Mudminnow River a fallen star

Irene crouched lower, her emerald eyes narrowing with fierce determination as she locked onto the trail. The scent was faint but distinct, and she was convinced she was closing in. Her tail swayed behind her, not in concentration but in poorly-contained excitement that rustled leaves and snapped twigs with every sweep.  

Almost there, she muttered under her breath, her tone rich with self-assurance. Her paws pressed forward, each step louder than the last as she clumsily navigated the uneven terrain. She hadn’t noticed the way the noise echoed in the quiet forest, nor the way her scent carried on the wind.  

The bush she’d been stalking trembled ever so slightly, and Irene’s heart leapt in anticipation. Got you now, she whispered with a sharp grin, her body tensing for a leap.  

But the leap did not come, instead she froze, confidence drained as her raised paw hovered over what should have been the first step to an easy kill.

Irene blinked, panting as she stared at the empty space in front of her. Doubt crossed her face as the hunger in her stomach was the result of many failed solo hunts and as much as she hated to admit error in her ways, she truly missed the presence of others.