Dahozhoni Meadow comienzo

@Eset , both for mention. Will post a follow up thread tomorrow.

saya crouched low, her chest brushing the cracked earth as she stalked her prey. the desert hare was swift, its sharp ears flicking at every whisper of sound, but saya’s patience was sharper. she waited for the perfect moment, the sun glaring harshly above, her breath steady and silent.

a flash of motion, a lunge, and the hare’s life was snuffed out in a swift bite. she straightened, holding her prize aloft, blood still warm on her lips. the allure of a woman could be feeble, she thought, but a well-fed man could be bent to her will.

or woman.

saya did not linger. her focus shifted to the terrain, her keen eyes scanning for the herbs she needed. she spotted them growing against the shaded base of a jagged rock—datura inoxia, the moonflower—known for its ability to induce drowsiness and confusion. not lethal, but potent enough to render even the most vigilant fool defenseless.

she worked quickly, her fingers deftly crushing the pale leaves and white petals into a fine paste. mixing it with desert clay and a few drops of hare blood, she crafted a salve, pungent and earthy. with delicate precision, she sprinkled the concoction atop the hare’s flesh, ensuring it soaked into the meat.

the hare went into her sack, slung over her shoulder with practiced ease. her legs screamed with every step, muscles tight and unforgiving, but she snarled against the pain, pushing forward. she had crafted the sack herself, coarse and simple, but sturdy enough for the task. it swung against her hip with each determined stride.

thoughts of @Soto came unbidden, his single eye searing into her mind like a brand. she would not fail him again. she couldn’t. the memory of his cold, cutting words spurred her on, each step heavier but more resolute than the last.

as the sun dipped low and painted the desert in hues of gold and red, saya pressed on, her jaw clenched and her resolve sharper than ever. this time, she would deliver.