Rosewater Oasis let it blaze

this woman meant no harm—at least, not yet. tamasi’s sharp amber gaze flickered to racharra’s face as she murmured soothingly, urging her toward the waters. so, with a begrudging acceptance, she allowed herself to lean on the dark-furred figure, her weight pressing into racharra as they moved toward the oasis.

the cool water stung at first as it met the cracks and rawness of her paws, but tamasi exhaled shakily, easing into its relief. her auburn fur soaked the oasis’s blessing. racharra’s soft prayers and calm presence disarmed her, though tamasi fought against the instinct to truly let her guard down. when racharra’s question came, tamasi hesitated. her name was hers, something she had clung to fiercely even as the rest of her world crumbled. to give it now felt like offering up a piece of herself, but she couldn’t find a reason to deny this woman who had saved her.

tamasi, she murmured after a pause, swallowing cold water upon a raw throat. if you must pray, pray for strength. that’s all i need. she couldn’t bring herself to ask for more—not after the moons she had spent running, fighting, barely surviving. strength was the only thing she had ever been able to rely on, and it was the only thing she dared to ask for now.