hale cometh down upon our spines

Delphi had only felt fear as terrible as this one time before. The day that other yearling had taken her tail from her. Oh, she had cried terrible tears that day from the pain. She had been young, so helpless. Now as she teeters over the edge, all four of her paws scrambling for purchase, she understands that this is wore. Her back paws feel nothing but air as she lets out another shriek. Her eyes are wide as she watches him stand there. He was seriously going to let her die…

She closes her eyes. If she were going to die, she did not want his face to be the last she sees. Instead, she quickly pulls up images of her mothers, her father, her siblings, all of her grandparents. Just when she is about to give up, to accept death, she feels a paw slam down onto her own. It grabs for her, quickly slipping and she cries out again. A garbled sad sort of cry that would rip her mother’s heart out.

In the next moment, as she is sure she is dead, she feels his teeth dig into her skin. Blood seeps out and she can feel him gag against her skin. Oh no, no, no, please! Her mind screams internally as she hopes he doesn’t throw up on her. With her paws still scraping against the slick ice, she tries to help him hoist her up and over the edge. Moments drag on until finally he is able to toss her up onto the ground beside him. Panting, breathing heavy, unsure if its snow or tears wetting her cheeks, she lets herself sob for a moment.

“Thanks for not throwing up on me,” she whispers, her voice hoarse and barely heard over the roar of the wind and the pelting sound of hale hitting the mountain.