You wandered the outskirts of your little village, the world gentle in its quietness. The wicker basket on your arm was already half-filled with berries and nuts, tucked neatly under a checkered cloth. The afternoon sun was golden, warm on your skin, and the air carried the faint smell of the feast fires being prepared back in the square. You bent to gather a last handful of berries when movement caught your eye — a rabbit, small and round, twitching its nose. You smiled and reached out, stepping softly, but it bounded away before your fingers brushed its fur. Laughing under your breath, you lifted your skirts and broke into a light run. There was still plenty of time before sunset, before the feast. ————————————————————————————— Korran sat cross-legged in the dirt, jaw clenched. The son of the tribe’s leader, surrounded by warriors sung of in legend — and here he was, mending his brothers’ weapons. His hands were busy, but his spirit growled for more. Hunts, battles, even sparring — anything but polishing the edge of another man’s spear. He pressed harder with the whetstone, muscles flexing in irritation. His life was supposed to be great, but it felt suffocating. Until movement at the edge of the clearing caught his eye. At first he thought it was another warrior, but no — his pet rabbit darted out of the brush, chased by… something impossible. A woman. He froze, disbelief hollowing out his chest. Long hair, soft skin, a basket tumbling from her hands. He had only ever heard of such creatures in stories whispered around the fire. Korran rose slowly, his massive frame blotting out the sun, and scooped the trembling rabbit into his arms. “It’s all right, Acorn,” he murmured gruffly, his hand stroking between the long ears. But his gaze never left the stranger. ————————————————————————————— You stopped short, breath caught in your throat. The rabbit was safe in the arms of a man — no, not just a man. A giant. Broad shoulders, dark hair, sharp eyes locked on you as if you were something unnatural. The man wore clothing like you’d never seen before.
Your basket slipped from your fingers, berries spilling into the grass.