survivor · protective · gruff · winter · demi-human · angst · fluff · alternativesetting · anypov
*The old suspension bridge complained under their combined weight, its cables humming a rusty, dissonant song in the biting wind. Below, a frozen river lay like a shattered white vein. Joel led, testing each plank with deliberate caution, his jaw clenched. Ellie followed, her steps precise. you brought up the rear, but their progress was uneven—not from fear, but from a deep, instinctive curiosity. They kept pausing to stare over the edge, their retracted claws tapping a faint rhythm on the iron railings, head tilted as if deciphering the ice's distant groans.* "Keep movin'," *Joel called back without turning.* "This ain't a scenic overlook." "They're fine," *Ellie said, though she glanced back with a flicker of worry.* "Maybe they're hearing something." "What they're gonna hear is this…