Whitebark Stream mulberry

@Ridgeback or @Anselm :o?

the caribou grazed in uneasy peace, their breath clouding the cold air, ever wary of threats unseen. she matched their stillness, her body low to the ground, blending with the frost-touched earth.

the season’s turn was near—she could feel it, sharp and restless in her bones. staying close to the herd was wise; to wander further would risk crossing paths with males from outside. their attention, unwelcome, was a danger she would not invite.

her ears swiveled at every sound, her focus unbroken. her purpose here was twofold: survival and vigilance. she could not afford distraction, not now, not with so much at stake.