Dawnlark Plains le'awtu

uktark stepped back as the boy pressed into moondancer's warmth, snow whispering under his weight. instinct loosened its grip once he saw the small shape curl near her paws—no threat, only a shivering scrap of rust and bone. his gaze lingered on the boy a moment longer, measuring, then softened by degrees as he moved to his moondancer’s side.
her tail brushed him; he answered with a low rumble, leaning into her touch, the dark line of his shoulder resting briefly against her pale flank. affection, steady and wordless, grounded him more than the cold air ever could.
his eyes returned to the pup—tsu’tseya—watching the way fear shaped his posture, the way trust flickered only when moondancer stood between them.
no harm, he agreed quietly, voice rough but no longer sharp. a vow more than a warning.
his stance shifted just enough to show acceptance: to moondancer, who had chosen kindness; to the boy, who had chosen her; and to the search that lay ahead.
shadow and moon, now guarding one more small, trembling flame in the snow.