Amidst the sound of snapping tendon and flesh, the woman occupied her thoughts with the list of daily chores always completely. Where most would have filled the void with idle chatter to ease out of the quiet, X’yrin was content to sit within it, disturbed only by the sounds of feeding.
While her pallet craved the fresh taste of blood, she was not truly hungry. As often as she hunted and had a small section of meat or an organ for herself now and again, it was a wonder she hadn’t bloated. It was the amount of energy she exerted in a day that kept her relatively fit and well muscled. But the subtle pouch of her abdomen left by her faux pregnancy was not so easy to be rid of. No doubt a focused workout would be needed to return the belly to its taut glory, but the time… or the need for it wasn’t precedent enough to warrant her immediate attention. She had given up hiding it, for what was the point anymore? Warriors that felt the pain of a scar wore it upon their hides… so why not she, even though it was a scar from a different lost battle…
Softly she sighed and lowered her front to the ground near the carcass, drawing the bird down with her as well. Occasionally she would spare glances at the boy, watching his hurried bites with a kind of amusement found only when pups attempted to eat more than they could when they were at last granted the taste of meat. The woman found herself wanting to assure the boy there was no need to rush, that he could take his time and savor the meat but she remained quiet and let the silence watch over her until it lengthened with the pause of hasty bites.
Her ears then perked as she head turned while atop her paws to watch her companion clean his face in the grass, signaling the end to his feeding. Slowly she rose with the owl balanced on her shoulder and waltzed to the open neck of their quarry. Her jaws clasped around its open maw with a snap then wrenched its lower jaw free after several determined tugs to free it. Of the meat, it was all she needed for it was not for herself but for her trusted companion. She let the jaw fall solidly to the ground then shrugged her shoulder for the bird to release her and eat. He needed little motivation to have the meat for himself and swept down possessively over it to fill his gullet. Much like a mother guarding its pup, X’yrin remained near her feathered charge, encompassing his speckled form with her enveloping shadow as he fed. “Don’t say I don’t feed you…” her towering form peered down at the feasting bird as he ripped and wriggled the stubborn meat free.
With no hunger to appease, she let herself lie next to her nameless friend rolling partially onto her side with limbs comfortably outstretched as she reclined. She became one with the silence almost immediately.