Duskfire Glacier Celebration dance

he huffed through a smirk, teeth just barely bared in the beginnings of a grin as he leaned over her, weight balanced but heavy enough to remind. a touch of pressure along her side, a test. “i’d win,” she said, all nose and swagger, and he liked the bite of it.
hm, came his rumble, the sound low in his throat, more exhale than word. a chuckle might’ve followed in another life, but this was faust, and this was darukaal. instead, he pressed his brow briefly to hers in a gesture that lingered between challenge and affection.
tail swayed once. her confidence was no farce—she had proved herself, in the hunt, in stride. she was not soft.
he shifted beside her, giving space without retreating. she wasn’t leaving, not yet, and neither was he. here, in the glacier’s heart, the air was cold but their games ran warm. darukaal would suit her. it already had. we hunt in the morning.