Jade Fern Grove departure to the west

It led away from the creek bed, Haunt carefully pursuing it with her nose skimming just an inch above the ground. She hadn't gone very far when she heard a splashing noise behind her. At first, only a single ear bent backward. Then, she swiveled swiftly and sprang, certain that the rabbit must have doubled back toward the water somehow.

When she beheld her soaking wet father, Haunt reeled back in momentary shock. Her white forelegs braced on the ground and she blinked up at him. She knew he might be cross with her for leaving the bypass, though Haunt was honestly more upset about the interrupted hunt than worried about Kaertok's inevitable rebuke.

In fact, she couldn't resist a brief, frantic search of the shore with her senses, just to be sure the rabbit wasn't within easy reach. Of course, it wasn't, and eventually she gave it up as a lost cause and faced her father. She didn't look him in the face, keeping her head low and her eyes averted. Her tail went limp, feathering against the backs of her pale legs.