A fragile dream in the making

Oath’s ears flicked at the sudden yip, sharp and fragile, cutting through the stillness of the Delta. His body tensed, the urgency in the sound sending his gaze snapping toward the source. Through the swampy haze, his sharp cyan eyes caught sight of something small and pale, struggling against the pull of the water. His heart quickened, he wasn’t alone here.

It only took a moment for Oath to notice the danger. The enormous shape of an anaconda slithered silently, its gaze locked on the vulnerable figure of the drenched wolf. Oath’s muscles coiled in instinct, the predator within him rising to the surface. Without thinking, he bolted forward, his paws churning up mud and water as he surged across the uneven terrain.

In a flash, he was there. With a snarl, Oath leapt at the serpent, aiming a powerful blow at its coiled body. His teeth sank into its thick, scaled flesh, yanking the snake’s attention away from the small wolf. The creature hissed, its massive form shifting in reaction to Oath’s strike, but it wasn’t finished yet.

Oath stood between the serpent and the girl, his lips curled back in a warning growl.