Redsand Canyon paganus

germanicus looked back at arsenio. their time together was easy and knowing. he increased his speed. the marking had not been old.

a longer trot carried them to where the doe had bedded down in the middle of daylight. her limp was worsening. she was alone. perhaps she knew that she was being pursued.

he tested the nest with a forepaw. the grass was warm. tufts of white fur indicated where she had briefly lain.

onward then, pressing through the unknown forest until her ears stood silhouetted against the edge of a clearing.