Upon Three Paws

Chapter 5 ✅

New Dangers

My large ears perk up when I catch the recent scent trail of that of a gopher. The familiar tang of its skin mixed with a hint of dirt excites me and I follow it with growing hope. Lately the gopher population has been going down drastically. My guess is that the stinging scent I got yesterday night belonged to the new species of predator. I'm not to worried about it though. If it's only been after the smaller things like gophers and squirrels, then there's a chance it won't be large enough to come after me. I never said I would drop my guard though.

Keeping my snout close to the ground, I watch my surroundings pass by to know which direction my tunnel is and scout for gopher holes. The scent of the poor things fear grows in its scent and sets me on edge out of habit. My instincts force me to adapt to the sounds, scents, appearance, and danger around me, so if it's fear I'm adapting too, I'll become paranoid and on high alert.

Back with the humans I recall feeling the same reaction, but not knowing how to fully recognize it. Like when they walked in to put us through another test and my siblings growled in disapproval and nerves. Before that all they'd ever had done to me was observe my actions and feed me strange things, they tasted good though.

Again, my heart grows heavy at the memory of my siblings. Not a night goes by where I don't think about them. Where are they? Are they safe? Did they think I was dead? The questions pile up until I can't take them anymore and block them out. But every time I block the painful questions out, they find a way to come up in little things I do.

Pausing, I give myself a few seconds to take deep breaths and shake the memory's away as if they're dirt on my fur before continuing on my way.

My limp paw drags across the ground, creating a shuffling sound and I have to hold back an irritated growl. Untucking my wing, I wrap it around my limp leg and press it against my side to keep it out of the way. If I didn't suddenly sprout wings then I would've died from lack of nutrition awhile ago.

A series of chitters draws my attention back to my target. The gopher I'd been tracking seems to have been injured by whatever was after it. Most likely the new predator in the area, so to my dismay the critter is still on high alert.

Curse my luck. I bare my teeth in frustration as the gopher slinks under a rather small bush. Too small for my form to fit under.

The pads on the bottom of my paws allow me to creep around without being heard by other ears. My red fur catches a ray of moonlight that nearly gives my position away to my food. Sensitive ears atop my head twitch as they focus on the gophers even breathing. It's finally relaxing and drifting off to sleep.

The wind rolls peacefully over the ground and carries my scent away from its nose. A growl works it's way up my throat and threatens to be released, but I clamp my snout shut and stalk closer, ever closer.

Just as the gopher meets my eyes, I pounce and wrap my sharp jaws around its screeching form. With a victory squeeze, the screeches stop and my prize hangs dead from my mouth.

Finally! I cheer. Looking around, I sniff the air to ensure I'm alone. What was it so afraid of?

I push that question away for later and focus on my achievement. I have caught my prey and successfully killed it.

Turning around, I sneak under bushes, between trees, and under logs until my home is in view. No longer caring what hears me after a good nights hunt, I prance happily towards it and duck through the damp tunnels.