Mudminnow River too sweet for me

He had been tracking her for a while, keeping a respectful distance as her scent led him through the quiet, gold-touched morning. The sight of her, poised gracefully on the stone beside the river, made him pause. For a moment, he simply watched, his amber eyes studying her delicate frame and the quiet confidence that now seemed to shape her movements.

He approached slowly, his steps deliberate but soft against the frost-coated ground. When he was close enough, he spoke, his deep voice breaking the stillness without shattering it.

You shouldn’t wander during this season, he said firmly, though there was no edge to his tone, only concern. He stopped a few paces away, his amber gaze steady on her.

It’s not safe, he added, softer now. The unspoken worry in his words lingered between them as he looked at her, waiting for a response but ready to ensure her safety, whether she welcomed it or not.