He now moved with ease through these crags, as the dappled boy looked for his next meal. His stomach howling uncontrollably, 'why must I always get off my lazy bum right as my gnawing hunger turns to starvation.' his broken right ear continued to bug him without end. Maybe it was the change towards colder weather making him more irritable, or maybe it was the tweak in his neck he awoke with after a dreadful dream. The late fall frost sending all the small critters scurrying for their holes had done little to improve his sour mood. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath of the chilled air, still it was warm for fall but not warm enough for him; causing the hair along his spine to raise as a shiver passed through him. He listened carefully; a scratching sound drew his attention, not even daring to breath. The sound came from a crevice would barely fit his paw, then again he had big paws.
As he contemplates how to go about catching this prey, a howl pierces the silence, and out of the crack pops out a rat. He pounces quickly and devoured his prey in a few bites, it wasn't enough to fill him but it took the edge off. 'It didn't sound too far away, I could use some company might lighten my mood. Besides I can't have her go not thanked for helping me catch that snack.'
So he trots towards the origin of the song and what should he find, but a black female. His russet feathered tail waved lightly as he approached. He dipped his head to her, "My name is Nanuk ma'am, and I came to thank you. Whether intentionally or not, you helped me capture my next meal, for this I thank you most sincerely."