For Laxago

Head tilted, teeth barred I approached the den we had dug out in a mound of earth that overhung the stream. The shadow of the small overhang caused the area to be dark, and the den that had been dug at a slant was even darker. A premier environment for Laxago's sleeping habits. I saw her, a small pile of white fur still at rest. She appeared so relaxed that I could not bring myself to wake her. I gently settled the partridge at the mouth of the den and sat at the edge of the water, enjoying the day and watching the elk heard that grazed in the distance. We would not travel today I decided. Laxago seemed rather exhausted. I wondered if we would ever find a peaceful place to call home. We had many months before winter would come. I had managed to hunt for the both of us this year and the weather hadn't been too harsh but I was starting to feel my age and I worried for the future.