10/29/2026, 3:42 PM
dark ears swivel toward the approaching girl, followed shortly by her pale gaze, and something resembling a smile softens her otherwise solemn expression.
her attention wanders toward the herd. one of the calves—a fawn— has approached the water, carefully investigating a broken sheet of ice with its muzzle. fa’liya watches it prod the unfamiliar thing, then recoil when it shifts beneath its nose.
she looks back toward tatsaaye', then.
hello, tatsaaye'.the greeting comes gently, if a little breathlessly. she lifts her muzzle from the stream, watching the younger girl shake herself with such enthusiasm that a nearby cow raises her head to investigate the disturbance.
yes,she admits.
a little.this is something of an understatement. her paws have been unpleasantly cold since morning, and the chill has settled into her bones despite the sunshine. she shifts her weight, tucking one forepaw beneath her chest.
i am cold often. even when it is warm.she does not elaborate upon this peculiar failing of her body, although she has long since accepted it as one among many.
her attention wanders toward the herd. one of the calves—a fawn— has approached the water, carefully investigating a broken sheet of ice with its muzzle. fa’liya watches it prod the unfamiliar thing, then recoil when it shifts beneath its nose.
that one have never seen ice before,she says, almost fondly.
she was born a little after you were, when it was warm. this will be her first winter.it seems such a small thing, a creature learning the world one season at a time, but she finds herself lingering upon it longer than necessary.
she looks back toward tatsaaye', then.
and yours.she gives the slight tilt of her head,
are you excited for it?