Mudminnow River shrike

maybe @Sun Eater ?

suliya moved through the valley with a quiet reverence, each step careful and soundless against the soft earth. the chill in the air had grown sharper, signaling the onset of winter, and she knew the caribou would soon begin their seasonal journey. she could already smell them on the wind, the faint musky scent of the herd mingling with the earthy aroma of the valley, pulling her forward.

her breath rose in small clouds as she lowered her head to the ground, her sharp eyes tracing the faint tracks in the damp soil. the lanzadoii way was to walk with the herd, to follow their paths and patterns as closely as her own heartbeat. she was one with them, her life woven into the rhythm of their migration. each day spent alongside them was a testament to her skill and dedication as a hunter.

she moved cautiously, following the scent, her senses keenly attuned to any sign of the herd nearby. every muscle was tense, ready, though her face remained calm, her mind fixed on the task at hand. she didn’t simply hunt caribou; she respected them, revered the balance they brought to the land. they were more than prey—they were her purpose, her livelihood, and her connection to the lanzadoii traditions that defined her.

as she crested a small ridge, she paused, gaze sweeping over the valley ahead. her heart quickened slightly as she caught sight of the faintest movement on the horizon, a distant flicker of antlers moving like shadows against the pale sky.