Aiyana Tainn
I walk upon the river
Every once in a while Mother would pause, just a moment, and whenever she did Aiyana slowed too, wondering if they were to stop for good or set off again. They always did the latter, but after a few times she realized what Corinna was doing - listening, gauging the progress of those scurrying paws in the branches above. Once she had understood this, Aiyana didn't scowl when they stopped, but merely listened more intently. She could still hear them, the pitter-patter of their little feet. There were fewer of them now, most having taken off in different directions. For many minutes, though it felt like a lot longer to the excited girl, they finally stopped for real. Black ears flicked up, and without questioning she copied her mother, falling flat on her belly. Was this part of the hunting?
She hadn't crawled much since she'd grown large enough to walk, so it was rough going trying to do it. Concentration made her frown, her tail a stiff aid for balance behind her as she tried to imitate the way Corinna shuffled along. It was hard, though, but eventually whispered instructions came and she looked up, spotting a tiny, brown-and-tan creature which she guessed was the squirrel. Wordlessly Aiyana nodded, and began to crawl off on her own, feeling both a tad worried and proud at the same time. Would she do the right thing, even if Mother wasn't here to guide her?
Slowly she circled around the skittish critter, until she decided she was behind it. Half a heartbeat she waited, pulse pounding in her head, but then she leaped! And ran! And jumped, and missed. Or, more like, she'd done a pretty good job, except her small body wasn't fast and silent enough to surprise such a twitchy thing as a squirrel. It bounded off effortlessly to the nearest tree, Aiyana pursuing it and rising up against the trunk like before, barking viciously at it. She could hear its feet disappearing, and grew silent before looking back to her mother, paws still on the tree.
like it's easier than land
Love is all, from what I've heard, but my heart's learned to kill