Grouse Thicket mais oui on se connait bien

 

it was not the birds that stirred beneath dawn's first fluttering climb, but the small and delicate form of a wolf. this wolf walked out among the rosy light saturated in blushing color, as if her arrival and hers alone precipiated the coming day. early as it was, the dawn was still a subdued cerise hidden behind shadowed peaks. yet, annunziata strode as if she pulled the sun's molten burden to her backside. all was still in the hardwoods save for the slow slant of creeping light, and she the only creature that dared disturb the pallid glow of dawnrise.

it would not be this quiet for long. annunziata paused only briefly before passing under the outstretched eaves of a young sapling.