Thy Fearful Symmetry

Mæva worked her way carefully along the edge of the briar patch. She'd been after a rabbit and sure enough the silly creature had disappeared right into the briars. She knew it was probably a lost cause now but she was loathe to give up. The youth padded around the briar, focused entirely on the rabbit and not so much on her surroundings. She had no idea that a tiger had traveled up from Auster and was settled not far off, watching her. Something didn't seem right. Mæva paused, ears alert. She glanced around for a moment and just as she turned back to the briar's the tiger lunged.

Mæva yelped in surprise, spring instinctively into the brambles just as the tiger's right paw struck her thigh, sending her spiraling into the tangled brush.