Dawn is Hotaru's favorite time of the day. It could be because she is painted in its colors, that she feels a kinship to the soft, muted pastels that bleed softly across the skies. Or maybe it's the metaphor behind it all, that with a new day comes a new chance, a new beginning. If Hotaru were prone to that sort of softness, of course. You are, Alice stated primly, and Hotaru kicked an errant limb at her, completely harmless but meaningful nonetheless. Alice snickered and dashed off further into the half-melted snow of the valley, parts of her seeming to disappear with how her fur blended into the background. Hotaru merely rolled her eyes, allowing her hellhound the time to bound around without having to worry about appearances. Hotaru at least was open enough with her companion for Alice to understand that she did, in fact, feel guilty that Hotaru's rank forced Alice into a certain role as well. One of obedience, intimidation, and dominance. 

Out here, they could be whoever or whatever they wanted to be. Hotaru was still figuring that out on her own. Her heart and soul were torn, her emotions in constant conflict. How could she know who she was any longer? Who could she even turn to? Her heart ached uncharacteristically for her twin, perhaps even for her mother. There was so much she had messed up as a foal, things she wanted to fix, but could not. Things the Moon Goddess had stolen from her. She'd give anything to speak to her mother only once, to mend the bond she'd broken so long ago, if only for closure. But Raeden...where had she gone, after that morning on the borders? Where had she disappeared to? Hotaru wanted her twin back, her elder sister, her reluctant portector and beautiful idol. So much had changed. What would she think of Hotaru, having become the Queen that Raeden had always desired to be? Would she succumb to her jealousy? Or would they be able to mend the bond they'd once had, shaky though it had been?

Prey! It budges into her mind, breaking apart her steadily declining thought process, her hatred of her stupid younger self. It was likely purposeful, as Alice knew Hotaru better than anyone else. Still, she found herself frowning as her eyes tracked across the brightly light snow, fighting the glare of the sun off is pale surface to find her companion. She was hunkered down, a half-formed pose of stalking as her ears flickered atop her head. Hotaru lifted her eyes in the direction, and through the rosen-hued fog a dark, majestic form emerged. An aged, weathered thing, but large and beautiful nonetheless. Alice was a hunter, but Hotaru had hunted for her when she was young and defenseless. The pair had never hunted together.

Regarding the animal, Hotaru weight the pros and cons. Leather for her crafters, horn bone could be useful in multiple ways, meat for the companions...on top of that, it would be a faster death than a pack of wolves seeking nourishment for newly born pups and scraggly winter members. The Lady paced closer, watching, shifting her form downwind just in case. Elk were generally not bothered by equines, but Alice's scent could send him running. Kill, Alice whined softly at her hooves. Hotaru shushed her absentmindedly. The pair of them could take it down alone, certainly, but it would be harder nonetheless. Shrugging, her mental train of thought registered in Alice before she could form any sort of official decision, and the hellhound went loping across the snow. Hotaru laughed softly, kicking her heels to run after her. A chase it was to be then, at least until the Elk attempted to fight back or they moved in for the killing blow.