Duck Lake the long fall

Winter grips the land.

Ever since her first, the princess had waited a cycle to experience it again. When the earth grows cold and quiet and even the lowlands are blanketed in thick snow, there is a lonely sense of purpose that draws her forward.

Once, it had been towards the woods where her brothers played. Now, it sees her crouched among the frigid reeds eyeing a flock of bright-plumed ducks upon the frozen lake. For loneliness brings hunger too.

She wonders which is the best target. Perhaps it is the young female with the broken leg, or is it the male with the damaged wing? Breath smoking, Fúyáo spares a moment to think.

@Uktark ?

!

uktark halted at the treeline where the ice met reed and snow. he saw her then—small against the lake, crouched with intent, weighing weakness with a hunter’s eye. he did not announce himself. this was not his take.
he settled into stillness, watching the way she read the flock, the patience in her pause, the quiet discipline of her breath. skill showed in moments like this, before the strike. uktark waited to see if she had it.