In the early hours of dawn, as the first rays of light kissed the earth, Lorcan ventured through the ancient terrain of Rabbits Hollow. The forest remained gnarled and eerie as it had before the fire, and the air was heavy with the promise of rain. With gentle drizzle began to descend, shrouding the landscape in a fine mist.
The raindrops danced around him, finding their way through the trees to drench his unruly fur and glisten on his tanned face. But Lorc hardly minded, for the cool rain brought relief to the semi-recent burn marks that adorned his back like rugged battle scars.
He had been on the trail of a deer for the past four arduous days. The creature seemed to possess an uncanny sense, avoiding the scorched areas of Yellowstone left behind by the devastating wildfire. Just like him, the deer must be feeling the pang of hunger gnawing at its insides, as food became scarce amidst the charred aftermath of nature's fury.
Being a loner had been Lorcanโs way of life for a longtime, but now, it felt even more pronounced. His frame now even more lean and sinewy as it navigated through the terrain like a shadow, nimble and graceful. But the recent wildfire had turned hunting into an impossible game. His prey could anticipate his moves, and the once familiar wilderness had changed, becoming a realm of challenge and uncertainty.
Finally, Lorcan became within striking distance of his prey, inching closer to the elusive deer, heart pounding in excitement as his stomach rumbled with anticipation. Within mere metres of his prey, he could almost taste the triumph of a successful hunt. Gracefully stalking through the thick ferns, every step was measured and calculated to avoid the slightest noise.
But fate had other plans, as a scrawny raven suddenly swooped down onto a nearby branch. The bird's caw reverberated through the forest, and the deer's ears perked up, sensing danger. In a heartbeat it was gone โ his chance was gone.
Frustration welled up inside Lorcan, and he shot a furious look at the raven perched smugly on the branch. "Damn you!" he snapped, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Why did you have to ruin everything?"
The raven cawed back at him, seemingly amused by the turn of events, as if it knew it had caused a disruption in Lorcanโs plans. It fluffed its feathers, its beady eyes fixed on the irritated hunter. "What do you think is so funny, huh?" He demanded, feeling the tension rise. He was already on edge from days of stalking and tracking, and this mischievous raven was pushing his buttons. The raven tilted its head to the side, as if in contemplation, and then let out another caw, almost as if responding to the males question. It was as if the bird was mocking him. "Oh, you think you're clever, don't you?" Lorcan barked, his frustration giving way to a begrudging sense of respect for the raven's audacity. "Talking back to me like you understand what I'm saying."
The raven cawed again, and a flicker of realisation crossed Lorcans face. โWait... am I really talking to a feather-brained bird?โ he thought to himself, half embarrassed that he stooped as low as arguing with a common bird. The raven, unfazed by Lorcan's internal monologue, continued to caw, seemingly enjoying the interaction with the wolf intruder in its territory.
With a shake of his head and snarl, Lorcan conceded defeat. "Alright, you win," he said, throwing his paw up in exasperation. Before slinking back into the hollows depths.
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