Thoth seemed to calm when he sat himself on top of Sekhmet. She could growl, yip, bark, and be a nuisance all she wanted, but he clearly remained on top. At this point he did not need to prove himself to her. He had bested her once, any argument from then on would be a moot point. Begrudgingly, or because she was struggling too much and he lost balance, Thoth toppled off the girl. Every nip she aimed at him he returned in kind to remind her he would not take attacks lightly.

He studied her movements, her attitude, and the vehemence with which she attacked him. It had been one thing to be attacked by an adult. He had needed to show that he was not to be trifled with. He was just as strong as the adults that surrounded him, and he could hold his own. Faced with this other pup, he had already proved himself and they walked on equal ground. He snorted once appreciatively and passed a judgement in his mind. Unless she deserved it, he would not sink his teeth into her flesh.

Dancing away from her with the rabbit in his jaws, Thoth’s excitement flickered in him. She had followed his lead and expectedly so. Her jaws snapped at his prize. With each movement he tried to jump back, or away to keep it from her, entice her closer. Occasionally he succeeded in keeping the corpse away from her jaws. Other times she got the better of him and the flesh ripped between them. Each time the tear of bones and sinew sounded the pup’s glee multiplied. Bit by bit he brought her deeper and deeper into Asteraia.

Never too far from his family, by blood or by bond, Samhain followed the pair. His massive body was not hidden even by the tall grass. The wolf kept himself downwind of the pups to give them time and space to play. It was not until they started to make their way toward the living plains of the pack land that he stepped in. Quiet and swift the graceful father leapt in and gently placed his paw on top of the rotten rabbit. He effectively cut off their ‘play’ and sat beside them.

Thoth, his oddly soft voice whispered through the air. What have you done?

The pup looked up at his father’s masked face and burnt orange eyes. His chocolate tail beat on the ground. He had brought a living prize!