Deepwood Weald thelktikós

He caught up to her, and when he saw her familiar shadow, he hunkered low and pressed his ears forward. She hadn’t seemed to notice him yet. How far could he push his luck?

Melaneus shifted his weight and calculated the lay of the ground he would soon find underfoot. A careful step, followed by another. Could he reach her without her knowing? If he could, he would, and if he did, he would wait behind her to see how long he could hide in self imposed invisibility before she sensed something - someone - was there.