Wapun Meadow in the way you're walking,

the hunt is over.

for a moment, there is only the sound of their breathing, the faint rustle of wind through the trees. tvar lowers his head, beginning to eat, his hunger a sharp edge honed by the adrenaline still coursing through him. the meat is warm, fresh, a hard-earned reward for their efforts. he eats his fill, but his mind is not entirely on the meal. his thoughts drift as he sits back on his haunches, letting rala claim her share.

his blue eyes find her, and for the first time, he allows himself to truly look. to see her. not just as a companion, or a fellow hunter, but as something more. her bloodied maw, her breath heavy with exertion, her pale coat glowing against the snow—all of it speaks to her strength, her spirit. she is a woman well-met. and she reminds him, in the deepest parts of himself, of the women he once knew. the women of his family. fierce, resilient, capable.

and yet, she is unlike them in ways he cannot describe. she is wholly herself.

tvar feels the weight of that realization settle in his chest, a mix of admiration and something he dares not yet name. he has only known her for a short time—a walk home at dusk, a hunt shared under the pale winter sun. and yet it feels as if it has been longer, as if she has stepped into his life and pushed away the ghosts of his past, the torment of memories that once held him captive. @Gjalla feels distant now, her shadow replaced by the vivid, undeniable presence of rala.

he exhales, the breath heavy in the crisp air. he does not often speak his feelings, but he knows he cannot let the moment pass without acknowledgment.

rala, he begins, though regretful to interrupt her meal. i’ve met few like you. you remind me of the women i grew up with—strong, proud, fearless. but you’re not them. you’re more than that.

his ears flick back briefly, a faint hint of hesitation as he searches for the right words. i’ve only known you a short time, and yet… it feels longer. like i’ve known you for seasons. maybe it’s the hunt, or the way you speak, or something i can’t name. but you’ve… brought me peace.