BUT WE'RE YOUNG

OPEN FLOWERS IN THE WINDY FIELDS
OF THIS WAR TORN WORLD

Caution and hunger warred for supremacy in twin orbs of brilliant green as Cvijet regarded the ashen-furred warrior who reclined in the shadows beside the river. Before him lay a large bream, silvery and freshly despatched, its scales littering the earth at his paws with shimmering jewels. He turned his eyes, silver as the fish scales, onto her, watching her emerge from just beyond the treeline. She cringed as the sunlight bathed her form, knowing full well how her ribs jutted out in a parody of starvation. The male's smug expression did not alter as he regarded her though, his eyes simply took on a shimmer of interest, as opposed to the opaque look of indifference they had worn before. She felt uncomfortable beneath his scrutiny, noting how he seemed to take on an aura of desire as he absorbed her svelte beauty and quiet mannerisms, an alluring combination to some. However, the female was too hungry to care, her stomach warbling as loudly as his did, its ceaseless begging urging her to speak over her pride. The raven grinned suavely while he took in her words, his ears flicking to catch every syllable she uttered, as though he were expecting something gratifying to pass from between her black lips. When nothing more came, he replied in a voice thick and smooth as syrup, its cadence sending ripples of unease along her spine. His gaze sparkled with humour, and she felt her pelt grow hot with embarrassment, although she almost didn't notice the change as she already suffered under the heat of the day.

“A summons? I was led to believe your howl was an invitation!” She grinned, trying her best to echo his good humour while ignoring the ache in her gut that increased with every passing moment she wasn't ripping into the tender flesh of the creature before her. As though taking her need seriously at last, the male pushed the fish towards her slowly with one paw, inviting her with actions and voice to join him in the shade. Her indescision lasted but a second. Without replying, she closed the last of the distance between them with a well-timed leap, falling on the corpse and tearing at the white flesh with all the savagery of a hunter. Only once she had devoured most of the bream and all the eggs it had carried within its belly, did she look up at the other, both humiliated and satisfied at the same time. Although the few bites she had taken did little for her hunger, they sent energy coursing through her veins once more, reawakening the spirit she tended within the cage of her chest. Licking the last of the roe from her muzzle with her tongue, she scooted what remained of the fish back towards the other, dipping her head in thanks, “I appreciate the goodwill you have offered me this day. It has been far too long since anything but water has passed my lips. So thank you.” She spoke in the distant, formal way of her father, taking comfort from th familiar thrum of the words in her throat, “Hopefully you will not mind if, instead of joining you just yet, I hunt my own lunch so that we may share and I may return the favour you have offered to me?”

She did not wait for his reply.

Instead she turned towards the river, ears pricked and body focused on the hunt. Now that her appetite had returned with a vengance, she felt every sense heighten in anticipation. Also, thanks to her small size she had spent most of her life hunting more manageable prey, and was a deft killer. In the time it took for her to snap up the proffered fish meal, she had caught two water voles, a rat and an unfortunate crab that had strayed too far from the safety of the water. It took her two trips before she had collected her entire stash near the stranger, and she flopped down near him, panting and proud, feeling alive for the first time in months. She chose a plump-looking vole for herself and revelled in the taste of hot blood as it trickled down her chin, far more satisfying than the sushi she had just enjoyed. Through a mouthful of fur she said, “Please, help yourself,” having forgotten her manners for a moment. Only once she was feeling better than she had in days did she take the opportunity to apologise for her lack of decorum, “Forgive me, but I have not felt as good as this in many weeks. I am Cvijet, healer and nomad.”

Once again she chided herself silently for being too open, but she felt the other had deserved her honesty, having extended the paw of companionship first. She only hoped that he was worthy of that honour.

---

age. 13
daughter of. fao'lan
mate. none
pack. none
mother to. none
credit. x