Ouroboros Spine ii. and leave them

Initially, she failed to notice the shadow that had begun trailing her nor did she realize that he hunted after her the way the huntress sought after the deer. She'd seen flattened beds amongst the brush, bent and broken foliage, even some droppings and trees stripped of bark -- all signs of the winter-hungry grazers. After a time though, as her painted paws became wet and dark with the ooze of mud towards the boundaries of the Spine's short range, she felt the familiar prickle of her flesh crawling like eyes trailing over her skin.

The dove drifted to a halt, swinging back to face the way she'd come as her head lowered -- neck extending as she sniffed the air for would-be pursuers, pale verdant gaze sweeping through the dim shadows of the dawn searchingly, suspiciously. "Hello?" She called out softly, the wisp of noise not nearly loud enough to carry but enough that someone nearby might hear.