text: Being the smallest in the gang, my hunting position was clear: stay on the lookout. I was to travel in the trees and warn of prey. There was that one time, though, where curiosity got the better of me. The Fighters below launched at full speed. Meanwhile, I hopped branches with the fluidity of a monkey. I aligned with our leader and avoided rain-greased leaves like my life depended on it. Then, the pounding began. In the corner of my eye, a red-feathered beast smashed its beak against oak. I froze on sight. What the hell is that thing? And more importantly, how long until it gets brain damage? By the time I gave out the signal, the ground unit was far gone. Catching up in these conditions was like running a marathon in a blizzard. I slipped to the floor and hurried my legs beyond capacity. The caw and the squeal still resonate in my head. Sam’s death-by-owl scarred the crew so badly, they hired a sewer dweller to replace me. Tonight, this would be my first mission alone. The log cabin glowed in the blackness of the night. Clanging plates and drunken laughs boomed throughout the forest. An invisible wave of burnt chicken infiltrated my snout and turned my paws on shuffle-mode. I scurried through the snow blanket, leaving the imprints of an amateur thief. There would be food. That, I knew for sure. A leap and a squeeze later, I was in. I followed the scent, jumping across beams like an acrobat. The voices on the other side of the wall grew louder as I approached the sliver of light. I peeked through the crack. Humans were feasting at the table a safe distance away, so I rushed for the door. A tsunami of regret flooded over me as a woman’s scream deafened everyone inside. With every foot stomp heading my way, I panicked. I never thought I’d die like this. The giant surveyed the bathroom. He let out a guttural bellow and whacked a broom on the cupboards. Clearly, no intruders were allowed in the home scott-free. As the shower curtains were pulled, I zoomed from behind the toilet bowl. Left. Right. Left. I zigzagged the attacks. The silly sprint successfully led me back to the crevice unharmed. From down here, it’d be near-impossible to reach the plank. Drained of my energy, I was a rubber ball, getting closer to the ground with every bounce. My better judgment told me to stop. I was safe. For now. I could pause and figure it all out later. There was silence as I woke up. The party had died, and it was my time to go. I muscled another futile spring. My only options now were to starve in silence or find an exit. I crept into the danger zone and scanned the area. Coast is clear. That’s when I saw it. Like a trophy on display, a beach in the desert, a princess in the tower...cheese. I salivated at the thought of a full belly. Without a second to lose, I journeyed to my prize. Halt. It seems the fine cuisine rests on some sort of contraption. I grazed my finger on the block. Nothing to worry about here! I stepped on the plate and snapped my neck. Death released her grip as quickly as she arrived.