Greatwater Lake oni

a gristle-heavy slab of meat stares at her with a wicked grin; too late she realizes it is a face, and that it is a man, and that they eat upon her land from meat that belonged by proxy to her. a meal meant for zharille.

she feels the violent inclination to set upon him for such daring thievery—but there is no sign of the plains here, only blood and meat and the musk of the stranger. the fur between her shoulders raises. her tail gives a lash.

zharille lunges close for a better taste, crowding him. in that split second he might shrink from her and prove himself; or maybe he would feel her threat and rise to meet it.

either way, the test would lead to answers.