"I hold in my arms, point my toes down, watch the closing circle of daylight above me, feel the wet sides press in, feel myself slip down and down and away. My tail has always had something of its own life and now it curls around me, tip twitching under my chin, hugging me as we go to our fate. I relax in the throat's grip, breathe slowly, surrender myself to the beast and and go without struggling. Having lived as a predator, I do not resent or regret serving my turn as prey."