Upon Three Paws

Chapter 6

Unnatural

Having had enough of staring at my reflection, I once again scan the forest around me, listen to every noise, and sniff at the air for danger. Nothing seems to be jumping out at me, but I still keep my ears perked up and ready to catch the smallest hint of danger.

Cold water seeps through my fur, the sensation startling and unwelcoming, but I continue slowly wading deeper into the water. When the cold substance reaches my chest, I give the air one last test. Still not picking up anything out of place, I duck below the water but immediately resurface due to the shock of being surrounded by nothing but cold. It heightens my senses and causes me to look around at the trees and leaves. This is the first time I'm doing this, so it's natural I be unsure.

Trying my best to ignore the feeling, I submerge myself once more before rushing out of the water, shaking most of the water droplets off and hurrying into an empty log to clean myself.

After going for so long without being able to detect my true scent beneath the cover of dirt, varies plants, and one or two berries. I always made sure to stay as far under the radar of everything as possible, even if that includes rolling around in others' scat to smell unappealing. If it avoids confrontations I'm willing to do it.

Giving my good shoulder a last lick, I turn to my limp one and begin cleaning it. In order to give it a thorough cleaning, I'm forced to lightly bite my elbow joint, twist it into a necessary position, and hold it like that with my other paw while I lick the unclean spot. It gets tiring using so much energy just positioning my leg, but I know it's necessary if I want to avoid getting it infected. Some dirt got into a cut I had received while out hunting without me noticing. When I did eventually notice the infection, it was too late to prevent and I had to spend the majority of my time keeping the wound clear of anything. That was when I learned that I can hold it up with my wing.

Finally. I release my leg. Looking around me, the log looks decent enough to be a temporary place to rest. Once I bring in some dried leaves I can sleep comfortably.

Getting up, I relish a little longer in relief of the feeling of having no dirt rub against my skin. Before I leave the safety of the log, I tuck my limp leg against my side with my wing as to keep it cleaner for a little while longer.

Three trips later, a descent layer of dried, dead leaves covers the ground in which I'll sleep on. Content with my choice of bedding, I circle before flopping down with a soft crunch. My eyelids droop and I allow them to close. The last thing I can register is my earthy scent covering my clean fur.

***

??? POV

Liam was getting on my nerves again. I'm getting tired of his attempts to get me to play with him. I mean, can't he take the hint and go play hide and seek with another dragonet?!

I growl irritably to myself and fly through another obstacle of branches to distract myself. My quick reflexes easily get me through to the other side. The sun reflects off my bright red scales as I pass under a hole in the tree canopy. Back winging, I touch down on a lower branch, my red scales softly chime together when I try shaking the feeling of frustration away as if it were dried mud between my scales.

The nearly non- existent sound of branches snapping catches my attention and I perk my ear tufts up to clarify it. Surely enough, it appears again and I pinpoint it to under the branch I stand on. Looking down, I'm surprised to see a small fox roughly my height pulling blackberries off a bush and eating them.

My blood memories help me out and show me various species of fox eating anything from bird eggs, small mammals, lizards, fruit, and berries under the cover of darkness.