Grouse Thicket but we can overcome

Gritting her teeth, Niamh flattened her ears and jolted toward the birds just as they began to take off. Feathers were dropped in a hurry as the birds scurried for freedom and while all she could do was hope that the male just beyond the bushes didn't try to intervene or take her out, she turned her concentration back on the birds and shut him out. The last one to take off was the one she chose, and after gathering herself, she leapt into the air, snatching the bird by one of its wings and dragging it back down to the ground. She shook it hastily, not wanting it to have the option to fly if it got away from her, before she dropped it and finished what she'd started. 

The bird still hanging from her jaws, she wasted no time wheeling on her haunches to stare back toward the male, backing away with a slight growl before she even caught sight of him. As soon as she saw that his lips proclaimed no devil, she quieted her growl, turned her head and dropped the grouse by her flank, and regarded him levelly. "Sorry dude. Early wolf gets the bird." She said. Normally, she wasn't so rude- but this was a stranger, and a male, and he looked like he could take her on easily- so all she could do to keep the bird to herself was put on a brave front and if he did challenge her- then all she could do was hope she could outrun him.