Mallory
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"That beast is mine!" she roared, desperation fueling her every step. Mallory surged forward, closing the gap inch by inch, but it was never enough. It’s never enough, she thought, her mind sinking into a dark sea of doubt. The winter's chill wasn't what turned her blood to ice; it was the fear of failure. She couldn’t afford to stop, terrified that halting now would freeze her in place forever. The unicorn's horn was so close, a recently inflicted wound leaving a trail of oozing blood for her to follow.
She paused, fumbling for a small crystal jar filled with strange void insects. I should use it now, she considered, gazing at its insides. But hesitation gripped her—she needed that horn intact. "These creatures will only live long enough to serve their purpose," she muttered, steeling herself. With newfound resolve, she hurled the jar with precise aim, shattering it against the unicorn's wound. The dark, miniature creatures swarmed, gnawing at the injury, feeding on its life and essence in a horrifying frenzy.
And then, the creature fell, once a majestic being, now nothing but lifeless flesh. She took her time to walk into view, the mist still swirling around her. As she approached, she noticed the void insects had died, their tiny bodies scattered across the snow and the unicorn's corpse. She circled it, ignoring the stranger completely, her focus solely on the horn. Donning gloves, she cut the horn from its head and pulled it free without remorse. Gazing at her prize up close, she couldn't help but smile.
She paused, fumbling for a small crystal jar filled with strange void insects. I should use it now, she considered, gazing at its insides. But hesitation gripped her—she needed that horn intact. "These creatures will only live long enough to serve their purpose," she muttered, steeling herself. With newfound resolve, she hurled the jar with precise aim, shattering it against the unicorn's wound. The dark, miniature creatures swarmed, gnawing at the injury, feeding on its life and essence in a horrifying frenzy.
And then, the creature fell, once a majestic being, now nothing but lifeless flesh. She took her time to walk into view, the mist still swirling around her. As she approached, she noticed the void insects had died, their tiny bodies scattered across the snow and the unicorn's corpse. She circled it, ignoring the stranger completely, her focus solely on the horn. Donning gloves, she cut the horn from its head and pulled it free without remorse. Gazing at her prize up close, she couldn't help but smile.
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