"If I can't, you'll know by the screaming," he said, mostly teasing. There wasn't much left to break apart and pick out. He got to work on it, placing the meat in the same bowl she had been setting down for the dog periodically through the dinner.

"Not much longer now," he assured Max. "Just these final few bits." He was quick about setting the bowl down, not jerking or making weird movements, just not foolish enough to get between a war hound and the food he wanted to eat.