Tithe

The young man’s thoughts were confirmed at the words Sleekwing spoke. The gentleman did belong to a territory and had seemed to hunt on behalf of them. A pang of what some would say jealousy stitched through Tithe’s heart. This other man had others to live for, a pack to call home, someone to fight for a defend. If someone were to ask Tithe, he would not have called it jealousy, if he had been forced to name it, he may have called it longing. It seemed like so long ago he had a purpose, a purpose he had not wanted, but one nonetheless. To have it ripped away from him was painful. To have what he really desired to be standing in front of him was more so.

The only insight to the feeling behind his shielded eyes was as a sharp, staggering intake of breath through his nose. Otherwise, the grey and black face remained calm and collect as he contemplated the words of his companion. As kind as Sleekwing had been, Tithe was hesitant to enter in an unknown land as a stranger. Too many tricks could be played, even with the best of intentions. Would Sleekwing defend him it something were to go innocently amis? Did this other pack use their chivalrous knight to lure others in? Had Tithe really been on his own so long and had become so mistrustful that he questioned that royal gaze that looked at him, even though every action that had been made reassured him.

To give himself time, he stepped cautiously forward and consumed a couple of bites of flesh. He made sure to select pieces that were tough but filling, hoping to leave the choice morsels for those of the pack he had decided to help. Stealing himself, and hoping the other would not mind, if they even noticed, he used his strong jaws to crack the joints of the doe’s knuckles and tear off the hoof. There was very little meat, not much marrow to speak of, but it was a prize and a toy for the puppy that still dwelled somewhere in his chained up soul. As quickly as he could, he trotted next to a tree and promptly buried his toy for later gnawing. The very tip of his tail twitched twice in the smallest of wags when he returned to Sleekwing.

”I promise not to intrude long, please lead the way.” Once again he grabbed throat of the deer and readied himself to pull it along their journey.