I see my little girl and how much she has grown, and it makes my heart swell. I watch as she sniffs, wondering what it is she will choose to hunt on this day. I find my tail wagging as she thinks. I am fixated on her, and think about how much life has changed since I was her age. She is much more...spunky than I was, but certainly just as passionate. I am perhaps quite fixated on her, my mind swirling away into my thoughts of her, and my past...my father, my brother and sisters...my mother, how they all have faded away over time. Yet, my daughter is here today, with that little wicked grin on her face.

My ears flick forward with her response of 'weasels'. She quickly begins to stalk, and I am almost not fast enough to respond and keep up with her. She is much like Aithne with the way her body is built, and I smile as I think of my imprint back in Iromar. I begin to follow Aster, stalking behind her and letting her lead us up and over a rocky hill.

I find myself losing a bit of footing right before I get over the hill. It is no big deal at all, just a little slip that I recover quickly from, but it is enough to put distance between me and Aster. I hear her say first one wins, my eyes of blue and violet looking to see as she bolts off. Aster was very fixated- sometimes to a fault. Round the corner was a small herd of bison- who had apparently been watching us, who certainly have young of their own. I feel something burn inside of me as Aster is bolting further away- and a bison so large goes after her.

I flash back- to the sight of Judas almost getting himself killed by a bison and how I had to ensure his safety. I would have given my life for Judas that day. I knew I had to act, and I had to act fast.

"ASTER," I yell out, my paws jumping and rushing forward. I do not care that it is a slight slope with rocks- I figure it out. I have to. The bison comes her way- straight towards her in fact, and I doubt she has any idea. I just know I have to hurry. I have to get my baby girl out of harm's way. They see her only as a predator, as one that could kill their children. The bison is just attacking a threat- but that threat is my child, and I feel my lungs breath in and out. I feel the pain of rocks in my toes. I am perhaps am cut and bleeding in some spots now- but I continue on, letting out a harsh bark and snarl.

I do not slow down, as I do not have a choice, even when I mis-step once. I recover, until I ram my chest into Aster- pushing her away."Ru-," I yell out...but I was not quick enough. I was able to push her out of the way- as long as she runs, but I was unable to avoid the head of a bison crashing into my left side. I feel like the world is falling on me and crushing me. I feel it again and again against the rocks. He pummels me, and I struggle to get up, but I am just pushed down again. The pain. I cannot think. My eyes desperately search for Aster- to make sure she is gone before my jaws snap out and bite off a slice off the bison's nose.

I admit that I am not really sure what happened. I don't think the bison is there anymore. I think he turned away once I stopped struggling after biting his nose and tasting his blood. Or did he hit me a few more times? I had my eyes closed for a moment- or was it more than just a moment? I do not know as I flicker them open. Am I breathing? How can I hurt and feel nothing at the same time? Why is the light so bright? Where is Aster? I open my maw to speak- but nothing comes out but an initial rush of blood.