Hushed Willows Kindle the fire before it snuffs out

A race! 

Oh, it brought back so many happy memories of when Reina and her family would venture to a lake on their southern border. They would frequent the area during the warm season—otherwise is was a frozen disc, too slippery to be safe! She was the oldest of her siblings, the others always waddling after her around the lake, hopping and screaming about who is going to beat the others back to Mother and Father. Reina won many, but here and there she would “stumble” and feign injury to let one of the littles get their victory.

Her whole body pulsed as she took off after Tuft, ears tucked, tail streaming behind her like a rudder. This was a different race, nothing like what she used to do with her siblings. No, this was something else, something more. It was a metaphorical way of running to her future, whatever that may be, and leaving behind the pain, hurt, loss, and damage she’s endured. She felt freed, the bindings of her assailant broken and trailing behind her in tattered shreds.

She whooped as she reached his side and bounded into him, never losing pace. “I’ll do you one better,” she yelled. “Whoever makes it first, the loser hunts for the winner a full week!” Then she dug in her heels and sped off, her tail making an attempt to tickle his nose as she passed him.