Alfred stepped lightly through the forest, careful not to disturb the orange leaves on the ground. With on wrong step they would rustle and scatter in the wind. The bare trees cast long shadows in the weak sunshine and shook in the crisp northern wind.
This would be the last time that beast evaded him! He promised himself. "I'll catch it today and I'll be the hero!"
He looked up and scanned the trees to maybe catch the elusive grey beast. With it's reflective black eyes, long sharp claws and high-pitched growl that lifted the hairs on the back of his neck. Oh how it loved to curse and swear at him!
Alfred growled murderously just remembering the thing. Suddenly, he heard the familiar scritch scritch of claws against wood. Frantically peering at the trees, he spotted the monster.
Alfred silently approached, careful not to rustle the orange leaves. 5 metres, 4,...Crack!
Their eyes met, and for a moment all was still, before the beast leaped from his perch and to another tree and then the next. Alfred took off like an arrow after him, trying to catch up so that he could strangle it, or maybe crush it. Red permeated his vision and he imagined how he would kill it finally.
The grey beast misjudged it's jump and fell to the forest floor with a soft thump. Victory! Alfred thought, and sped up. Five, four, three, two, o...
"Alfred! Come here you stupid dog! Stop chasing after those damned squirrels!"
Alfred who had been ready to pounce and crush the squirrel with his teeth, paused in his hunt and cocked his head to the side. Taking the miracle opportunity, the squirrel got up and scuttled to the nearest tree, all the while cursing at the top of his lungs.
Alfred pouted and dragging his paws, he slinked to his master's side. The chase would have to wait for the next walk. He whined and whimpered at Arthur but finally relented.