Dinner and A Song

2 cubs of black, 1 of brown and the runt a motley blend

Remind Ella and Jack they’ll never be alone again.

 

Autumn came to the Canyon of the Wolf, and the setting sun let shadows drape across its secret dwellings. Ella and Jack slept in their lofty den with four tiny blind pups grunting around searching for dinner. She fussed over each little pup, two black, one brown and a motley marked male. However, tonight she and Jack would hunt, hunger won out over brooding. 

The pups now fed were once again all sleeping. Ella rose and stretched Jack playfully nippit at her ear. Her nip did not seem to be as playful. Momma is hungry and ready to eat. The two had become a sound hunting unit and moved as one. Step for step they descended the rocky ledge crossed over the green line that marked the canyon’s edge, and walked into the thick trees to find a sleeping deer.

The last bit of red was drained from the sky, and the warbler’s song began. Jack and Ella started the routine of scissoring the trees. A black shadow cut left, and a slightly smaller shadow cut right, growling from time to time. They snapped twigs and walked through dried leaves, hoping to spook a deer. It didn’t take long for this to work.

 

From behind a gooseberry bush, a wild-eyed doe sprang up. Adrenaline had her searching the dark. She nervously twitched her hind leg. Trying to decide which way to break. Flaring nostrils puffed hot air, she posted her tail then ran. 

A large oak stood near her, with ease she shifted left, her body contorted between two pines leaping over a deep gap. Her four fast feet had her working toward open ground. She could out run them in the open. Her long lean neck contoured the shaded limbs and stumps.

Jack took the lead, he quickly brought her down. Pound for pound he and the doe weighed the same. The kill happened fast, and the two ate their fill. Soon a banter of howls filled the night, and King and Queen of the canyon returned home.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello dear Cherrie. The hunt. The main part of the life of the beast of the forest. I liked how you described the kill. Thank you dear, friend for sharing the excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Patricia Wedel]

Cherrie... you are a Gifted Author. I was on Pine Needles (pins and needles) as you described the Chase through the Woods. I love the pretty deer and does, but we must have food... It is Survival.
The Wise Owl I am certain kept golden eyes on all that happened. truly, Pat

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know that I've improved it but I just made some changes to it.
I tried to fill it with action but not scary to the city dwellers :)

[barleygirl]

This little snippet of a story is so fulsome, it has all the elements needed to draw the reader on with suspense. Love the way the hunt started out slow & then became very dynamic suddenly. To convey such a strong sense of pacing like you do is admirable! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you Margie. I wanted it to build but I didn't want the kill to vivid so I tried to scale it down.

[HB Rita]

You have a great skills of writing story. Well managed, smooth, action flow from line to line with the actual concepts....... wow!!!

[Cherrie Palmer]

I try to weave the concept of narrator to visualization. I think at heart we love the voice a story has, maybe as much as the characters it holds. Steaming from childhood days where we sat on someone's lap and they told us a story.

[HB Rita]

That’s right! Our grandma alwas do the job,,,,

[Cherrie Palmer]

She my favorite memories are of my grandma reading to me.

[HB Rita]

oh yea. Grandmas are the worship of a grandchild for many culture and society. Where i was raised, Grandmas are another parents even more than that.I bet you are a great grandma and you had a great grandma.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'm all kisses and wooden spoon spank'ns :)served with warm cookies.

[HB Rita]

ha ha enjoying

[emmajoy]

' The last bit of red was drained from the sky, and the warbler’s song began. Jack and Ella started the routine of scissoring the trees. A black shadow cut left and a slightly smaller shadow cut right, growling from time to time. They snapped twigs .. .. '

Whilst your writing is finely measured, skills perfected.. you're able to create an almost out this world atmosphere like few others in the cafe by somehow getting under the skin or what- or whoever, Cherrie.
Will read back and future... for sure.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I've been writing this with my granddaughter and draggin her through my routine of reading and writing.
I so glad you enjoyed this, little story.

[emmajoy]

How to encour age a ch ild to love words, if done as I'm sure you do - gently! It's an in t riguing write, Cherrie.

[roarke]

Smooth writing. Stories involving wildlife, always seem to enliven the landscape... unlike stories about humans... strange that. Canyon of the Wolf, I like it.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you, Peyton loves wolfs and I enjoy writing about nature. So, it was a good pick for us.
read moreThank you, Peyton loves wolfs and I enjoy writing about nature. So, it was a good pick for us.
I agree wildlife is exciting maybe we are thrilled about wildlife because we (as a whole )
are so removed from raw nature.
I do like introducing Peyton to the process/ discovery of a story. I made her look up what birds sing at dusk. We read about a lone wolf bringing down a bison. She is learning as we go.
Yes I loved naming the canyon. To many Zane Grey books as a kid.