The Den

Her pups cry,
As hunger ravages,
Ribs hard against their skin.
The mother sighs,
Returns to the hunt,
Tired from failure.
Her pups lay down,
No energy left,
Too tired to play. 
Her paws crack,
The dry earth unyielding,
Blood fills the ground. 
Her ribs poke through her pelt,
Her stomach rumbling,
Sapped of energy.
She looks for shade,
A place to rest,
Or prey to take.
She lays down to rest,
Never to arise.