For Laxago

There was movement from within. The girl had likely woken before my arrival, and it would not take long for my pressance to lure her to the mouth of the den. I turned towards her when I could hear her small body drag against the dirt, greeting her not with words but with a warm smile and an encouraging look. Once she had exited and settled herself at her meal I stood and moved over her in such a way that she ate between my forelegs, my black pelt brushing softly against her ears. I allowed Laxago the entire bird, ignoring my hunger. Though food was plentiful it was difficult to hunt for two and at the same time give Laxago the attention she needed to do well. She was doing so well lately, I thought, that there was no way I could spend any more time away from her. Any day now, I thought, she would look up to me and smile and we would play like pups as we did when our love was youthful. I groomed her as she ate, picking out a bit of bone here and wiping clean a spatter of blood there. I paused when she began to stir, and moved away to allow her, her path to the water. "Hello my dear" I greeted sweetly, seating myself gently beside her.