Gambit

Ludovic crept through the underbrush with all the stealth his small frame could muster. The moonlight painted dappled patterns on the forest floor, illuminating his path as his mismatched eyes darted around, full of curiosity and predatory intent..

The scent of an ermine was tantalizingly close, a delicate wisp of a trail in the cool night air. Ludo’s heart pounded with excitement, his tail twitching with anticipation. He paused, his ears pricking up at the slightest rustle of leaves, trying to pinpoint the exact location of his prey. He wasn’t quite the best hunter yet, but he was still a wolf, and damn it he would make his kill and bring it back to the den with pride. So he moved. His chimeric frame low to the ground, hoping to hide the bright reds of his fur color while he crouched low.

There it was — a flash of white fur against the dark backdrop of dead trees. Ludo’s muscles tensed, ready to pounce, but something else caught his attention, something that made his fur stand on end. A shiver ran down his spine as he sensed another presence, something unseen but very real. What was it? The young boy couldn’t not possibly know. But instinct was a powerful thing, and his were blaring with alarm. The forest, which moments ago seemed welcoming and familiar, now felt different. The shadows seemed deeper, the silence more profound. Ludo’s bright eyes flicked around nervously, trying to catch any hint of movement that would reveal the hidden threat.

He took a cautious step forward, his senses now split between the ermine he had been stalking and the new, unknown danger. The scent of his prey was momentarily drowned out by something else — something faint but unmistakably… predatory. His young mind raced, trying to understand what it meant.

Fear and curiosity warred within him, but his instincts urged him to be careful. He moved slowly, his small body tense and alert. The night seemed to close in around him, every sound amplified, every shadow a potential threat.

For now, the ermine was forgotten. Ludo knew he had to focus on the more immediate danger. His ears twitched, catching every rustle and whisper of the forest. He felt his watchers' presence, somewhere in the dark, somewhere out of sight. Despite his fear, Ludovic would not be intimidated. He was a fiery thing, even if he was young, and he would face whatever came his way. He stood there, fur bristling, ears flat and fangs bared.

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ludoviciana