Static got to the trees before Oriole, and she was glad she did. Hidden under leaves and grasses was a sharp glint. The metallic teeth of some sort of twoleg-made trap.

A deadly trap.

"Oriole, I think there is something over here!"

As she approached, Static realized the trap must be for whatever animal was leaving the intense smell around the area. Of musk and sweetgrass. What is that? Whatever it is must be big.

"Where?"

"Oh just over there," Static said, waving her tail towards the gaping maw of the trap.

"I don't see anything over there–" Oriole stopped abruptly to focus on a sparrow she noticed hopping around. In the wrong direction.

Sighing, Static watched as she stalked towards the oblivious fowl. Then she made a mistake, steppinging on a dry leaf, and the bird noticed her. It started to hop away. The sparrow flew over Static and landed behind the trap. Maybe this will work after all.

"Get it, it's right by you," Oriole whispered to Static. Fox dung, uh...

"I saw a squirrel over there, you get it." She began to move away, towards the imaginary squirrel. Static began to feel tense. Is this going to work? I need to get rid of her soon. What if it takes a while to kill her? What if Junco comes before she's mostly dead and she tells her what happened? What if she sees it and figures out I'm trying to kill her?

The bird hopped a little farther to the left and Oriole course changed. She was going to miss the trap. The she-cat continued forward, her body was now parallel to the hard spikes. This has to work, I don't have any other ideas, wait–

"Oriole watch out!" Static yowled.

She slammed herself against Oriole and then planted her paws, claws digging into the earth. Everything seemed to slow down as Oriole stumbled and fell across the ground, unprepared against the sudden force.

She realized what was happening just as the trap closed around her shoulders. Pale green eyes flashing in fear and betrayal. Should have never entered the running. Mouse brain.

So sorry you had to die for my future.

Well, not really.

The trap snapped shut as the sun rose on the horizon.

Murderous Intentions
By KittyPeep on deviantART (me)