Collide

for 'Nuata!
---------------

Larch grunted, shaking her head in an attempt to relieve the faint buzzing in her ears. It was more of a nuisance than anything - an unfortunate and frustrating side-effect of having one's ears filled with snow for an hour or so. At least she had the feeling back in her limbs now. She hadn't enjoyed the feeling of powerless numbness, being trapped beneath the snow until her faction leader had found her.

Now she had to turn her thoughts away from the temporary prison of snow and ice; Larch chose to focus only on the moment when sunlight had re-entered her world. Emerging from the avalanche's grip was the closest she would ever come to being reborn, and she had to do something with this new life; this second chance.

Still, moving through the trees was a struggle, with debris and other forms of life hindering the prospective warrior's progress. It wasn't good enough to be able to fight when she was fit - she needed to know how to defend herself now, in this state, with these handicaps.

Larch grimaced as her hind leg caught on the twisted stalks of undergrowth - the limb was usable, but it still hurt when things came into contact with it. The grimacing, too, was painful, thanks to the slash across Larch's cheek. Far from resigned, though, the honey-pelted female pressed on with a limp in her stride, letting out a short bark for the Gamma who had gathered the warriors only a day or two earlier - the day of the avalanche.

Larch would not be written off by snow or its slippery cousin. She intended to prove her determination to Xi'nuata, if not her worth as a friend. Her heart thumped a little more enthusiastically at the thought.