Broken Antler Fen Go ahead, make my day

@Kerosene :)

Wildfire accompanied her father on a mid-morning patrol of the southwestern borders, then the two began heading home for lunch. En route, someone howled for Peregrine and he motioned for her to go ahead. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised before pivoting and heading back down the caldera's slopes. Her yellow eyes followed him until he disappeared, then the pup faced forward and began making the solo march home.

But something disrupted her upward journey too. A rabbit suddenly darted from a crevice and began tumbling downhill. Although no Gamekeeper, Wildfire reacted out of pure instinct. She gave chase, running precariously after the fleeing hare. She tripped toward the bottom of the decline and rolled to a stop with a grunt. Wildfire jumped to her feet and continued pursuing the hare along the shore of Lake Rodney.

Eventually, it pulled too far ahead and disappeared. Wildfire rolled to a stop, panting heavily. She started when she realized how far she was beyond her home's borders. Heart hammering anxiously in her chest, she swiveled and began loping back toward the caldera. But she slowed down after only a few yards, wincing at a severe stitch in her side.