Hoshor Plains sandstone

goodness, was selenia ever done with pregnancy!

she had attempted to wallow earlier in the day, which had left her flailing in embarrassment on her back. dirty snow from the efforts still clung to her flanks.

but the mare was still restless, and so dipped into a canter that carried her smoothly around the edge of the bison herd and out into open ground.

Vaermina did not find comfort in such open spaces.

She moved with caution, keeping distance from the herd of great beasts that stayed together. Some eyed her with suspicion, uncertainty; the elder creatures knew a lone wolf could be of no true harm to them, and busied themselves looking for decent grazing beneath snow.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of heavy footfall off to her right, and her gaze was quick to find the source. Horse was not something she'd seen before so Vaermina watched, wary, and found herself glad for the distance between them.

a squeal came from the mare. selenia, who had gained more assurance in the company of the other horses, clipped the air with her teeth and stamped the ground as she had seen fancy do.

she charged then, meaning to feint, but with luck the wolf would break first.

As her curiosity waned, Vaermina moved to carry on skirting the bison herd. She focused primarily on the group, listening to their scrapings in the snow and watching as several rose their eyes to regard her. They knew she was no threat to them on her own, though they were alert for any sign that she might have brought company.

A squeal from the other creature had Vaermina such in a deep breath, surprised, and as she shifted to look over a dark shoulder she saw it thundering toward her. The dreamweaver hissed her offence and, keen to avoid assault by hooves that could surely kill her, moved to vanish from the plains as quickly as her limbs would carry her.

the dark creature retreated. selenia snorted and cantered after it a short while, then turned back to the bison and to her herd.

elated to have driven off the wolf, and with no help, she squealed a challenge and then kicked her heels a little, rearing once with swollen belly silhouetted.

She was pursued by the strange creature for a time, and her heartbeat quickened as she tucked her tail and focused on escape. When at last it seemed to tire of the chase and veered off, Vaermina carried on until she found herself a good vantage point on higher ground.

From there she paused to catch her breath, ribs heaving. She turned her cool gaze to glower down at the mare as she turned away and returned to the uninterested bison herd. Vaermina furrowed her brow in frustrated and though her pride was wounded, she made to move on.

pleased with herself, elated even, selenia cantered in a wide, challenging circle, squealing after the wolf.

she returned then to her band, telling what had gone on, and sharing the description of that creature among them.

she watched until the shadow faded from sight.