Ravensblood Forest Hot-blooded

Violante was fast, and she buckled down, pushing herself harder and faster. The squirrel was fast and nimble, much more so than her, but as it tried to scatter up a giant sequoia, she grabbed it by the tail and brought it crashing back down. The thing squirmed and wriggled, scratching and biting at her until she dumped it on the ground and quickly broke its neck. Her chest and sides were heaving from the effort, but she looked up to her father, victory burning in her dark gaze that was so like her mother's.