Bitterroot Valley Enter, Pursued by a Memory

twitch hit the ground running—literally—her paws tossing up leaf-litter as she bolted, breath already sharp in her chest from the mix of adrenaline and poorly contained laughter. barrett’s “two” rolled through the trees like a warning bell, and she cut right, then left, snapping branches and kicking dirt with enough recklessness to confuse. she wasn’t fast enough to outrun him forever, but she could damn well confuse him.

she veered off the obvious path, slicing through a thicket narrow enough that only something her size could slip through clean. she left just enough noise there for him to think she committed to it—then immediately doubled back, hiding among trees and bushes as she returned to her original path at a different angle.

four.. she counter internally, pulse spiking. she didn’t look back, wouldn’t dare, because then she would panic. the birch opened ahead, thin white trunks giving way to deeper greens. she pushed harder, shoulder brushing a fern as she ducked under a fallen limb, tail streaming like a banner behind her.

the grove was close now, she was sure. perfect cover. perfect place to vanish.