Білий ікол

The Battle of the Fangs

           Theyweregazingattheshe-wolf,whosatsmilinginthesnow. Buttheelderleaderwaswise,verywise,inloveevenasinbattle. Theyoungerleaderturnedhisheadtolickawoundonhisshoulder. Thecurveofhisneckwasturnedtowardhisrival. Withhisoneeyetheeldersawtheopportunity. Hedartedinlowandclosedwithhisfangs. Itwasalong,rippingslash,anddeepaswell. Histeeth,inpassing,burstthewallofthegreatveinofthethroat. Thenheleapedclear. 

           Theyoungleadersnarledterribly,buthissnarlbrokemidmostintoaticklingcough. Bleedingandcoughing,alreadystricken,hesprangattheelderandfoughtwhilelifefadedfromhim, hislegsgoingweakbeneathhim,thelightofdaydullingonhiseyes,hisblowsandspringsfallingshorterandshorter. 

           Andallthewhiletheshe-wolfsatonherhaunchesandsmiled. Shewasmadegladinvaguewaysbythebattle,forthiswasthelove-makingoftheWild, thesex-tragedyofthenaturalworldthatwastragedyonlytothosethatdied. Tothosethatsurviveditwasnottragedy,butrealisationandachievement. 

           Whentheyoungleaderlayinthesnowandmovednomore,OneEyestalkedovertotheshe-wolf. Hiscarriagewasoneofmingledtriumphandcaution. Hewasplainlyexpectantofarebuff,andhewasjustasplainlysurprisedwhenherteethdidnotflashoutathiminanger. Forthefirsttimeshemethimwithakindlymanner. Shesniffednoseswithhim,andevencondescendedtoleapaboutandfriskandplaywithhiminquitepuppyishfashion. Andhe,forallhisgreyyearsandsageexperience,behavedquiteaspuppyishlyandevenalittlemorefoolishly. 

           Forgottenalreadywerethevanquishedrivalsandthelove-talered-writtenonthesnow. 

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 41 з 240