Sutunari

~Helping~ The nearby rustling caught Arlette’s attention. Her fluffy ears perked atop her head as she listened to the sound. She couldn’t place it, so she veered away from the path she had been walking on and pushed into the thicket. Her ears remained forward intently as she slowly creeped through the foliage. She was careful as she walked to not make too much noise and alert who - or what - rustled ahead of her. Arlette peaked around a large tree into a clearing. There a small fox was thrashing around on the ground. He sat up suddenly with a desperate whine and his red eyes searched around the area. He stood up and bounded to a nearby stone. Arlette nearly gasped in shock when he began rubbing his face onto it. He pushed his dark fur into the stone with some kind of strange intent that she couldn’t fathom. Slowly she crept out from behind the tree and gave him a gentle greeting. The kit stopped immediately and looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. He gave her just a second

Inspired (394 words) Arlette walked slowly along the dirt path through the forest. Her pale eyes stayed upwards, watching the trees for something she wouldn’t find. The branches were bare this time of year. The leaves had all long since dried up and blown away. It left the trees naked and exposed - a striking contrast to the season just before. Fall gave trees colorful plumage that made them look full and mighty. But now it looked like they could be knocked over with a strong gust of air. As if somehow reading her thoughts, the wind suddenly picked up. Arlette shivered and tucked her new wings in closer to her body. The tree limbs rattled in protest, a dull, hollow sound that made the fox feel even colder. When the leaves rustled it almost sounded like singing to her - like they were having fun playing with the wind. Without the autumn song the trees sounded old and cranky. With a small sigh she continued down the trail. She kicked away a small rock that lay in front of her