Redtail Rise the fortunes of the world

She scarcely breathed while she waited to see what Augur might do. Masque didn’t think he would harm her, yet the threat of his wrath made her very ill at ease. Her anxiety spiked, knowing that this was a critical test of her skills. If she just managed to get away without being caught, then nobody would punish her.

When the new father returned his attention to the whelping den and its inhabitants, Masque waited as long as she could before very carefully creeping to face the other direction. Her heart thumped in her chest as she cautioned herself not to make a run for it. She must proceed with the same careful, furtive movements or…

Masquerade thought she heard something behind her and her imagination promptly procured a furious Augur and his snapping teeth. The Bearn managed to avoid darting noisily through the underbrush, instead pressing herself to the forest floor. But she couldn’t swallow the yelp of surprise that escaped her.

It turned out Augur wasn’t there, though the cry had been a dead giveaway. Noting her “fatal” error, Masquerade instinctively accepted the foil, revealing herself. She didn’t look up, eyes trained squarely on the ground even as she crouched, tail tucked between her legs and head bowed in utter apology and submission.