Her voice is a fearless proclamation of protection
She lives what's within her out loud
She lives what's within her out loud
In contrast, Hotaru is not used to being so alone in the midst of a hunt. Where once Atlas was steed or company, flusher or tracker, all those roles now fall to her. Seren may take the mantle in some ways, but the frayed ends of the string where another soul once was tied feels keenly raw to her once more as she crouches in the snow.
There is only silence to accompany her as she waits, tense and coiled, for Seren to do her part. Faith, endless and well-placed, keeps her from any anxiety or doubt. The stargirl is proficient in many ways. Hotaru does not doubt she will shine with this simple task.
The roar both startles and preps her like a coiled spring, and as the creatures flee for their lives they venture right into the wicked jaws that await them. Tail whipping to keep her balance, the lioness pounces from the banks, huge claws swiping the first hare and slamming it to the snow where it lies unmoving, swiftly and mercifully killed. The group veers away, snow flying in disarray, but they are not fast enough when trying to backpedal. Two more are felled in quick succession - one by her paw, the other’s neck snapped between her fangs. Blood dots the snow, and silence reigns moments later as the survivors vanish into burrows and across the tundra’s wastes.
Purring, Hotaru collects the two bodies and piles them with the others, tail lazily swaying as she awaits Seren and Umbra. She had killed the additional hares to offer one to Umbra, which she paws aside for the dragon. The other two are for herself, and she eats freely as she waits, curled around the body to conceal it from Seren in case she cannot stomach the sight. Inside, the animal calms, satisfied, and her belly quiets in turn.
There is only silence to accompany her as she waits, tense and coiled, for Seren to do her part. Faith, endless and well-placed, keeps her from any anxiety or doubt. The stargirl is proficient in many ways. Hotaru does not doubt she will shine with this simple task.
The roar both startles and preps her like a coiled spring, and as the creatures flee for their lives they venture right into the wicked jaws that await them. Tail whipping to keep her balance, the lioness pounces from the banks, huge claws swiping the first hare and slamming it to the snow where it lies unmoving, swiftly and mercifully killed. The group veers away, snow flying in disarray, but they are not fast enough when trying to backpedal. Two more are felled in quick succession - one by her paw, the other’s neck snapped between her fangs. Blood dots the snow, and silence reigns moments later as the survivors vanish into burrows and across the tundra’s wastes.
Purring, Hotaru collects the two bodies and piles them with the others, tail lazily swaying as she awaits Seren and Umbra. She had killed the additional hares to offer one to Umbra, which she paws aside for the dragon. The other two are for herself, and she eats freely as she waits, curled around the body to conceal it from Seren in case she cannot stomach the sight. Inside, the animal calms, satisfied, and her belly quiets in turn.
