Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Her ongoing search for her missing parents had led Meeka deep into the forboding woods. Little did she know the danger she had put herself in by ignoring that pee soaked tree stump, not realizing it was a sign post with a message to intruders: stay out! The lost girl was ignorant to many laws of the wild. This was just one of the many hard lessons she'd have to learn if she was to survive in this harsh world.

Her grumbling tummy persuaded her to put her search on hold and find something to eat instead. Having been cared for her entire life up to this point, she had limited hunting experience. Meeka loved chasing squirrels in the park. She'd even managed to catch a few, to the dismay of her parents. But the squirrels living in the park were fat and slow after years of eating human handouts. These wild squirrels were quick witted and even quicker on the move. They easily evaded the wolfdog's attempts at catching them. Meeka was ready to give up and munch on some grass.

One of the bolder squirrels remained on the ground, scouring the leaf litter for nuts. Meeka crept up on him slowly. "Hey there, little guy," she said in a sugary sweet voice. "I'm not gonna hurtcha, I just want to play." The squirrel remained still and kept his beady black eyes on Meeka as he stuffed an acorn into his mouth. She inched closer, trying to close the gap between them as much as she could without scaring it up a tree. "Just a little more..."

The squirrel decided this was too close for comfort and made a dash for the closest tree. Meeka lunged forward, catching up with her prey just as it started climbing the trunk. She stood up on her hind legs and seized the tip of it's bushy red tail in her teeth. "Gotcha!" She growled triumphantly. But her victory was short lived, as the end of the tail broke off allowing the critter to scamper up the trunk to the safety of the branches above. Meeka was left with a little tuft of fur in her mouth.

She spat the fur out as the squirrel chattered noisily, as if cursing her for taking a piece of his tail. The wolfdog glared up at him. "I'll get you next time," she threatened as she let herself fall back on all fours. As her front paws touched the ground her collar was pulled tightly against her throat, choking her. In her haste to catch the squirrel, Meeka had somehow managed to get her collar caught on a branch. She pulled and thrashed around, trying to dislodge herself, but no good. "Help! Anyone?" She managed to yelp as she struggled for breath. Cold fear crept up her spine as she realized there might not be anyone nearby to come to her rescue.