All things considered, he had been quite satisfied with what had transpired across the winter and spring prior. Cuirass had been less bothersome than he had expected, and he’d come to somewhat enjoy the addition of the male into he and the Pharoah’s circle. It kept the children busier, and they’d grown faster because of it – or so Kweku believed. He had watched Floki in particular. The boy had been born smallest and even as the others grew, he seemed to lag. Kweku had assumed the boy to be Cuirass’ based on his fur, but he was still brother to Kweku’s own children and so, he had some obligation in the boy. If he lagged too far behind, or never thrived at all, Kweku was not sure if Cuirass would have it in him to do what would need to be done in order to maintain strong kin.
The best thing about the children having grown large and fast, however, was that it allowed Kweku to take time to himself sooner. Or rather, it allowed him to dedicate his time voluntarily to other pursuits. Namely, the Pharoah herself. He’d kept himself busy despite his tendency to slack off and rest; he’d patrolled borders and hunted and snuffed out would-be intruders such as foxes and coyotes. It was, at least in his mind, the most ideal way to remind her of his prowess and innate superiority over her other chosen suitors.
Eventually, it had paid off. Though she often left many messages for them, seldom did she leave one so direct – for him alone. The very thought of that made his skin prickle. Her path lead him far and wide, and finally, out from the very pack itself. He entered the forest with a combination of uncertainty and fierce determination, ploughing through the understory of shrubs with little regard for anything beyond her scent. Though he felt the burrs snatch at his fur and twigs snap against his skin, he did not pause not falter. Instead, he quickened his pace as he caught scent of the Pharoah mingled with fresh creature-blood. He did not bother to muffle the sounds of his movements – let anybody and everybody know, he figured.
Finally, he broke through and into a clearing. There, the scent of blood was strongest, the small spots of blood having marked the forest floor. His eyes followed them hungrily, settling on her form as he let out a low growl of greeting and satisfaction at having found her. Rain washed down his fur, but he did not notice it – how could one be bothered to notice something so trivial when such a marvelous creature stood out beneath the shadows? He rolled his shoulders and began towards her on slow, deliberate steps. He enjoyed being the spectacle.
"Do you need a pair of teeth?” He asked as he motioned to the groundhog, his lips pulled back to reveal the curve of his canines. He sauntered closer, but never quite directly. He moved in a half-arc about her, eyeing her and her kill closely. She had lead him so far out, and surely not just for such a small meal. Did she have something else in mind? His nostrils flared, ever on the hunt for prey more worthy of her time.