Nightstalker

Where in the world was Rúna going at this hour? The mystery continued to compound the longer Hal followed her tracks away from the den and around the winding mountain paths. Thanks to the fresh snow, it was all too easy to follow exactly where she had been. Eventually he rounded a bend in the path and spotted the golden form of his sister sitting out on a spacious plateau at the end of the path, just staring up at the sky. Was she entranced by the bands of dancing lights in the sky as well? Hal's eyes lifted skyward to follow hers to the auroras, observing their fluid, graceful rippling movements for a time. Truly the gods had crafted such a magnificent spectacle for them. What other explanation could there be? But there was still the matter of his sister sneaking out on her own to go look at them without him and that just would not do.

Steely blue eyes lowering once more to his distracted sibling, Hallvarðr began a slow prowling approach towards her. Still utilizing her own tracks to avoid making any sound in the snow, he crept closer and closer towards her. His breathing was slow, measured, making sure to minimize how much of a footprint he was making with his approach. Nearer and nearer he slunk, his eyes laser focused on Rúna's backside, already anticipating the moment he got close enough to launch a surprise attack on her. Then just as he neared close enough to his unsuspecting target, his paw misjudged a step and crunched through some untouched snow. The sound was not very loud, but in the almost deafening silence of the winter night, it might as well have been an explosion. Hal froze in place, ears alert and eyes wide, every nerve on a hair trigger and ready to burst. Rúna's attention snapped back to earth and she asked who was there. Well, it was now or never!

With a puppy-like growl, Hallvarðr launched himself at Rúna with all his might, paws outstretched as he aimed to pounce and grab her around her midsection, planning to take her down to the snow and pin her in a sudden surprise spar. She had not been expecting him and maybe the element of surprise would give him the advantage he needed to take down his equally sized sister before she had a chance to fight back.

WC: 403
Total: 1323 / 1500