01-01-2021, 04:40 PM
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His nose is practically in the dirt as he tries to sort through all the smells that are assaulting him all at once.
There’s a bunny! Or wait, there was a bunny that passed through not too long ago, leaving behind an irresistible scent trail for him to follow. But wait! There’s a….is that a chipmunk? Or a squirrel? Something is rustling in the carpet of fallen leaves just ahead. The tri-colored dog tail stills from its frenzied wagging. He focuses intently on that movement, on that sound that makes. Him. Want. To.
RUN!
Barrow leaps forward without grace, his paws outstretched to catch his quarry or himself or both when he hits the ground again. His ears a pricked at attention. He anticipates the squeak that will follow and make him the happiest guy in the world. He can imagine his soft mouth closing gently around his target, can feel the victory of his captured prey squirming in his mouth before he releases it to live another day and wait for his next game of fetch.
But then, nearly too late, he sees what he thought had been an acceptable partner in his game of catch and release is instead marked with a warning of white and black. The skunk waddles out from its pile of leaves with an air of disinterest. It knows the mass of black, tan, and white hurtling at it is defenseless against its secret weapon. It turns around and lifts its tail just as Barrow-the-dog crunches the leaf-litter under his paws.
The spray arcs out and descends like so much acid rain. Fortunately, Barrow dives to the side and avoids the worst of it. A bit hits the end of his waving banner-of-a-tail and the scent is terrible. His twitching nose is no longer a blessing but a horrible, monstrous burden. He’s about to start rolling on the ground to rid himself of the putrid perfume, when he hears his name ringing through the trees.
“Maze?” He cocks his head in question, just as another wave of stench rolls over him. He sees the skunk considering a second blast as it waddles in their direction. “Go, save yourself!” And with a happy grin, he bounds off, wondering if she will follow him or if she will let him be the decoy.
There’s a bunny! Or wait, there was a bunny that passed through not too long ago, leaving behind an irresistible scent trail for him to follow. But wait! There’s a….is that a chipmunk? Or a squirrel? Something is rustling in the carpet of fallen leaves just ahead. The tri-colored dog tail stills from its frenzied wagging. He focuses intently on that movement, on that sound that makes. Him. Want. To.
RUN!
Barrow leaps forward without grace, his paws outstretched to catch his quarry or himself or both when he hits the ground again. His ears a pricked at attention. He anticipates the squeak that will follow and make him the happiest guy in the world. He can imagine his soft mouth closing gently around his target, can feel the victory of his captured prey squirming in his mouth before he releases it to live another day and wait for his next game of fetch.
But then, nearly too late, he sees what he thought had been an acceptable partner in his game of catch and release is instead marked with a warning of white and black. The skunk waddles out from its pile of leaves with an air of disinterest. It knows the mass of black, tan, and white hurtling at it is defenseless against its secret weapon. It turns around and lifts its tail just as Barrow-the-dog crunches the leaf-litter under his paws.
The spray arcs out and descends like so much acid rain. Fortunately, Barrow dives to the side and avoids the worst of it. A bit hits the end of his waving banner-of-a-tail and the scent is terrible. His twitching nose is no longer a blessing but a horrible, monstrous burden. He’s about to start rolling on the ground to rid himself of the putrid perfume, when he hears his name ringing through the trees.
“Maze?” He cocks his head in question, just as another wave of stench rolls over him. He sees the skunk considering a second blast as it waddles in their direction. “Go, save yourself!” And with a happy grin, he bounds off, wondering if she will follow him or if she will let him be the decoy.
Barrow
@[Mazikeen]