Dahozhoni Meadow seaborne

Nimbus’s eyes narrowed slightly as he caught the faint smile that tugged at Nausicaä’s lips and the word she murmured—soft, distant, and meant for no one. His ears flicked forward, curious, but he let it pass without comment. Some thoughts weren’t meant to be shared.  

He raised his brow as she took the lead, her playful glance daring him to keep up. A faint snort escaped him, half amusement, half challenge. 

He followed her with silent steps, his own senses honing in on the trail she’d picked up. The jackrabbit’s scent was faint, but distinct—fresh and close. As Nausicaä lowered her nose to the ground, Nimbus moved to her flank, his movements fluid and deliberate.  

His pale yellow eyes scanned the darkening brush ahead, searching for the faintest hint of movement.  After a moment, he glanced at her, his gaze sharp but not unkind. Let’s see if you can keep up, he said with a teasing edge, his tone soft but charged with the thrill of the hunt.  

Nimbus lowered himself into a crouch, his silvered fur blending into the shadows as he began to circle wide, giving her the lead but positioning himself to flank their quarry. The unspoken rhythm of a hunt began to fall into place, the first test of what two loners might achieve together.