Rakia squinted into the sunlight, her narrowed gaze scanning the high cliff face before her. The slate grey stone reared up, a monolith against the pale blue sky, its imposing peaks casting long, jagged shadows that painted a harsh mosaic onto the ground. She could almost feel the chill emanating from those desolate peaks, a coldness that seeped into her bones and competed with the winter air. Rakia moved forward, her paws crunching on the frost-laden ground. A gust of wind sent a shiver down her spine. It swept over the cliffs, carrying with it the faint, echoing roar of the waterfall that cascaded down the north side of the mountain.

She had been following the tracks of a llama for some time now- the creature far more built than mountainous terrain than herself. Now, she was faced with the prospect of a daunting ascent. The jagged stone did not lend itself to easy passage and the few tracks that existed were narrow, hazardous treks that wound precariously up the side of the mountain. But of course, she was committed now, and there would be no turning back.

"Rakia Perreau"

Aristaios watched as Rakia squinted into the sunlight, her gaze fixed on the imposing cliff face ahead. The slate gray stone loomed against the pale blue sky, its peaks casting long, jagged shadows across the ground. He could feel the chill in the air, the kind that seeped into your bones and made every breath a reminder of the harsh conditions.

He approached her with his usual directness, his eyes scanning the same cliff face she had been studying. His rugged features were set in a determined expression, his broad shoulders moving with an easy, confident stride. “That cliff's a bastard.” He said bluntly, his voice carrying over the whistling wind. “But I want in, Rakia.” He admired Rakia's tenacity, and quite simply, she got shit done.

He glanced at the tracks that she, and now he, were following – hooved. By the scent, a llama, built for this kind of mountainous terrain, unlike themselves. The ascent ahead was daunting, the jagged stone offering little in the way of easy passage. The narrow, hazardous treks wound precariously up the side of the mountain, but he felt no hesitation. There would be no turning back.


""

Rakia didn't shift her gaze from the forbidding cliffs, though she registered Aris's arrival and his words with a subtle twitch of her ears. His confidence echoed in her own resolve, solidifying it into something unbending, unyielding. A small, dry smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Then let's get it," Rakia said, her voice barely a whisper against the wind. She turned to Aris, her eyes holding the same unwavering determination mirrored in his own.

Their journey up the cliff began with cautious steps, picking their way carefully across the uneven terrain. Every so often, they would pause to study the tracks of their elusive quarry, their breath misting in the frigid air. The llama was a cunning creature, its path erratic and hard to follow. Yet, they journeyed on, guided by Rakia's uncanny tracking skills and Aris' unyielding determination.

As they ascended, the biting cold intensified. And just when she was about to reach peak annoyance, it finally came into their view. The llama, standing regally against the backdrop of stone and snow, its thick fur glistening under the pale winter sun. Its eyes met theirs for a split moment before it turned to continue its solitary journey up the mountain. Ohhhh no you don’t, you fuck.

"Rakia Perreau"

Aristaios registered Rakia's subtle acknowledgment of his presence and her whispered resolve. Her small, dry smile matched his own internal satisfaction. Their ascent began with careful, calculated steps, each movement deliberate and precise. Aristaios felt a grim satisfaction in the way their journey unfolded – cautious, yet driven. Every pause to study the llama's tracks was proof of their combined expertise. The llama's path was as erratic as it was challenging, weaving through the jagged rocks and icy patches with a cunning that Aristaios could almost admire. But not really. He’d rather admire its dead body at his feet. Each twist and turn only fueled his determination to see that happen.

As they climbed higher, the cold intensified, biting into his skin and gnawing at his endurance. But Aristaios thrived in these moments of adversity. He pushed through the discomfort, driven by a singular goal. Finally, they spotted the llama. Before it turned, to continue up the mountain.
A fierce grin spread across his face. The chase was on.

He surged forward, every muscle in his body primed for the final push. The llama might be built for this terrain, but so were they – through sheer will and relentless pursuit.


""

Rakia's heart pounded as she watched Aris surge forward, his determination palpable. The llama had a head start, but Rakia and Aris weren't far behind. They were close now, closer than she'd been all day. Despite the biting chill and the fierce wintry wind that made her eyes water, Rakia felt a spark of exhilaration. It pulsed through her veins, reigniting her resolve. And when they were finally close enough to get a hit in edgewise, Rakia lunged for the Llama’s back legs. Doing her best to crush the bone in the grasp of her jaws. With any luck, they wouldn’t fall over a ledge trying to kill the damn thing.

"Rakia Perreau"

Aristaios felt the powerful surge of his muscles as he ran, his body a blur against the stark white backdrop of the mountain. The distance was consumed beneath his paws and soon they were upon the poor llama. Rakia lunged first, jaws catching the rear legs, as Aristaios leaped over its back. His fores wrapped around the llama's neck with unerring precision, the force of his movement spinning them both in a controlled descent. As he twisted beneath the llama's chest, his jaws sought their target, the jugular — a lethal embrace of teeth.

The world narrowed to the pounding rhythm of his heart and the llama's frantic thrashing. Aristaios's teeth sank into the soft flesh, the taste of victory mingling with the metallic tang of blood. He felt the llama's resistance weaken, its life force ebbing away beneath his unrelenting grip.

The llama's desperate struggles grew feebler, its fate sealed by their efforts. Aristaios's focus never wavered, even as he sensed the danger of the ledge nearby. He trusted in Rakia's skill and their shared instinct to finish the kill without falling into oblivion.

With a final, decisive twist, Aristaios tightened his grip, ensuring the llama's life slipped away. The sickening crunch of bone breaking was a symphony of their coordinated attack.


""