the sun fell over the horizon quicker than she had accounted for. amber had just begun to bleed into violet smears by the time Gjalla reached the stream.
the wind came through sharp here—it cut against the trees and kissed frost bitten ground.
the dark woman walked without urgency, her gait still marked by a lingering ache in her bones, but steadier now. the faint dusting of silver snow along her back caught the last kiss of daylight before it faded over the mountains.
her breath curled in soft clouds as she paused atop a low ridge, the tips of golden grass swaying at her ankles. ears turned forward, listening—not for danger—simply for the song of the land.
gjalla tilted her head upward, eyes narrowing at the swirl of clouds overhead. she hadn’t said much in the days since she had crash-landed here—not much reason to. her presence alone felt like thunder held at bay.
the wind came through sharp here—it cut against the trees and kissed frost bitten ground.
the dark woman walked without urgency, her gait still marked by a lingering ache in her bones, but steadier now. the faint dusting of silver snow along her back caught the last kiss of daylight before it faded over the mountains.
her breath curled in soft clouds as she paused atop a low ridge, the tips of golden grass swaying at her ankles. ears turned forward, listening—not for danger—simply for the song of the land.
gjalla tilted her head upward, eyes narrowing at the swirl of clouds overhead. she hadn’t said much in the days since she had crash-landed here—not much reason to. her presence alone felt like thunder held at bay.