Duskfire Glacier I am the cut that ends foes—

the cougar’s fight was fierce, but faltering. its frantic struggle slowed, its wild thrashes weakening as tikigâk held its leg in her grasp with iron-clad strength. the puma’s claws scraped against faust’s side, but his hold was firm, unyielding, as if the beast were already fading.
he could feel the last vestiges of life draining from the creature beneath him. its breaths became shallow, desperate gasps, its body straining against the relentless pressure of both him and tikigâk. faust’s teeth clenched tighter as the animal’s will to fight weakened.
the final moments were agonizingly slow, as the cougar’s body went rigid, then slack, its struggling halted entirely. tikigâk’s grip didn’t loosen until the last twitch of life left the animal, its limp form finally succumbing to the power of its predators.
the kill was theirs.
he shifted off the carcass and nodded to tikigâk, a silent acknowledgment of their victory, of the bond between them that had held fast through the fight. well done, he rumbled, his gaze softening for just a moment as he turned to face her.
they had done this together. and the puma’s fight had been no match for their teamwork.