Grouse Thicket Life in plastic

From the river isle and her chat with Laika, Saena headed east, traveling well into evenfall before deciding to call it quits in the striped shade of another bare forest. This one in the height of summer surely bore thicker undergrowth than her home to the southwest judging by the tangled shrubs and branches that interlaced even the deer paths, but the trees were smaller and there was no roar of rapids to drown her thoughts here. It was peaceful enough, but just as devoid of food as anywhere else.

She caught herself slavering and seated herself heavily to lap her tongue across her hungry jowls. Traveling a full day on an empty stomach was a tall order for any wolf, and thoughts of home seeped into her brain. She would never make it back to the creek tonight, though, and her cubs were in the safe care of the pack, so her worries were for naught.

She made an ordeal of scanning the tops of the trees and sniffing about the undergrowth before selecting a particularly prickly bush to settle herself near. Though her body yielded easily to exhaustion, her mind reeled constantly and so sleep didn't find her. She lay in the shelter of the trees, wide awake, with her eyes tilted skyward as though she might find strength or sleep up there.