Failure of a hunt.

Hala was not eager to see Cifarelli again, despite their similar looks and personalities. She expressed her dissatisfaction and left the Grapevine Cathedral feeling a bitter taste in her mouth. She prayed that she would never have to face the brute again, knowing it was probably wishful thinking.

Next came the fog, thick and enveloping, clinging to her legs as she walked. She breathed in the cool, dense air, finding it more refreshing than the previous warmth. Giving her a scent she wouldn't notice until she'd leave. Her thoughts drifted to Eltrys, the earth-toned man who seemed unexpectedly kind and had offered assistance to Hala without any obligation. It was a gesture she wasn't accustomed to, but she couldn't help but appreciate it.

The woman found herself in an opening with no sense of direction. The fog slowly dissipated, revealing a clear path ahead. She took a moment to gather her thoughts and let her mind wander freely. When the usually opinionated voices fell silent, she took the opportunity to gather her own thoughts. It was a rare moment that left her feeling clear-headed.

She attempted to shake out the dry and musty scent from her coat, but it stubbornly lingered. Despite her efforts, she continued to try. As she sat down, her eyes took in the orange-red pools dotting the landscape, surrounded by small ridges on the rolling plain. The scarce trees offered little relief from the weak winter sun.

The bones and ridges were scattered by hunters long ago. She lowered herself onto the grass, twisting her ears as she rubbed her head and then rolled onto her back, attempting to rid her coat of the scent of Wraiths Woods and replace it with a new one. Closing her eyes, she wriggled like a puppy on her back.

She felt hunger pains and used it as an opportunity to stand back up. She scanned the territory around her with her eyes. The lady's attention was caught by a dik dik, which was not uncommon to spot a small herd of them in the plains. However, it was not a frequent sight, as they had plenty of places to run and hide. Despite the abundance of food in the plains and rolling hills, she scanned the area for other animals. She noticed a few other mammals, but the dik diks were especially alert, cautious of where they roamed.

Moving cautiously and deliberately towards the shelter that could provide some protection, her plans were thwarted by her dark coat. Even if they weren't already on high alert, her slow crawl with her tail behind her wasn't enough to go unnoticed. As she inched closer, one of them detected her scent and alerted the others with a whistle. Hala wasn't in the mood for hunting, despite feeling hungry.

The woman realized she would have better luck at night, as her darkened coat could blend in better than under the weak winter sun. She muttered a curse under her breath, her silent words filled with frustration. Hala decided to give up on the unsuccessful hunt.

Hala Indigo