Nova Peak ε

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skorpa caught at ayovi with his teeth as she swirled forth from the snow, growling softly, his ears tilted toward her voice. she was pleased here, happy; she proclaimed the element of claiming and he followed as rainwater's muscle.

crags of stone descended to expose a round maw there. snowy eaves gave way to the edge of the cave; unmarked snow had drifted against its entrance.

the warrior made a low sound as ayovi slowed, not ceasing his own pace to approach boldly the place she had found. his body fell to hunting gait; his eyes glinted, and spiked shoulders warned her to hold back, hold for now.

but the absence of prints in that snow said it was unused, and whatever animal spoor he did find was stale, bones cracked long ago by other jaws, mummified mouse scat against the inner walls.

skorpa pulled his shoulders from the den and smiled brightly at ayovi. "det er sikkert," he proclaimed, stepping back. "gå indenfor."

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