Redtail Rise the island of the fay

They couldn’t be sure what she’d seen from over here, though the signal Avicus gave wasn’t the one they expected. Evidently the quarry was heading their way. Remembering just how suddenly the groundhogs had emerged from the earth, they braced in preparation.

Yet nothing happened. Perhaps this rodent was wiser, going to ground rather than leaping from the frying pan into the fire. Masque whined under their breath, thrusting their muzzle into the hole and trying to scent the prey. They swore they could smell it and its fear, its warm, quivering body just out of reach…

With a huff, Masque withdrew their snout to begin attacking the small burrow. They dug rapidly, not so much to get at the gopher but to frighten it into moving back toward their mother. Meanwhile, they collapsed this burrow entirely, cutting off at least one exit.

When that was done, the Ulfr went very still very suddenly, ears pricked. They heard movement beneath the ground and sprang forward, tracking it from above. They shot their mother an eager look.

Returning to sender, they quipped, breathless from the anticipation and effort.