Totoka River intention, retention, it's all in your head

The jab at her stutter didn't hurt her quite as much as it once did, but it still stung. Perhaps she really should just let this pitiful creature freeze to death - or starve. It would likely be merciful at this point. But Hua was kind, and would want her to be at least remotely so, and besides... she kind of wanted to prove herself to him now.

Wordlessly, Haoming traveled upstream a few yards. She checked the height of the sun and ensured that it would be casting her shadow on the riverbank rather than the water. Silence was key here, and her forepaws made small ripples as she stepped slowly into the water. It was cold, but tolerable.

She didn't go far in, but she didn't need to. Silver flashes lit up beneath the surface as the fish swam by, and she stood still. And waited.

It was probably only a couple of minutes before one swam close enough, and Haoming struck down. Teeth fastened around the fish's tail, and she jerked her head back. It was a little thing - probably a bit old and wiry, judging by how slow it had been, but it would do.

Haoming turned back around and laid the fish out on the riverbank.

"Eat it," she ordered, fur bristling and eyes narrowed at the boy. Less kindness and more a pride thing at this point, but she tried. And what he had said had hurt her more than she wanted to let on, though it was probably evidenced by the fact that she could no longer quite meet his eyes. Slightly shamed. "F-fortune smiles upon y-your soul."