Stupid, stupid, stupid! I thought to myself.

"How could I have done that?" I whimpered.

I had not long gotten back from hunting. A squirrel had just been an inch from my teeth. An inch! But those stupid, fat (they call themselves plump. Ha! Obese is more like it) dogs got all terrified and ran away! I only ran because they were yelling, "Danger! Danger! Run! Go, go, go!" so it was only natural for me to run.

Ugh! Those fatties make me so mad! I am never, ever hunting with other dogs again. I'll become a lone hunter.

Grumble grumble grumble, my stomach went. I debated howling at Ruth for food again, but decided it it would get me nowhere. Should I go hunt some more? Nah. I thought. I'm too tired. Grumble. Not too tired to eat though. I just sighed and layed my head down for an endless, hungry night.

~

I yawned and stretched. Growl. My stomach told me. I'll go hunt for you, my dear stomach, I assured it. I slowly started walking to my doggie door, slightly faint from hunger. Growl, my stomach protested. Alright, alright! I'll walk faster! I thought, as I began to trot.

When I arrived outside, I was far too hungry to appreciate my surroundings like last night. I did my best to gallop into the forest and commenced hunt.

I made little sound as I stalked, bathed in the night sky. I passed by an odd looking boulder. In the distance I heard chatter. Is that...? Could that be...? Could that be squirrel chatter?

I creeped up closer so I could hear better, some leaves crunching underfoot. Yes. That is most definitely squirrel chatter. I got as close as I dared to them and got ready to pounce, the wind favoring me, as it was blowing toward me, not giving away my scent.

I pounced.

I came back with nothing in my claws. Nothing! How... how... how? There's nothing in my claws? The squirrels-who were already safely in the trees and who should've been my dinner-were louder than ever, mocking me.

I stomped away.

Since it was only fairly early in the eve, I waited until the squirrels got the notion that I was gone. This time though, I pounced at a different angle.

I came up again with nothing. I started doubting my great hunting abilities. Maybe last night was only beginner's luck. I sighed. Well, I'll never get better if I don't practice. I kept going.

Over and over and over again, I caught nothing. Over and over and over again the squirrels laughed at me. Why am I catching nothing? Nothing! Hmm. Let's try a different tactic.

"Hello?" I called out. The squirrels ran and hid. Oh. Don't be babies. I thought. "Please?" I pleaded. "I only want to talk." "You know, the diplomatic way? I want to resolve something with you."

"Ha!" a squirrel cried. "You only want to eat us!"

"Now, now," said another, who I took to be their leader. "Let's not be hasty and make inaccurate conclusions, Sheldon." She whispered something to this Sheldon. "She may not be the one from yesterday." WRONG. I thought. "We cannot refuse a chance to be diplomatic," she continued. "I will go down and meet her."

"But you can't!" yelped Sheldon. "You just can't, captain!"

The rest of the squirrels were silent.

"Oh, but I can, Sheldon." retorted the captain. "But, if it worries you so much," she said at Sheldon's frightened face, "I will bring six bodyguards. Is that alright with you?" Sheldon nodded. "Good." the captain said. "If Olive, Hazel, Lukas, Ekron, Khelsea, and Jaxon would come with me?" Five squirrels stepped toward her. "Where is Ekron?" she asked.

"Ekron is sick." Poppy reported.

"Captain? Since Ekron is sick, may I come too?" A certain Sheldon asked. 

The captain sighed. "Very well." Sheldon danced with glee. "But calm yourself. This is not playtime."

"Yes captain." The captain and her six guards came down to meet me. The captain smiled up at me, but when she spoke her words were ice-cold.

"I am warning you: if you so much as think of pouncing or killing even just one of us, before you know it you will be dead. Mark my words." she hissed.

"I promise I won't." I said but inside I was thinking, You couldn't hurt me if you tried your hardest.

"I'm glad we settled that." she responded.

"So am I." I replied.

"Now, for introductions. I am Acornia McNutty, but everyone calls me Captain Acornia. And I take it that your name is...?

"Zora von Wolfgang."

"Ah. Such a pretty name. And a long one too.

"Thank you for the compliment." Even though I had said that, deep down I was thinking, What? Do you have a problem with my name?

"You're welcome. I'm quite sorry for Sheldon's behavior. You see, he got attacked last night, and was almost eaten." So Sheldon's the one I nearly ate! "Just between you and me though, Sheldon's always been jumpy and nervous."

By now, all of my stomach was screaming, Eat! Pounce! Now is your chance! But I refrained from doing so. I had to wait until the right moment came.

"Ah. I have a few friends like that."

"There are always some in the world aren't there?" I nodded. "Let's get back to business. What was it that you wanted to resolve?"

"You see, my mammy and daddy always said-" I was suddenly cut off by a loud scream. I had launched myself at Sheldon while I had been talking. Obviously.

"Evacuate! Evacuate! Go to Yaolan Zai Shu!" I heard McNutty yell. "You will pay for this!" I heard her scream.

"This was supposed to happen yesterday. You and your puny little squirrel friends will die. Everyone of them. Exactly. How. You. Did." I growled at my prey. I sank my teeth into his neck, and just like that Sheldon Dail breathed his last. 

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