Meadowlark Prairie codeine scene

roan’s gaze flicked to her, steady and impassive as ever. her words hung in the air, carried on the faint whistle of the wind, but he didn’t answer right away. instead, he shifted where he stood, a subtle adjustment, as if the question itself unsettled him.

men protect, he said finally, his voice low and curt, though it carried a tone of finality.

his golden eyes held hers for a moment, unreadable. then, with a faint snort, he added, women warm.

nothing more, nothing less. to him, it was the natural order of things. with that, roan turned his head back to the open plain, watching the horizon as though the conversation had already reached its end.