Brittle Bones

How long had she hung there? Isa drifted in and out of consciousness, her head thumping hard from hanging upside down for so long. Had it been hours? Days? Thirst burned at the woman's throat but what could she do about it? Even if she hoped for some sort of precipitation, it would only be snow, seeing as how it was winter. She was doomed to suffer.

The fluttering of heavy wings brought Isa's eyes to opening. Tired lids lifted from bloodshot blue eyes and her brow furrowed. A vulture up here in the snow? It was then that dark ears picked up the muffled sound of voice. Isa tried to speak, but her throat was so dry. She gathered all of the moisture that she could manage and cleared her throat. "Here," she coughed, the action making it feel as though blades were being driven through her skull. "Here!" the woman called louder, keeping still as possible despite the adrenaline now pumping within her.

From up above, Isa could hear the voice of a man but was unable to see him due to her position. He asked her name in deep tones and the hanged woman answered with as much clarity as she could muster, "Isa Almiraj." She then listened as he gave instruction and she accepted it, though she didn't do so verbally, being quite exhausted. Instead, she flicked the snow white tip of her tail in a comical, half-hearted wag. She hoped he would hurry.

"Isa"