Neverwinter Forest kaiseki

She ran; open-mouthed, sides heaving, tasting that acrid bitterness at the back of her throat, fighting across the snow then between the trees then under, over, around, anywhere to keep the red devil off of her heels.

When she stopped it wasn't by choice. Adrenaline had spiked and worn off, dulling her senses. Luring her in to a state of exhaustion that hit her like a brick wall.

Breathe, just breathe, control your breathing, she told herself. She knew what this was: panic. If she could not get it under control soon she would hyperventilate and likely lose consciousness; at a time like this, with winter slamming in to the Wilds, Stryx could not let herself pass out in the snow.

Her breathing came in a wheeze. She tried to take a deep breath as she paced along the borders of yet another pack - unsure of herself, addled by terror, so many scents criss-crossing in every direction —

what if she was caught here —

The world spun. Her heart shuddered in the housing of her rib cage, and she dropped.