Bearclaw Valley lost

quick thread to keep up w activity in between college - all welcome!

mari wandered on her lonesome through the valley, as aimless in her destination as she had been since first arriving.

She vaguely recalled the valley having been inhabited by others when last she'd lurked around its entrance as a juvenile, so tread carefully when she happened upon it once more.

Wayfarer moved quietly, unable to detect any fresh markings to mark one's claim. A pale-furred stranger was spotted picking their way through, however, which drew the rogue's ears forward in curiosity.

eyes. Mari felt eyes bearing into her back. 
you'd think by now she'd shrugged off the anxiety when there were bigger things to worry about, like when her next meal would be. but it never became any less nerve-wracking for the dog.

she reasoned she must be paranoid though. this feeling has been a false-alarm before. but it was also proven to be right.

"if you feel you're being watched, theres a good chance you're right." — that is what an older dog, a retired shepherd, used to say whenever recounting his tales back home. Marija never dreamed of the day she'd be putting some of his knowledge to use.
whether or not she'd muster the courage to look for the set of eyes, though, was another question entirely.