Stalker
The grass cast long shadows. An evening breeze stirred the boughs of an oak tree and the sensitive hairs at the tips of Dusky’s ears. He crouched, belly brushing the ground, ears rolled forward to catch sound; rustling leaves; drop of an acorn; birds chirping amid a berry bramble nearby; the buzz and whine of enormous insects. Except for the quivering tip of his tail, he hunkered motionless in the grass, hidden in the shadows. He had approached from downwind. His flared nostrils drew in the green, sappy scent of fresh-torn grass that made him want to sneeze and the spoor of rabbit’s flesh, the warm blood that made him salivate. Dusky’s shoulder flexed; muscles flowed like oil as he pressed one paw through the blades. Stop. Wait. Eyes wide, he fixed on the prey. His whiskers tingled. His heart hammered. Muscles bunched for another step.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Betrayed! The rabbit leaped away.
Dusky pounced. He raked the grass, still warm where the rabbit had sat. He squalled in anger and frustration and squinted up at the traitorous crow in the oak.
The bird fluttered its feathers and resettled its wings sleekly to its body. Caw! Caw! Caw!
Sunday Photo Fiction: 200-word stories
photo prompt: A Mixed Bag 2009
May 21, 2017 at 10:56 am
Oooh, that crow is just messing with him! Crows are like that, you’re right. Although seen from the rabbit’s point of view….
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May 21, 2017 at 11:53 am
Haha, exactly. Thanks for reading. 🙂
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May 21, 2017 at 10:59 am
Very strong images
Simply beautiful
As Sheldon Always
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May 21, 2017 at 11:55 am
Thanks! That’s really nice to hear.
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May 21, 2017 at 11:42 am
Drats! Foiled again.
I’ll just have to keep watching how you manage to write stories from these photo prompts. Some photos spark my creativity, but not on a regular basis. I’m better with word prompts. I figure if I watch other writers do it long enough, eventually it’ll tap into my own ability to get inspired from the selected photo prompts.
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May 21, 2017 at 11:54 am
I’m the opposite, Mandie. I like the photos, and the words don’t do much for me. Thanks for your visit.
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May 21, 2017 at 12:22 pm
I like your take on the prompt and the perspective. Great description!
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May 21, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Thank you, Sascha.
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May 21, 2017 at 1:42 pm
An excellent take on this photo.
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May 21, 2017 at 3:28 pm
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
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May 21, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Great story. The gate and the cat’s jaws poised but empty.
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May 21, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Thank you. 🙂
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May 22, 2017 at 2:33 am
Some wonderful descriptions here. Great job, Kecia.
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May 22, 2017 at 7:21 am
Thank you very much.
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May 22, 2017 at 3:09 pm
Dusky, better luck next time. The story was great
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May 22, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Thank you, Michael. I enjoyed writing it.
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May 22, 2017 at 5:06 pm
I really like this story. You have an excellent opening line: “The grass cast long shadows.”
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May 22, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Thank you. Very nice of you to say so.
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May 23, 2017 at 6:11 am
I think the cat needs a new creature for dinner. Maybe a crow. Good story Kecia.
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May 23, 2017 at 7:14 am
I think you’re right. Thank you.
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May 23, 2017 at 8:05 am
Aha! Loved this piece 🙂
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May 24, 2017 at 7:49 am
Great description, Kecia. Too bad the crow gave him away. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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May 24, 2017 at 8:32 am
Thank you. 🙂
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