Monday, July 30, 2007

Entry #36

Entry #36
by Ayoub Khote


In the shadows around the pool of light, the old wolf lay wait. Eyes the hue of burnished gold watched silently as corded muscle tensed and relaxed under silver grey fur. He had learned the value of patience as he had grown older. Younglings liked to give chase to their prey as he used to, but knowing this particular morsel would be attracted to the light that broke through the canopy above, he had decided his old bones would benefit from a more intelligent hunt. He sat opposite the hole in the ground the rabbit had made a home in, where the light from above would add to the cloak of darkness surrounding him. His wait wasn’t long. The scent of the small animal reached across the intervening space. He fought the impulse to lick his lips, and remained deathly still, muscles tightened as his body prepared to pounce. The brown rabbit emerged from its sanctuary and sniffed the air tentatively, before foraging towards the light. It stopped at the edge of the pool, scanning cautiously. The wolf smiled inwardly; this little beast was a survivor too. The rabbit, deciding it was safe, moved into the circle of light, which seemed to brighten momentarily before becoming a silver flash that ended in darkness. The wolf cleared the light in one leap, and landed silently with the dead rabbit in his jaws. He carried it away to his den, for there were more mouths to feed than just his own.

10 comments:

Hoodie said...

Ooh, very National Geographic. Your description is stunning. Excellent.

Anonymous said...

This is very complete in such a short format. Using the light to blind the prey is a unique angle.

Anonymous said...

Nicely crafted. A complete story that is well written. Bravo!

Jude said...

I like this - effectively descriptive and engaging.

Anonymous said...

I like animal stories, and this one gives both "characters" real presence. Watch out for "as."

SzélsőFa said...

I liked the faithful and vivid description of animals, their body, behaviour and potential feelings.

Unknown said...

Brilliant - richly and honestly descriptive - and I really like the voice. Really nicely done.

AngelConradie said...

marvellous- telling us what he's thinking without making him seem human!

Anonymous said...

Very well-executed - keeps the reader moving.

Anonymous said...

I liked the hunt and the forest description. Also, the abrupt description of the kill seemed to evoke the rabbit's view of it well.