steps

Avantika sniffed the air. It was about an hour after sunrise, and a heavy warmth was already beginning to settle over the plains. It had been a scorching dry season. She felt pity for the browned grass and cracking dirt, all of their moisture burned off, but at least they didn’t have fur. Still, it was better now than it would be later when the sun reached its highest point in the sky. She’d decided it was as good a time as any to head out. Rain or shine wouldn’t stop her.

But she had taken part of what Art had said to her to heart. She was still a mess, emotionally and physically, but she’d slept last night. Baby steps, she told herself. Baby steps. Her bed had felt empty without Audra in it, but she’d tried her best to ignore it. She couldn’t think about Audra yet.

She smelled the scent of prey in the air. Peafowl, somewhere close. She followed the scent across the grass, nose down. She wasn’t an experienced hunter, especially alone, but she figured now was a good enough time to try new things.

She watched the flock of five forage, suddenly still. They looked so peaceful -- so unthreatening. Avantika had no issue with eating meat or the act of hunting, but it had never felt quite right to do it herself. You’re much too sensitive, she told herself. They were merely animals, not wolves. It was nothing like killing a wolf. But still, she couldn’t make herself move.

"Speech"