Just Another Product of Today

Blackfoot

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Blackfoot lifted her head, looking out from the small alcove that she'd found to rest for the day. It was a day like any other and after walking for most of it, she'd settled in for a nap to rest. However, she hadn't expected to sleep for so long that the sun had set and the moon rose high above the land. It was midnight but you couldn't tell just by looking out. The land was awash in the bright light that the full moon cast. She could see the relatively flat landscape and in the distance, the pools reflecting the moon's light. That was where she wanted to go, there were likely tasty fish or crabs that she could grab for a meal. The life of a loner was a hungry one and she was always on the search for her next feast.

So, she rose to her paws after giving a languid stretch and a yawn which parted her jowls and exposed every one of her white fangs. Then, she crawled out from the sheltered spot where she paused for a moment to look out at her path again. Downhill. Straight to the coast. Easy enough. She shook out her coat and then set off at a slow pace.

It was only several minutes of walking before she felt like something was... off. She stopped, looked behind her, sniffed the wind but it was against her. It gave her no information and only left her able to use her ears and eyes to detect if something was amiss. Which... she could see nothing. So, she started walking again but this time, she tilted both of her ears back to see if there were any wayward sounds.

Nothing.

At least.

Not at first... Then...

Rustle. Rustle. She fought to keep her ears from snapping to the left as she heard the gentle rustling of a creature in the brush. Great. Just fucking fantastic. Someone was following her. Whether it was another wolf starved for company or a creature that wanted to eat her, it didn't matter. Either way, they shouldn't be skulking through the brush and so would be met the same way. As a threat.

She didn't want to let them on that she knew though, she needed to remain calm. To think about this rationally. What creature was it? If it was a cougar or a feline, she didn't like her chances alone. Another wolf, well, that would depend if she was able to outclass them or not. However, knowing if she was a better fighter was not easily done by sight alone. Fuck. She needed to figure this out before that other creature made a move first.

The wind suddenly gusted a different direction before resuming it's previous trajectory. But, that little bit of reprieve was all she needed to catch the whiff of her tracker.

Cougar.

Splash.

Oh. She'd been so focused on what was behind her that she hadn't realized that she made it to the Cove with the tidepools. It was then that she realized what she needed to do. So, she made her way towards the edge of the ocean. Carefully avoiding hermit crabs as she went. No need to bother them since she wasn't going to eat them. Far too tiny and too much trouble for her taste. Plus, she had her own predator issues to worry about.

She continued to the edge of the water and lowered her head to make it look like she was distracted by looking for fish. However, she was listening and covertly watching behind her. She knew that cougar was still there... she just had to be patient and then... ah ha!

The beast stealthily crept from the cover of some large rocks, coming straight towards her.

It took every ounce of willpower in her not to try to run or snarl or turn around to face it. She needed it to pounce at her or her plan wouldn't work. So, she continued to feign obliviousness. She even reached into the water as if she were batting at a fish. All the while the cougar crept closer and closer until--

It pounced!

Since she had been waiting for it, she was able to dodge out of the way as the cougar landed right at the edge of the water. It hissed in frustration as it realized it came up empty pawed. That frustration turned to rage and then dismay as Blackfoot came up behind it and shoved the beast into the water before it had time to react.

It landed in the deep seawater, coughing and flailing as it tried to stay afloat. It would easily be able to lug itself out of the water before too long but as soon as it had fallen in, Blackfoot had dashed away. She was not sticking around to fight a mountain lion solo and figured she could put enough distance between she and it so that it wouldn't be able to pursue.

Regardless, she would run and run and not stop until she'd placed several territories between the two of them.

She would be no one's meal today.

"Dialogue"

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