Heron Lake Plateau sleeping children are still flying

It was beautifully clear tonight, and pale moonlight filtered down through the canopy overhead to spangle the forest floor in broken shards of silver. From within the darkness, a living shadow emerged and slid toward her beneath a dappling of white light, electric green eyes glittering with his affection and concern for her. A squirrel dangled from his jaws but she found the sight of it repulsive. So great was her discomfort and discontent that she could barely stand the thought of food at that moment.

As her mate approached, she shook her head in response to his question. For the millionth time that night, she got up and started pacing around. "Everything hurts," she groused, her face drawn with stress and exhaustion. "I can't sleep, can't eat, feel like I'm going to explode." She looked up at him with a pleading look in her eyes, as if begging him to fix everything even though she knew there was nothing he could do.