Luneshale Pass But I'm writing this at 3 a.m.

When it was done, the earth took its payment in blood. Great big swallows, feeding on the black liquid before it could pool. The air stilled. A heart stopped.

Disa could just about walk on three legs. She resigned herself to holding the back left aloft – using it pulled on the wound. Her pink flesh was on display in a thick wet line that bisected her thigh. It hurt. It bled. Not enough to kill her, but infection might.

The desert wolf hobbled towards the kill and her blood-soaked packmates. She flashed them both a stunned look.

"We did it," she panted, and let slip a high, somewhat crazed giggle. "We actually did it. A fully grown bison."

The thread-like bonds between them grew thicker. Became strings. Brought Disa closer to her ultimate goal.

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