“Run, run as fast as you can. You’ll not get away; I’m the predator, man,” Nootau hummed to himself as he watched the spikey mammal lope down the path, away from the wolf attempting to exhaust it. His tail swished in anticipation as he leaped from boulder to path to ledge, following the prey animal in a display of agile sure footed wonder. He was feeling quite like an invisible legendary hunter as he intimidated his prey into fleeing. Well, it was just when young male wolves thought they were the skillful that the world saw fit to remind them not to be reckless. The result of what occurred next in Nootau’s adventure today was probably guessable.

He misjudged the distance between two boulders, and WAM! Down he slipped, with limbs flailing. He yelped loudly when his tail swatted the the dangerous porcupine, recoiling with four quills stuck into it. Nootau was on his paws in a split second and he bounded a few paces away from the creature he had been poaching. The barbed quills of the mammal shook in agitate before it quickly waddled away out of sight. Nootau’s bright mood immediately turned sour as he whined and set his teeth around one of the long barbed weapons. Great! Hunting in Spirane had just been ruined for him for at least the morning. He pulled gently at the natural weapon. Fire bit him in return.

He held a yelp back and buried his nose in the fur of his tail, trying to use the cool temperature of his wet nose to cool the area. Nootau was a fool, but this wasn’t his first encounter with the barbs. He knew they had to come out. But it hurts! Nootau whined to himself. if only Meryl could walk by again with some poppy seeds and that cooling pasty stuff! At least, while still painful, it could be done faster and he wouldn’t have control over ripping the quills out (thus eliminating the dilemma of having the option to stop and rest in the process)!