He is so preoccupied with this hole he leaves in the earth each time that he removes his paw from it. He digs into it with that paw as the sand becomes thicker, more saturated, until it is caked to his needle-like claws. He raises this paw and discovers what destruction he has caused within the earth and yet it fills with water to create a new, smaller pool. It is a deep lesson to learn and although he may not understand it now, perhaps the memory will remain with him as he grows.

Deep amethyst eyes turn upward from the ground as the huffing of one’s breath is sent in a hot wave upon his back. He jumps to his feet and spins quickly around to meet the face of his stalker. It is entirely white and marked with black linings around fiery eyes. The red hues that billow upon her back in the light breeze is enough of a reminder of his own father that he is comfortable within her presence and her soft whines assure him that she is no enemy. He allows her tongue to press comfortingly across his small face as the smell of her milk immediately draws him in. Instinct alone urges him to toddle toward her underside and to urge her to lower herself so that he may feed.

The evening gives way to night as a shadowed beast lingers, the thunder of his growl vibrating within Zagan’s ears at the approach. The child remains beneath the belly of the red and white female for need to suckle and yet this male so similar to his own appearance does not wish to share. Unfortunately for the lost boy, the larger shadow is much faster than he could ever hope to be at this age, and soon his scruff is stretched between the jaws of the male.

He is swung from his sanctuary beneath the female and his mouth opens in surprise, yet no sound is cried out. These beasts are much like his own parents in a twisted way – they do not speak to one another and it is clear even to one so young that there is a feral glint in their eyes so similar to his own family’s. There is nothing the whelp can do now that he is capture by the shadow demon and he does not retaliate because of this knowledge. He will go wherever the dark one should bring him just as mother had often done.