Blacktail Deer Plateau eats, shoots and leaves

The Alpha female's sharp words caused Osprey's ears to flatten against her skull as soon as she righted herself. She sank sulkily to her belly, lip curled and nape prickling. She glared resentfully at Blue Willow's toes, though she made no sound. Although she could be quite pushy with her peers, she knew her place was below the adults. One day, she might push the envelope and rebel, yet that stage remained in her future, likely when she reached adolescence.

While she lay there, glowering at her aunt's petite black feet, a caterpillar wandered into her field of vision. Osprey looked at it expressionlessly for a moment, then suddenly brought her paw down with a thump! and smashed the insect into a pile of mush.