Mudminnow River it will break my heart to go against your wishes [m]

her body arced neatly;
merrick felt the skin give way beneath the sharp hatred of his teeth, and scarlet flowed forth.
laurel's jaws however closed elsewhere, and so at the last merrick jerked his muzzle sideways, sawing toward her own windpipe. it was too late to guard his own throat, and in him glittered something beneath the instinctive pain,
the silver sunlight of relief.
he ripped his head to and fro, hoping to begin her gouting blood before she began his own, rivulets of crimson running freely from the torn flesh of his throat as laurel locked them both into the countdown.
astara burned beside him.