Toby and Lisa

Light flitted in between the leaves of the woods near a small town. A soft breeze rolled across the tops of the trees, making the shadow patterns on the ground dance and shimmer. The leaves were a vibrant green, strong and full with the summer sun feeding them. No leaves littered the ground. If someone were to walk through right now, they would hear birds singing, the chirping of insects unseen, and leaves waving against each other. 

This was Lisa’s favorite time and place for a walk. Normally, she would walk with her mother, or father, or possibly one of her brothers, if they had the time. But today was not a normal day.

In fact, it was a very special day. 

Lisa had just turned seven years old and the present she had been asking for, almost every other day for a whole year, was to go on an adventure through the woods, alone. Her mother and father had been concerned at first, she was still so young and they were out in the country enough that animals roamed in the woods. 

But Lisa, asked and pleaded. She would go out of her way to show how careful she was, looking both ways to cross streets, obeying all her parents directions about putting away things that could break, and she only ran off a bit too far a few times.

Maybe more than a few times.

Alright, it was more like every other time they went out of the house her parents had to raise their voice to a shout for her to come running back. 

But she was a kid! They wouldn’t hold that against her, especially on her birthday. Well, at least thats what she hoped was the case.

Finally, her birthday came around and not only did they say she could go out on her own, but they gave her a bright orange backpack, so she could be easily seen, and filled it with things she would need for her “adventures.” It had a plastic compass, flashlight, a sketchbook and notebook to write down whatever she wanted to, a set of pens, pencils, crayons, chalk, and a refillable water bottle that she was only to fill up at home. 

She stood on the porch of her house, looking at the edge of the forest, just across the field of tall grass. Her long blond hair was kept in a tight braid, she wore her overalls and her favorite adventure shoes, she clenched the straps of her backpack. Excitement and determination in her gaze. 

Lisa turned to her mom and dad and hugged them, her head only reaching to their stomachs.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best mom and dad ever!” She cried.

Her father chuckled and said, “You are welcome sweetheart. Now, what are the most important things to remember for your adventure?” 

Lisa stood up as straight as she could, like she thought and adventurer would, and rattled off, “Always look where I am going! Use my chalk to draw on trees if I go a different way! Always keep my back pack close!”

“Good! When do you need to come home?” Lisa’s mother inquired.

“When my water gets to the five, my watch beeps, or the clouds get dark!” She said, excitement beginning to turn to anxiousness. She couldn’t wait to leave.

Her mother and father, satisfied with the answers she had given, said she could leave.

Her eyes lit up and she hugged her parents one more time before cheerfully running off towards the tall oaks and birches that welcomed her into the forest.

___________

Deeper in the forest, but not far from where Lisa began her journey, a creature lurked.

He quietly prowled the forest, hungry for his meal. 

His muzzle was stained red from the smaller prey he had encountered, but he needed something more filling.

Something bigger.

Something fresh.

His muscular, yet lithe form allowed for incredibly fast running and leaping, either on the ground or from tree to tree. But his movements were not louder than the passing breeze, for ages of hunting had taught him silence.

Even the most cautious and aware prey would not know of his presence, until it was too late.

He leaped onto the trunk of a large oak and paused. The smells of the forest wafted up to him and the gentle breathing of a breeze pushed scents from the farther reaches of the woods.

He inhaled deeply, waiting to catch the scent of something that could slacken his hunger.

As each breath filled his lungs, he caught the traces of small life.

Insects that crawled along the ground, many of them living in places where a dead carcass had fallen, spawning life for colonies and swarms alike. 

Birds flitting up and down, tree to tree, building nests, singing, and eating. Giving beautiful melodies to the forest.

Rodents of all types snuck between roots and in their burrows, foraging and scavenging. 

All decent snacks, but he needed more than morsels.

Then he was stricken as his nose filled with the smell of prey. Strong puffs of scent, followed by a soft trail, then strong again. It was wandering. Stopping here and there as if it were looking around.

Unaware.

Unsuspecting.

Easy prey.

He took off after the scent. Leaping from tree to tree. Dropping to the ground on all fours and racing towards the scent. His nose placed it at the edge of the forest, probably having wandered in from the clearing beyond.

He took to the trees and slowed his approach. He felt the breeze and it was against him, the hunt was perfect for him.

He saw the small form going from tree to tree at an innocent pace. Stopping to examine some trees as it moved. 

He waited for the breeze to rustle the leaves above it, so it would not notice him perching above it.

His muscles coiled. He focused on the branch and waited, eyes narrowed.

Moments passed and silence reigned. He stilled his breath and drew it evenly.

The creature was enjoying the peace and remained at the tree.

Then a gust could be seen rolling along the tops of the trees. He lowered himself even more and leapt at the perfect moment.

His landing was soft and was easily masked by the rustling leaves. He peered down at his prey, slowly descending, ready to pounce.

Its scent was overwhelming now.

The thought of sinking his teeth into it intoxicated him.

His bared his teeth, and let out a long breath.

His food looked up and for a brief moment, that seemed to last forever, their eyes met.

Then he pounced. Jaws meeting exposed neck. Claws sinking into its sides. 

A strangled cry escaped, but was quickly replaced with a terrible gurgle as the hunter’s teeth met.

His prey was weakly struggling against him. Desperately clinging to life

He denied himself the pleasure of enjoying his meal right then. Choosing instead to grant mercy. He reached behind its neck and felt along the spine for a moment. Finding the gap between bones he wanted, he stabbed a claw between them. The creatures struggling ceased instantly, as did its suffering.

He picked up the body and gently draped it over his shoulder, heading back to his own home for a long awaited meal.

Hunting was a brutal task, and had been exacerbated by prey becoming increasingly scarce. 

The hunter pondered this as he trekked along.

The water was clean and easy to find, and he was sure to stay away from their unless he was sure no future meals could be scared off by his presence. Other predators were not nearly capable of eating, let alone hunting all of that food.

Food for foragers was abundant enough to support a strong population of prey and predators alike.

He gently hopped over a set of roots. Crossing a slightly worn path, but he was too entrenched in his thoughts to notice, or the part of the forest his current path was taking him.

The large herd-pack-builders were not the cause either. They no longer tried to spread their tree-metal-unburied dens towards most of the forest. 

He snorted, almost a laugh, as he remembered the tricks he had played on those strange bipedal creatures. He would let them almost see him, lead them on reverse hunts that went in circles trying to find him, breaking and twisting the metal animals that roared and crashed when they had a two leg in them.

None of them could ever find him, and would bark, bully, and bare their teeth at one another if they tried to relate to the other that he had been seen. 

It was a strange display that should indicate that they wanted to hurt or even kill these pack mates. But would always allow them to join in the feeding in the tree-metal-dens. 

They were very strange, he pondered. However, his curiosity about these things and their customs was negated by his caution. 

He noticed a warm trickle on his backside.

Confused, he looked back.

Blood from his kill had been dripping on him and had left a red trail down his back. 

He hadn't noticed.

He scolded himself internally, his tail flicking in aggravation, his march back to the den now nearly complete.

What else had be missed?

____________

Lisa stood, frozen in place, as she saw, what she could only call a giant monster walk across the path she was walking on. It was only about five trees length away from her. It carried what looked like a deer slung over its shoulder. 

A stream of red liquid fell down its back from the deer.

The monster didn’t look at her and stared straight ahead as it walked. Its mouse-like tail swaying rhythmically back and forth. It had no fur to cover its long arms and legs, like most animals. 

Lisa didn’t know what happened, but her legs dragged her after it.

Curiosity took over her.

Slowly, from tree to tree, she followed the creature as it walked.