It was faint but it was there. The cool sand and rock felt good on her paws but the frigid desert air was kept at bay by her thick, black coat of fur with the white patch on her back. Cassie scanned ahead with her emerald green eyes, the moon illuminating the landscape like it was day but Cassie was a wolf and she could see well even on a moonless night. The scent was stronger and now she scented fear as well. Cassie ran even faster, sure her quarry was just ahead. Then the jackrabbit darted from behind a mesquite bush kicking up a cloud of dust as it tried to escape the predator that followed. Wolves were foreign to this place but rabbits, even as dumb as they were, knew well enough to run. The jackrabbit scurried this way and that, unsure of which way to go. Cassie could smell her victim clearly and could almost hear the rabbit’s heart beating out of its chest. Cassie closed the distance and now she could scent the dust and sand stirred by the jackrabbit’s passing.
