Otter Creek get ready to roll

Por Nanuk ♥

Water, once more, rustled beneath the feet of the lanky wolf. Shadows swathed a sopping face of melancholy. Intense stare of fire lay rested on a shadow beneath mirror-like surface, nearly trembling from the anticipation required to corner such quarry. All morning had been spent battling the otters that dotted the surface of the water, thrusting face into the mouth of dens in poor luck. The expenditure of energy was a risk. There would either be success or failure and as the sun rose higher into the pale sky it appeared as though the efforts had been for not. 

A flit of a spider-legged insect darted across the surface, triggering a movement of the trout that prompted an immediate response. Haunches launched forward like the coil of a gun, forelegs tucking to chest before sweeping forward to pounce. The ripple of water alerted the prey item which easily darted under an overhang of overgrowth half submerged into the cool creek. Jaws met nothing, airways taking on water that erupted back out with a coughed snarl. 

Body temperature prevented the predator from continuing and, with defeat, the black mess left the banks of the water source to glean some sun within the sparse trees just beyond the clearing.