Alpine Lake oh whatever that your days may bring

After another long star-filled night finally dawned to day, he had tied up his loose ends neatly enough and found nothing else obligating him to stay put on the mountainside today by the afternoon. The usual oversights done, the pups off with others, his patrol had tapered off down towards the lowlands considerably anyway--his most complete, thorough circuit in a distracted last few days. All the same, he didn't mind the mild temperatures and easy clouds overhead, and this eventually back-dropped his jog that roamed, then roved beyond, with his nose down and ears up for more. It was only natural to help put his efforts towards looking for more sizable prey, or at least any signs of their continued returns--he would settle for that after the way it had been. All else, he would be taking it in too.

So he let his path meander to relatively little gain, and by the time the sun was slipping down again, he had nearly reached the Alpine Lake, a landmark he appreciated often, but didn't visit specifically enough. Deciding it was either pursue the water's edge or head back towards home, he felt like testing his luck a bit, and started up the way. He had come this far, so he may as well.

Sunset's colors were coming, he noticed, though the shift was subtle and early still. So, with that timing in mind, he hoped he'd catch a glimpse of a deer or two. Maybe the lakeside itself would be promising. Then again, maybe he was getting ahead of himself. Maybe the few stragglers they had unearthed were just that: a false hope for the turn of the tides once more. He wanted to know that wasn't the case.

His thoughts churned in a thousand different directions--most of them with a point (and certainly some without) as he kept hiking on towards the shore, one paw in front of the other.