Belly Up

Redrum approached a fallen goat with a mixture of curiosity and opportunism. The scent of blood and fur filled the air, but he remained focused. He scented the air, finding no recent smell of another predator. Perhaps the goat made it here on injured will alone? The boy knelt beside the animal, his golden eyes assessing its size and condition. Healthy, but it’s ribs showed a large laceration. An accidental injury?

Taking an excited breath to steady himself, Redrum splayed his jaws wide, the pearls glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees and he finished the job with easy effort. He was determined to prove himself capable of providing for his pack, so he set to work after killing the poor, gasping thing.

He beckoned his falcon, Evi, close, grasping the knife within her talons swiftly — the boy immediately started by making a careful incision along the belly, his knife slicing through the tough hide with ease. As he worked, he was careful to avoid puncturing the stomach or intestines, mindful of the importance of keeping the meat clean and free from contamination.