There are days where the world bends to my will: where the sun drifts lazily overhead, radiating a gentle warmth perfectly contrasting the coolness of the summer breeze, where the grass is so cushy I could doze forever among those emerald blades. Then there are days where I come to find a bug on my rock. I stare at it, aghast. It, in turn, perches nonchalant upon my lapidarian throne, blithely preening its antenna. Well! There’s no way I could let such impudence go unpunished!

I lower down into a crouch, readying to pounce like a true predator. However, I am not an entirely heartless being: I give it ample warning with a rumbling (high-pitched) growl. It continues on, unimpressed by my display.

It will regret that.

I lunge, jaws opened wide to snatch up the heretic with my deadly maw! I collide against the rock, the cricket jumping out of the way before my nose can slam into it. Curses! I yelp, pawing at my throbbing nose before turning my attention back to the little bugger – it stares back at me with its beady little eyes, taunting me!

"Tresspasser!" I crow at it indignantly, "You will rue the day you met me!"

I leap at it again, invigorated by the righteousness burning through my veins! The cricket finally takes me seriously, frantically jumping away from my snapping teeth, though it is too late for mercy or retreat. I scamper after it, missing it barely in its panic, but I am getting closer each time, I know it! One more try and it’ll be – wait, what was that?

I freeze, glimpsing to the right before craning my head around to look left – after all, it’s hard to see past my nose. "Is someone there?" I ask with most authority I could muster while simultaneously wanting to hide behind my throne. "Mom? "