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Raphael followed Ethanol, watching her easy grace through the woods--the flick of her ears and the way she leaped. He could see her panting when he skidded up beside her, the red fox panting in the corner with teeth bared. She gave him the word--the honor to kill it. He'd never particularly liked that part--but one did have to eat.

He moved in swiftly, and unhesitatingly with his knife. With one swipe the animal fell, and he had it's neck in his mouth to stop the sweet drops of blood from falling to the ground. Still panting from his run, he placed it in front of Ethanol careful so as not to spill a precious drop.

A first successful meal. He remembered vaguely that his mother had met his father under similar circumstances, which brought a blush to his cheeks.

Tied by blood. It was a bond that couldn't be broken, his father had told him. It was inconsequential to share a hunt with someone. It didn't really involve anything but working together. But sharing blood, sharing the ebbing life of your prey with a partner in hunting--that was different.

He licked his lips, and leaned down taking a mouthful of blood. The iron taste poured warm down his throat, coating it and nulling the hunger aching deep inside of him. He could feel the ache deep inside for more, but he could also feel the truth in his father's words.

Sharing blood with Ethanol was binding. Something he had not done with someone other than his family. To work together in symmetry to make the kill, to drink from the same vessel. He'd heard his father tell of a binding ceremony--a ceremony when two soquilli wanted to join their lives forever that if htey were blood drinkers--they would share it and pledge an oath.

This was the first inkling that something like that could come in his future.

Without thinking, he pressed his bloody muzzle to Ethanol's and whispered. "I'm glad too..." He breathed in the sweet taste of blood on her skin, the thrill of her heart pushing blood making beautiful music to his ears.

Raphael nestled closer to her, breathing her in. The soft, sickeningly sweet scent she gave off was beautiful to him--unique only to her. His heart skipped a beat as her nose touched his. For the first time, he felt his tongue thick--not knowing what to say. "Neither have I. I dont' think it was chance we met like this. It was fate." He nuzzled her again, "What do you want to know, ves'tacha?"

Raphael's quick sure-footedness kept him up with Ethanol. He bounded to the side of her and cornered in around the creature. It gave a growl, fighting for it's life. He hated to do it at times...but he had to eat, and it was the way of things.

His heart thrilled as she asked him to kill it, to end it's suffering. He stepped forward toward it and with one swipe of his knife the creature fell down. The blood began to pool beneath the open slice of it's neck, his tongue started to get the sense of it. His nose tingled as he smelled it.

The fresh blood was really good, a salty and seasoned. Just the perfect kind of snack," Ladies first," he smiled as he offered her first taste.