Alpine Lake for merely dreaming we were snow

Despite Sable’s effort to direct her gaze by lingering his own, Masquerade instead looked beyond him. She saw no sign of the rodent, not even tiny footprints in the snow. She felt a little foolish, heat crowding under her jaw. When Sable faced forward, she could only shrug awkwardly.

On the subject of small animals, would you care to hunt with me? she found herself saying, more to fill the silence than anything. I’d like to take a gift back to my mate. He’s put up with a lot from me lately. I—yeah, Masque finished lamely, remembering not to ramble about her woes to a young stranger.

She cleared her throat, head canting ever so slightly to the right as she gave him an expectant, inquisitive look. Masque tried not to think of the time she’d insisted she didn’t hunt with those outside her pack. That hadn’t been so long ago. Her dark paws shifted in the snow as she reminded herself she didn’t really belong to a pack any longer.