Wapun Meadow There's ice in my water,

for you
ash had turned his teeth with her dance, her leaps, her pirouetting in the snow. this one did not. she made of herself instantaneous prey.
she cried out in anger, but he straddled her lowered body and continued on in ursine fury; the sacrifice twisted from his teeth and merrick released her.
it was not an act of mercy; the hot scent of her blood stung the air and sang upon his tongue as streaming and maimed she began to run, feet clenching the frozen ground.
one two three four the chuckle that followed her was chipped from a solid marble statue of beautiful and obscene madness;
astara with him now, merrick felt his heart brim with love;
and then he was pursuing, aiming to wound and to throw the woman again, over and over as many times as he was able. he chivvied her with hot snaps just behind her heels, breath rancid and eager.