Exchanging Breath

 
 
And when I shift shapes in the night  
Between a new moon with the stripes,
There are no barriers ‘twixt us
In times we walk and stalk as one.
 
For we are felines of the blood
And though a human holds you now,
We will be joined as one with fate
And stride for stride together pace.
 
Exchanging breath, for Death to wait
Your ears go flat, and with distaste
“This must be Death the Virus told,
Regarding child alike with old.”
 
And as the words that turn to growls
It’s with tradition, those who prowl,
A ritual of ancient trust
Exchanging breath before we hunt.