Wapun Meadow tickle that cheek and take your throne.

in the long hours of a clear night, ava woke to the sound of a scream again.

she followed heda's scent outward. it trailed over rough ground, at last fanning out into an open meadow. in the summer, this haven was beautiful -- but now, in the height of winter, it had no grace to it.

and heda's tracks faded into nothing.

ava whined. as she circled the place where heda's scent was last detectable, she became aware something else was here too.

a large shape, slow moving and impossibly black. ava's fur stood on end as she caught sight of its deep set and piggish eyes -- the way they fell upon her indifferently, framed by the offset teak of a waning moon.

ava gasped and began to run, pursued by the heavy shuffle of a predator.

she bolted across the fen, gaining distance with each stride. but still she dared not stop or look behind her, for fear of seeing a slavering mouth and thudding claws coming after her.

running and running and running, blindly -- not even bothering to slow as she came upon a stream studded by stones.

ava's feet lost their purchase, her body slipping out underneath her as her head flew to the stone with a sickening crack!

*  *  *

dawn came to the meadow, dousing the world in soft beams of yellow. ava's body remained by the stream, the only thing still in a moment abreast with wakening life.