ply. My breath puffed in the air as I tr

sharply. I could climb it to

ping mea

eant w

s meant

ted cl

re-stronger this time, but still not painful. A f

ze mi

d me had gone un

bir

w

tle of

of something moving... too

red

rock edge, hea

they avoided anyone carrying a scent tied to the Al

prey attrac

he next ledge and pressed my body again

soft pads on leaves, a

sed m

I whispere

t run. Running i

e more footh

rack echo

ood f

pped on a branch. De

the rock, l

h

gr

Near the base

t to look. Not to

d again-heat pooling low i

shif

awak

harpening m

moment, replaced by the

returned did I l

ed myself onto the plateau. My arms

ime, staring at the sky

red to the fading sun. "Not by ki

ld their silence