Momma's Bad Side

Song walked right into this one. While strolling down to the stream to get a morning drink he hadn't been paying much attention. It was early he had just woken up. As he leaned down to take a few big gulps he saw them in his peripheral vision. To the left a gangly hours old moose calf. To the right a veteran moose mother. The Destruction felt a shiver of panic go down his spine, always told a mother moose was more dangerous than a bull. The three of them stood motionless for a long time, Song unsure what to do and the moose pair surprised by his sudden appearance.

Finally Song got his wits about him, and as slow as he could the big Male started backing away. Even this little bit of movement was enough to startle the calf, which in turn caused the momma to spring into action. Song's head moved from left to right as the level of danger intensified and the stakes grew higher. Song didn't let his surprise get the better of him, and as the cow started to charge at him he took all evasive maneuvers.

Large white paws scrambled beneath him and he struggled for purchase on the soggy ground. He caught dried reeds and degrading sticks but he managed to get out of the way of the moose's kicking front hooves. The last thing Song wanted was one of those to his head. The cow bellowed in anger as her attack scored the ground where Song had been only a moment before. She wasn't finished with him yet though.

Song surged forward, unwilling to stop and allow her to catch up with him. He pulled his ears back to his skull and tucked his tail as he fled. He managed to run in a serpentine pattern between the trees, never staying in a straight line. Song could allow her to charge at him full speed. He couldn't afford to allow her to hit at all, her hooves were a powerful force to be reckoned with.

He didn't have the sense to call out to his packmates for help either, of course he didn't want to get them into the trouble he had found himself in either. He spared a glance behind him as he rounded one of the biggest trees in the forest, and for a moment he thought he'd escaped her. His pace slowed slightly and he almost relaxed when she came barreling around the corner.

Song felt himself jump, and the cow didn't look like she was expecting him to be standing there either. Both creatures jumped back as they started at each other. The cow recovered first, stomping and kicking her foot in the loam at her feet. The Destruction man decided to quite running as she hadn't charged him again. He got a confidence boost, and charged her instead.

He hadn't seen the baby since their encounter began, and she was likely feeling the need to return to her unguarded calf. Song went on the offensive. He leapt towards her, tail flashing behind him as he snapped his teeth at her and growled deeply. She wasn't impressed with his display, but retreated back towards the river bank as he inched forward.

Song seemed to get a little too close and pushed his luck too far when she charged him again. Her hooves lashed out in anger as he snapped at her. The cows hoof barely caught him on the nose as he beat a hasty retreat. It wasn't enough to cause damage but the wound stung something fierce. The tall alabaster warrior yelped as his body retreated again.

While he was distracted by his pain the cow had turned and fled back to her child. Song didn't know how to quit while he was ahead and followed brazenly after. She wasn't as tough as he had imagined, maybe he still had a chance at her calf.

Half way back to the river the old cow noticed he was following and instead of leading him right to her baby she turned around and charged at him again. Song wasn't as quick to react. Her huge body came baring down on him, and he managed to avoid her hooves but her huge head was used in an upswing. She slammed the broad side of her skull in to the soft point of Song's belly and knocked the wind from his form.

Song sputtered as he struggled to get away from the enraged beast. Luckily for him the old cow was more concerned with her calf, instead of finishing Song off she made a hasty retreat back to her baby. Song was left gasping for air at the base of one of the giant redwoods. He puffed heavily, watching the huge moose disappear through the greening underbrush. Maybe he wouldn't try to take on a moose mom again.