Dawnlark Plains LXXIII

New Snow surged ahead, even as another’s step faltered. This could be the way of the hunt. She looses a rallying series of barks that also served to inspire more anxiety within the herd. 

Snow Rain recovered quickly. New Snow harried from the rear, smelling the blood. As Rain snapped at air, New Snow joined to catch a striding leg. She did, but only for a moment—it was able to tear away. More blood, a mess of fur on her lips that she released. 

As she moved to reestablish some sort of grip, she could see in its shifting gait that it intended to kick—New Snow, unable to avoid the blow entirely, surged ahead and took a glancing blow upon her shoulder. 

She stumbled, and yelped from the brief and startling pain of it. But she did not quit, and she had avoided the worst of what could have happened in her maneuver. The pain was gone, for now, but she did not doubt that she would be hurting later. A problem for another hour; New Snow maintained her focus, and was able to catch up easier this time despite the new injury. The great creature was tiring.