Alpine Lake for merely dreaming we were snow

Masquerade wouldn’t call the silence comfortable or companionable, necessarily, as she didn’t really know Sable. She shot him sidelong glances every now and then, wondering if they would be carrying on a conversation if not for his near muteness. She wondered again about the movements of his paws earlier.

Her thoughts scattered when he paused to examine what looked like a small game trail. Her long tail waved as she waited, only he exchanged a look with her that said, No dice. Masque tipped her muzzle in acknowledgement, then turned and resumed her own tracking.

Some minutes later, she came across a scent she didn’t recognize. It was strong. She woofed under her breath to get Sable’s attention, then proceeded more stealthily. She slunk past a tree covered in teeth marks she didn’t notice, then froze and crouched when she spotted a small, dark brown creature through the foliage.

It wasn’t big—maybe a pound or two—and looked a lot like a tailless rat. Her eyelids fluttered as she ascertained this queer rodent. It sat on its squat haunches, nibbling at a fern it grasped in its small paws. It seemed utterly oblivious to the two predators, so Masque knew she needed to take advantage of this and act now.

Like a rattlesnake, she struck forth from the brush.