I move through the darkness with a practiced grace, weaving between the trees and root systems with only faintest scratching of my claws against leaf and bark to give me away. If she is near then I wish not to disturb her until I am but inches from her - I want to be able to reach out before she can react. This place, though, is full of the scents of others. Each leaf is littered with a stranger or two; the world around me, too, sings a quiet song of distraction and agitation. It is only when it stops that I lift my head and ears, finally focused on my surroundings entirely. Not even the cricket groans. Something is here - something dangerous enough to force the world into submission, it seems.

I am no fool and with a precise series of steps, I quickly make my way into the darkest of shadows. There is much pain in the world to be explored, perhaps, but even I am aware of the destruction to a body that a creature such as a bear can cause. Perhaps some day I shall partake in the pleasure of pulling one down to the earth but for now, I merely choose to observe the shadow of a creature as it approaches. For some time, its size is quite... formidable but soon enough, I am able to see the four limbs, the lupine body and the scent of female that began to eat away at Lihi's wretched aroma. She is but as I am - a venturer in the night, though she spits and growls beneath her breath. She is no bear and yet, the forest sees her in the same dangerous light. There was no part of me that could deny the allure.

I slide out from the shadows, cutting across the forest until I break into her trajectory some ten or so feet ahead of her. I am neutral in all that I do; my tail hangs loose, my ears rested - only my eyes speak of the intensity in which I pay attention to her. The darkness hides so much and yet, here I stand attempting to break through it. I want a taste of this creature, whatever it might be.