ooc: o.o oh my...is X'y afraid of a bug?

A moment to breathe. A treasured time that allowed her muscles to stretch and rest and feel the afternoon sun across her back. And she was fed, still bathed in the crimson hues of carnage with the scent of death that brought about a rare calm that soothe her savage part. The reprieve, she felt was well deserved not only by herself but by her family as well. And so she lounged with fulfillment for her family in mind, drifting into a kind of sleep.

Til the patter of light steps perked her ears to attention and she lifted her heavy lids to behold this magnificent catch downed by her eager charge. Her gaze first met the small young woman with a smile as always on the rise, then fell to the green critter nudge just near her muzzle. And she stared at it...hard. She did not rightly know what to make of it, but she could have sworn it twitched when she breathed... and that was enough to get her to all paws. In her haste she stumbled back with the tethers of sleep attempting to pull her back down to where the...catch... still laid. Her hackles rose beneath the cover of red and claws sank nervously into the soft ground.

"Sira...Sira what is that?" the she-wolf attempted to steady her tongue just long enough to speak. It was an insect... that's what it was. And it was green. Too many legs... such an odd body. Too strange to look at and yet she could not turn away. But she knew she did not like it... and did not want it to touch her.

ooc:

The woman had the trained ability to resist many things that crossed her path. She was made neutral by nature, seeing no need to please anyone or anything so extensively when it was out of her means. But when it came to the innocent, pleading eyes of her charge she was too weak at heart to do anything other than please her.

But…did Sira expect her to eat that insect? X’yrin felt her stomach lurch at the thought. She did not want to touch that many legged creature… let alone feel it go down her throat. Was this supposed to be the young one’s kill? But it was much too small! And…had too many legs for her liking. Perhaps a rabbit or a marten; something she did not have to stare at profusely before deciding to ingest it. Something she knew would go down her pallet smoothly.

But those eyes… and that sad face. The woman felt her heart sink as she looked again between her charge and her attempted kill. It twitched once more and the proud Alpha’s tail sank. …the ancestors were surely bored if they needed to entertain themselves with this vexing matter. “It is…quite alright, Sira.” Again she tried to get her trembling vocals under control. Slowly, very slowly, she lowered her muzzle toward the insect. “Your efforts are appreciated… though might I suggest larger prey? I believe there are burrowing creatures around…” Oh but her distraction would only get her so far before she was made to acknowledge the (twitching) insect again. It was a show of respect and good health to be offered food. The very least she could do was accept it with grace and dignity.

And so she parted her maw and lowered teeth to the critter. She drew it into her mouth with a swift swipe of her tongue and attempted to swallow before she could chew. And then she felt a leg catch the back of her throat and another tickle on the way down. It was such an odd sensation that she could not shake the tremors that brought her down to the ground, staring blinding ahead in alarm waiting for the internal hell to be over. “It is..” she swallowed again to force the critter down faster… “very interesting Sira. Thank you.”

ooc:

The meal was not going down her throat fast enough, but it would have been rude of her to quickly excuse herself to get to a water source. Though the prey was small, it was still caught in effort and etiquette demanded it be acknowledged… and perhaps critiqued.

She hadn’t thought to bring into question the diet of a jackal until this very moment as she began taking about ‘crawlies’ and other critters she could catch. They were all small game, but then the young woman was small herself. Perhaps insects were a delicacy for her pallet? But clearly not for the she-wolf. Whilst swallowing to push down the remaining legs, she about choked on a splintery limbs when the helpful girl suggested finding more. “NO!” she exclaimed in terror, then recoiled and hurriedly gathered herself. “No…pardon me… I meant it’s alright Sira. You needed find anymore. Besides… I think it’s a taste that you a better used to.” Ignoring the distasteful churning in her stomach, she offered a smile in the hopes of smoothing down the damages of her outburst.

“But I am glad you shared this with me,” she continued. “The next time we hunt on our lands, I will make certain to add this special treat to your meals.” Even if it meant touching the ‘crawlies’ with her own muzzle…while they were alive. She stifled a shudder.

There was a noticeable change that had overcome Sira, X’yrin had acknowledged as the days went by. At least with her she was not as skittish, more opened and engaged without the lingering tether of her trauma restraining her. It was like watching a pup fearful of the world come into her own and blossom mentally to what she was meant to be. Only had she ever experienced this transition from a distance while with her distant Nomad family. The young too frightened to emerge from their dens, certain that the light were burn their delicate eyes. But gradually with those first moments of faith and bravery, they would walk out into the sun and see they were safe under its warming gaze.