Gotta Grow Up Strong

Zuriel agreed, and he nodded, tossing at her over his shoulder as he slipped toward his position an affectionate, but thoroughly serious order: "Bí cúramach, deirfiúr; go ordú." It came in the tongue their grandmother and mother had drilled into each of their minds since they were tiny. He wondered if she had absorbed it as thoroughly as he had. He would be amazed if his intelligent silver sister hadn’t.

He hunkered low behind the boulder, with his head near the edge he thought the calf would run past. From the other side, he soon heard Zuriels barks and growls, and then the thunder of hooves. A single pair of hooves, smaller than the rest, drew closer, and soon, he heard his sisters voice call out. He launched out as the calf drew level with the boulder, jaws outstretched. His strike came at the same moment the tendon was severed. Pure luck on his part, because as the calf made to bound forward, the hind leg crumpled uselessly, or Regulus’ jaws would only have found its shoulder. Instead, his jaws clamped neatly around the esophagus, and he tightened the hold. A moment later, the scared animal crashed down on top of him as it lost its balance.

The impact drew a heavy grunt from the large pup. The calf wasn’t large, but it was still bigger than either sibling. Grimly, he held fast, working his jaws around until he felt his canines pop through skin and flesh, and a rush of salty-sweet and metallic warm liquid fill his mouth. He bit down harder, opening the flow, then loosened his jaws to ensure blood-flow, like their mother had taught him in theory.

He didn’t relinquish his full hold, waiting until the calf stopped struggling and lay still; waiting for that frantic, fluttering drumbeat to peter out. When it finally did, he released the kill, wriggling free from under the deadweight. He shook out his coat, the fur around his face and neck spiky with spilled blood, and looked around for Zuriel. ”We did it!” Sapphires glittered with delight as he grinned at her.