PREDATORS

Nature (of the Beast)

As she ran, foggy plumes puffed from her mouth and slowly added to the frost on her eyebrows. Streaked by the dawn's rays, the fresh snowfall muffled her footfalls and graced the trees around her. Beth loved running through the wooded hills. They were her second home. She felt safe. Calmed. Serene.

A deer startled and quickly bounded away. Beth admired the strength and beauty of the animal as it disappeared in the distance.

Too far away to chase the deer she was stalking, the cougar laid flat and stared hard as the prey came straight at her.

— HANK GREER