9/9/2025, 9:13 PM
her heart leapt into her throat when he surged forward. snow exploded beneath his stride, shuddering the land with the stampede of hooves, and she was swept up with him. she was no hunter yet, not truly—but instinct screamed “go!” so forward she went. the herd split, thunder in the ground, and her heart hammered like hooves.
her blood thrilled. though much of lanzadoii culture was still lost on her, she could understand this. the chase, the narrowing of the world. it was only hunter and prey. only this. only them.
the cow veered sharply, dragging the limping calf alongside, and fa'liya's instincts screamed at her to throw herself headlong after them. her father swerved too, his great shadow angling across her path to put his body between her and danger. she skidded, startled, then caught sight of his teeth flashing as he snapped for the calf’s hock.
quickly she gathered herself, darting sideways to mirror his steps at the calf’s opposite flank. she didn’t lunge yet, not quite bold enough to make her move, but she drove close enough to nip at the snow where its hooves struck. snow burned like salt on her tongue. a clumsy imitation, but earnest.
her gaze flicked to him, breath heaving, waiting. give the signal.
her blood thrilled. though much of lanzadoii culture was still lost on her, she could understand this. the chase, the narrowing of the world. it was only hunter and prey. only this. only them.
the cow veered sharply, dragging the limping calf alongside, and fa'liya's instincts screamed at her to throw herself headlong after them. her father swerved too, his great shadow angling across her path to put his body between her and danger. she skidded, startled, then caught sight of his teeth flashing as he snapped for the calf’s hock.
quickly she gathered herself, darting sideways to mirror his steps at the calf’s opposite flank. she didn’t lunge yet, not quite bold enough to make her move, but she drove close enough to nip at the snow where its hooves struck. snow burned like salt on her tongue. a clumsy imitation, but earnest.
her gaze flicked to him, breath heaving, waiting. give the signal.
![[Image: 92942039_gLH7UWGZz8j0rMA.png]](https://f2.toyhou.se/file/f2-toyhou-se/images/92942039_gLH7UWGZz8j0rMA.png)