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What Borden did not intend was to wander farther than Wild Cherry Orchard, to indulge in his curiosity, to get entangled with the dense vegetation that made up the area that created the Thicket of Secrets... His ears perked forward at the sound of twittering birds, the scurrying of squirrels, the quick gait of something fleeing his heavy footfalls. A doe? A fox? Rabbits? He shook his head and continued through the thick underbrush; he just hoped he would be able to get out and get back to the mountain. Every now and then, he rubbed his sides up against a tree or large stone, planting a marker that would hopefully lead him back the way he had come.
A bear had come this way. He wrinkled his muzzle at the scent, recognizing it from the time when he had wandered into one while attempting to fish in a river. The memory was from a few years ago, though, and his father and uncle were quick to collect him and end the lesson. A low growl rumbled from his throat and he pressed on, if he saw the creature, he'd be sure to let it know that he was not a canine to be messed with.
Taking his time with navigating the area, he happened upon a fractured log and two sets of tracks, one pursuing, the other fleeing. He lowered his nose to the ground and padded about the area. Not just the bear's tracks, but wolf tracks. Straightening his posture, he surveyed the small glade, though it wasn't long until the air was shattered by a deep, echoing roar. It was rare that the two species met, and when they did, it often resulted in both going their own ways after intimidating one another and finding their opponent unworthy of a fight. This wolf, it seemed, had been unlucky.
Catching her scent, Borden wrangled his way through the thicket, his body and the path he was making twisting and turning wherever he could run to find the source of distress. It was probably foolish of him to have come in the first place, but he had to know what the thicket held and if many often wandered through. For all he knew, he could've brought a few squirrels back to the pack den or perhaps make a new acquaintance; but, this, oh, this was something else.
His stocky frame wriggled between two trees, his eyes finally taking in an unsettling sight. There, caught between the a hulking brown bear and a tall hedge, was the female whose path he had traced. As the bear bore down on all fours, her snarl pierced the air around them. Not even thinking, his charcoal lips curled back and through a set of sharp teeth, he let loose a thunderous growl. He prowled to the bear's right, snapping his jowls as a threatening display. Begone, he warned.
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(This post was last modified: Jan 16, 2011, 10:03 PM by Borden.)