Ravana’s heart thudded in her chest, not with fear but with twisted exhilaration as she stared at the bear towering before her. Its deep growl rumbled through her bones, but all she felt was a wicked curiosity. The creature’s dark eyes were filled with primal, beastly threat, but to her, they were just another test – a game. A sly grin curled her lips as she tasted the tension in the air, her mind racing with thoughts of how flesh might tear, how warm blood would feel between her teeth. The risk only excited her; it wasn’t survival on her mind – she wanted to see it suffer. Wanted to see if she would suffer. Would it tear her limb from limb? Would its teeth pierce her, cleave her in two? Her jaws snapped, her youthful muscles spasming as she circled it slowly, the bear huffing and puffing; trying to decide if she was worth the effort to eat.

"Ravana Seraphim Saxe"

Sephiran had been tracking the bear through The Polar Sound, its imposing presence sparking a jolt of disdain inside of the Sultan. Another predator invading his domain. Its heavy pawfall left tracks in the forest floor, leading him straight to his target, which he intended to kill on his own. As he was a stubborn, impulsive creature. He knew he was drawing near- the forest’s usual chorus of birds and rustling leaves were suddenly silenced in the wake of the bear’s intrusion, the foliage left in disarray, the once-pristine leaves now trampled and scattered.

He finds the beast limbering through one of his meadows, rooting through the forest floor with its powerful claws, overturning rocks in search of food. Sephiran lingers in the shadows, assessing, and contemplating his approach. But suddenly, the bear is growling, the low, trembling sound echoing through the trees. He stops, pulling his head higher to view the opposing side of the bear- catching sight of Ravana. She was snapping her jaws at the bear, starting to circle it with the intent to attack. For now, Sephiran watches- curious of his daughter’s intentions. Surely she does not believe she can kill the beast on her own?

"Speech"

Code by Sea

Ravana’s attention flicked to the shadowy outline of Sephiran for only a second—a swift, knowing glance. She didn’t need his permission, nor his intervention. The bear was hers to test, hers to taunt, and the thrill of it made her blood sing. She sank low, a flash of feral excitement sparking in her eyes as she bared her fangs in a daring grin. She wasn’t a fool, she could not kill it. But she could take a prize from it! The creature huffed, muscles rippling with each irritated step it took toward her, but she only let her steps slow, savoring every ponderous movement of the beast as if it were her dance partner.

Her father’s silent judgment was like a distant hum, inconsequential compared to the thrill of what she had started. The idea of its strength crashing down on her was both a dare and a promise—a challenge she had no intention of leaving unanswered. One wrong move, and those claws would rend her from existence. So for now, she snapped at it. The bear wasn’t quite taking her seriously, so it continued to lumber forward with confidence, opting for a quick rush at her. But that didn’t go entirely to plan as the girl jumped over its head, landing on it’s back and catching it’s thick hide with those dagger-teeth.

"Ravana Seraphim Saxe"