Marrow

This time she came prepared and ready. Her leucistic crow tended the fire as well as the stones set near it to warm. Marrow shifted her focus to the young bison, well what was left of it. It had died of some respiratory illness, its nose and lungs caked with mucus and she had swiftly eaten her fill. The carcass of the bison lay open, the steam from its entrails wafting into the air on this chilly autumn morning. Marrow could see the stomach, already bloating and burrowed her way into the remaining guts to get at it. Her fangs worked swiftly, tearing flesh as blood stained her pelt. She had to cut in several places to free the stomach from the corpse and when she finally did a rush of rumen and digested plant matter spilled onto the ground and splashed onto her paws. Meh, oh well.

Marrow dragged the four-chambered stomach over to the fire and shook the blood and gore from her coat. She looked almost as if she'd been strangely marked. A white wolf with a red head and neck. She licked her lips, pausing to admire the sight of sunlight glittering off the frost.

Redrum approached the scene with a mixture of curiosity and familiarity. It was the girl from before! They had shared a hunt or two, and ran from a bear! She was efficient and resourceful, never failed to impress him, and today was no exception. As he watched her deftly handle the remains of the bison, the boy announced his presence with a low rumble of his voice. "Hello." He greeted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he took in her unique appearance – white fur stained with the crimson remnants of her meal. She looked just a bit like him now.

With a flick of his tail, Redrum settled himself nearby without hesitation, the warmth of the fire chasing away the autumn chill. His gaze wandered to her leucistic crow, a silent eye keeping watch over the proceedings.

“Run- from any- more bears?” Redrum asked, a playful glint in his golden eyes.

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Marrow

Marrow's ears perked up at a familiar voice greeting her and she turned with a grin to see Redrum, her tail waving lightly. She'd enjoyed the hunts they'd had and while not so much running from the bear she couldn't help but be impressed with his skills. "Hey Red!" she chirped. "No, no more bears thankfully!" Though she'd definitely need to keep an eye out with this fresh carcass. The scent was bound to attract scavengers of all kinds and with winter hibernation coming up the bears were more brazen than usual.

"You're welcome to join me, eat as much as you like!  How have you been?" She settled down on top of the stomach and began chewing at the seams of one of the compartments, seeking to make a more manageable cooking pot for herself from the organ.

Marrow's cheerful greeting filled the crisp air, and Redrum couldn't help the surge of warmth he felt at her friendly demeanor. Her grin was infectious, her tail swaying in gentle rhythm as she turned to face him; pale blue eyes sparkling with mirth. Redrum returned her smile with genuine relief that she was pleased to meet him again.

The memory of their fleeting shared adventures brought a twinkle to his golden eyes, and with her assurance that there were indeed no more bears brought out a relieved chuckle from Redrum. “Good to – hear! But- bears do —make for interes–ting tales.” The younger boy remarked, amusement coloring his words.

As Redrum settled himself near the fire with a grateful nod. The scent of the fresh carcass wafted through the air, mingling with the crackle of the fire, though he wasn’t exactly hungry at the moment. “Thanks!” He pondered her question for a few moments, only coming up with the few fights he had been in. “Redrum has been well.” He answered, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before turning back to the fire. “Just keeping– busy with the -usual – hunting, exploring– the occasional be-ar.” Red added with a chuckle, his fur puffing up as he soaked in the heat from the fire.

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Marrow

Marrow chuckled as Redrum spoke about bear's making for good tales. She paused in her chewing to nod. "Yea, I need to tell Wendi about it, he'll flip!" Usually the older man was having to rescue her but in the time they'd been separated she'd really grown into her own. Marrow was becoming a skilled fighter and hunter herself. It was doing wonders for her confidence. For the first time in ages she felt like she might be able to insure she was always fed.

Marrow jerked her head up and ripped the finally seam, pulling the stomach chamber free. She pulled it over to the fire and sat next to Red. "Same, I'm been focusing mostly on hunting. How is life in Insomnia?   What's it like having a Queen for a mom?"  Marrow set the stomach down and began to thread her wooden spears through the three corners of it.

Redrum didn’t know who this ‘Wendi’ was, but he assumed it was a friend of Marrow’s and left it at that. He nodded as she spoke, keeping his golden gaze fixed intently on her as she dissected the carcass.

As she brought the stomach over to the fire beside him, Redrum's gaze softened as he listened to her speak of her recent endeavors. “Redrum can– tell.” He remarked, a note of admiration in his voice as he continued. “Marrow certainly– has become quite- skilled at it.” His gaze steady and fixated while Marrow began to thread her wooden spears through the stomach chamber.

But she had asked another question, and it took him a moment to come up with a response. Life in Insomnia and having a Queen for a mother. Redrum's expression turned thoughtful, his mind drifting back to the chaotic pack that he called home. “Life in Insomnia– is...interesting, and– fun.” He said with a grin, akin to his mother’s feral one. “Being– mother’s– son is good, but — challenging. Medusa is mighty. Redrum must– prove he is—- too. To make mother proud.” He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. “Redrum– won his fights— in his first- raid.” He explained, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. But there was a hint of anxiety in his words, like he wasn’t sure if it was worth talking about.

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Marrow

Marrow grinned at Redrum as he complimented her on her growing skills. It was very sweet of him to say and very rare she'd gotten compliments. She'd been all but ignored by her family growing up and it was only recently in this new land that she'd started forming connections with the wolves that lived here. As she listened to Redrum answer her question she set up the other end of the spears into the ground so that the stomach hovered above the hot coals of the fire. Taking her water skin she popped the cork and added in the water. She was going to attempt… soup!

Marrow's tail wagged happily as she worked. Redrum spoke of having fun but also of the challenges of being a prince, stating that he must prove himself mighty like his mother. He also stated that he'd won his first fights in his raid. Marrow smiled. "I think you're mighty! You are an excellent hunter, and you fought off a bear! What is raiding like? I've never been in a raid. Is it exciting?"

Redrum's ears perked up at Marrow's words, a warmth spreading through him at her genuine praise. It was a rare thing to receive such compliments, especially from someone outside of his pack. She was an odd presence in his life, and he didn’t know how to categorize her. They were friends? Or sometimes-hunting-partners? It didn't feel quite like either alone. “Redrum thanks – Marrow.” Redrum replied, a hint of bashfulness coloring his tone. “Raiding is- thrilling. Like – a - hunt. A– challenge. Lots at once?” He paused, his gaze drifting to the flickering flames of the fire as memories of his first raid flooded his mind. He’d won against the huge horse, and the Alpha after she’d defeated his mother. That was a big source of pride for him.

“Redrum likes– overcoming challenges. They make-- him- stronger.” He added, a touch of solemnity creeping into his tone. Though he needed to get a handle on his aggressive instincts, he flew off the handle a bit too quickly during that practice raid… He glanced back at Marrow, a flicker of curiosity in his golden gaze. “Does Marrow– understand?” She would, right? He thought she would.

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