted his head to the left he saw through the trees just as Tahlia poked her head into the den, an excited yip coming from his maw. And she was alone, no juveniles to come and spoil there little day he'd want with her. Bane beginning to run as fast as possible to Tahlia, tears of joy streaming down his face. He wouldn't be alone and forgotten today, not with a mate he could love so dearly.