The Heartwood imperfection's glow

As the carcass came back to her in a toss, Echelon was surprised with the generosity of the other. She made no outward notice of this however, merely found herself sinking back to the earth to cradle it between her outstretched limbs. She easily grasped and snapped through a strong bone, for a moment seeming as though that were the only thing she was attentive of. But a silky ear of ebony turned towards the yearling as she spoke all the same; Echelon remained aware of their close proximity.

Chewing roughly, she lifted her head from the remainder of the hare to regard her dark counterpart's question. "Long enough," she surmised, then adding, "I'm Echelon." Tonight she opted to be herself, not adopting some reusable name from history or simply making one for herself. There didn't seem much point right then and there, she sensed no need to be evasive. She felt in her current situation, there was nothing she or the yearling could or would do to undermine one another.

"Do you not like the woods at night?" she decided to query, zeroing in on the underlying tension in their exchange. It had been present all along, but only now did she choose to focus on it, turning the dialogue away from herself.