fiammetta
by fire be purged
While the wind whispered its harmonies through the dry grasses, and the sun smiled down from her perch, Fiammetta's eye began to droop. She let her head follow the course of her lashes, and soon had ceased her licking to rest her chin upon her paws. Sleep was long in coming, however, and she was grateful that it had tarried in the end, for her solitude was not long-lived. The creature began as a dark speck on the horizon, growing ever nearer till it took on the form and details of a wolf. Fiam did not notice it, though, her awareness of its presence only dawning when the familiar perfume was strong enough to mask the scent of fresh blood. This, of course, only occurred when the animal was very close, and Fiammetta had time to do little other than raise her head and narrow her gaze before the sleek, black form of the Tobias' imprint paused before her, a bleeding carcass held firmly between her jaws. Fiam's stomach growled at the sight of it, having not been entirely sated by her rabbit, but she didn't give the queen the satisfaction of seeing the hunger on her face. Instead she looked away, but was startled to feel a weight land on her paws. Heaving a grunt of surprise, she drew herself out from under the dead badger, sitting up even as the queen lay down a few paces before her, speaking evenly.
Fiam watched her with equal mixtures of suspicion and interest, but did not reach forward to partake of the other's prey. The black beast ha already wounded her pride twice before and the ravaged warrioress did not feel like undergoing such humiliation a third time. Instead, she replied gruffly, “Thanks, but I already have my rabbit,” before reaching out for the skeleton of her earlier prey and drawing it towards herself, her natural instinct to safeguard her food kicking in. They sat like that, in tense silence for awhile, before Fiam felt relaxed enough to recline again, although she kept her muscles tense lest she have to spring to her paws for any reason. She also wore a closed expression complete with a grimace, showing the other that she was not welcome. However, with each second that passed, the little female's curiosity grew more pressing, until she could not hold her tongue any longer, although every word that passed her lips was grudging,
“Why did you bring me here? Or, was it at the whim of your imprint that you forced me across your borders? I did not bear him pups the last time he took me, so I doubt he brought me here to procreate. That being said, there must be some other reason? Am I to be punished for attacking that ebony and red youngster, or do you believe that keeping your foes closer than your friends is the key to success?”
She resented how her tone resonated with eagerness as she began to learn what she could to help her in her quest, and her vanity was still fickle enough that any motion to draw attention to her enquiries on the part of the other would shut the mouth of the ravaged female for good. She was a frozen over lake, cold and inconsistent, and it would take nothing more than a false step on a thin patch of ice to send the black woman flailing into the depths. That being said, she also had the power to keep the hot-headed youngster listening and thinking, to keep her from any impetuous actions.
Time would tell whether Tick Tock bowed under the pressure or took the yoke like a well-trained palfrey.
No Home - No Family - 5YO - 28 in, 32 lbs