Shadewood You can't touch me there, you can't touch my body

It had to be close. She could almost see the imprints of its little bald feet in the loam, so precisely did its scent collect in evenly spaced beads on the ground. She licked her lips, wetting her nose and wriggling it as she inspected a nearby bush. Could the rat be hiding within, cowering from the young predator looming overhead?

She would never find out, for the sound of clumsy paws drew her ears backward. Alyx, being keenly aware she was technically in unfamiliar territory, was quick to whirl around and face whoever was coming up behind her, just to forget all about hunting and rats at the sight of Val. Momentarily, anyway. She flushed, tail beating at her hocks.

Hi! she greeted in a high voice. She cleared her throat, a little embarrassed, and tripped over her tongue to ask, wanna rat a hunt?