Oh look another chapter with absolutely no dialogue sorry. Also, I promise that I am working up to everyone meeting
An owl perched on a branch ruffles its feathers before settling. Wide bright eyes glance around in concentration.
Watching and waiting, following any small movement that disturbs the quiet of the morning still shrouded in darkness. Sharp talons pierce and break bark as the owl leans forward when a sound of a twig snaps, but remains still when the noise echoes into other sounds that linger from the night.
Soft tawny feathers lay flat as the animal surveys the surrounding area, blending with the bark of the tree it's chosen as its perch. Silent and unseen from below.
As the sky becomes brighter, slow at a crawl, the owl sits and waits. Patient as always, knowing that something will catch its eye.
And as the animals below begin to waken with the sun, a young mouse becomes reckless in its movements as it emerges from a small burrow, catching the attention of the predator above.
Eyes that gleam of scarlet catch sight of the owl as it dives from the branch, fragments of tree bark fly as talons reach for soft fur. The small animal is defenseless as wings push in momentum, dead leaves, and growing grass stir from the movement.
She watches as the predator leaves her sight. The barely there sound of wind moving through feathers as it flies reaching her ears. The owl's heartbeat is strong and steady, the prey in its claws not so much.
A soft breeze rushes past her, splitting as it touches her back and moves around her as if to remind her to continue moving, and she obeys.
Taking one step after another, even when her eyes catch sight of a trail of ants moving out of an anthill that sits at the base of a tree. She watches for a moment as she tries to follow the line and find the first ant, but she soon ignores the curiosity nagging at her to continue on her path. Breaking the tree line as the first drop of rain falls.
She doesn't pause this time, doesn't look up at the slowly greying sky, just continues one step after the other. Even when the ground grows soft and blades of glass are sleek with rain, she may grimace at the feeling but doesn't pause in her step.
The smell of wet grass and fresh rain slowly overtakes her senses as it chases away the lingering scent of taken life along with the comfort that it has brought her.
Her eyes darken in frustration with something out of her control. A scowl on her face as rain seeps into the fabric of her clothes and runs down her arms, dripping off her fingertips onto the ground below.
With a shake of her head that sends drops of rain scattering, she takes another step before running.
Doing her best to ignore the drops of rain that gleam from sunlight peeking through the clouds, looking like falling fragments of crystal. But she can't help that it demands her attention and her eyes have to follow until each drop seems to shatter as it hits already wet ground, breaking off into smaller drops before seeping into the earth as well.
With her sole attention on the falling raindrops, she's distracted from other things around her and where her feet are taking her. So when she finds slight resistance as she hits something before it caves from the sheer force of her speed, sound exploding around her, she's taken by surprise.
Tripping from the unexpected moment and sliding over wet earth until she has to dig her hands into the ground to slow herself down.
Eyes sharp and focused glance up and catch sight of still falling bark, the tree she slammed into no longer standing.
She may glance around to make sure she wasn't caught in her fumble even though she knows she's alone. She may also stay crouched low for a moment in slight embarrassment as she glances back down at hands covered in mud.
With rain still falling and her trying to ignore it once again, she stands and starts walking away from the mess she's made, refusing to even acknowledge that she just demolished a tree.
She's slow this time, steering clear of the trees, cautious in her steps.
When something finally catches her attention the rain has only increased, and the sky has darkened from the storm. A call that repeats when not answered, one that adds to her frustration.
She tries to disregard the cries of the animal that's most likely lost and alone. Does her best to let the sound drown under the rain, the wind that stirs leaves and brushes past trees, the soft calling of frogs, and the few chirps of crickets that refuse to be silenced.
But as she's intent on ignoring the sound it just continues and continues and is slowly putting her on edge so with a growl of annoyance she finally stops and turns to where the cries are coming from and decides that making it stop is the only thing that will help. So as the rain grows in intensity and the wind becomes stronger, she starts running once again.