A fragile dream in the making

Oath felt the playful nip at his jaw and couldn’t help but grin. Despite her smaller size and her clear nervousness, there was a boldness in Fairytale that intrigued him. It was subtle, like a flicker of light in the dark, but it was there. She had spirit, and something about her energy made him want to know more, even if he couldn’t yet explain why.

As they moved forward, he could sense her excitement. It mirrored his own, though he kept his focus sharp on the hunt. The scent of deer lingered in the air, growing stronger as they closed in. He noticed the way she crouched down, ready and eager, but something about her movements seemed... hesitant, almost as if she were carefully navigating the ground.

He didn’t comment on it, though. Not yet.

“You never know,” he whispered with a smirk, his voice barely above the sound of the breeze. “I’ve seen the smallest wolves take down the biggest prey. It’s all in the timing.”

They were close now. Oath could see the herd just ahead, grazing on the edges of the marsh, oblivious to their presence. His body lowered instinctively, muscles tensed, eyes locked on the nearest doe. He could feel Fairytale beside him, her presence strangely comforting despite the tense atmosphere.

“Stay low,” he murmured, “and when I give the signal, we strike.”

As he waited for the perfect moment, his mind drifted back to her. There was something unique about her, something that stirred a protectiveness in him he hadn’t felt in a long time. He didn’t know her struggles, her past, or the depths of what she hid behind those soft, rosy eyes, but something told him this wouldn’t be the last hunt they shared.