<div class="floatright">(https://i.postimg.cc/GmVMTHJ3/eef6ec6b38c38ad3b97da9b5de81db90-2.png)</div><br/>Pozhvim knew he was in a dead end, after a fashion, and he was certain that (despite how comfortable and reassuring it felt to be curled up small and still in the hollow of the tree bole with the old wood reflecting the warmth of his exertions back against him) staying here was certainly a losing game.<br/><br/>As if to punctuate that thought, Nug’s voice drifted up to him, that husky rasp a simultaneous threat and promise in his ears. He considered the options she offered thoughtfully, well aware that if he delayed too long the huntress wouldn’t give him any options, she’d just come right up here after him.<br/><br/>He decided he really didn’t want her coming up here. They were both rather nimble, even by kobold standards, but being dragged down the tree sounded both uncomfortable and possibly dangerous. A mistake or accident could make a poor ending to the game that he suspected they’d both enjoyed so far.<br/><br/>On the other hand, climbing down and surrendering to her would be safer, and it would demonstrate that he respected her hunting ability, but…What real bunny or hunted prey would do such a thing? Wasn’t it more satisfying to capture something on the run?<br/><br/>He was as certain as he could be that Nug would prefer it. She knew how to trap, but she was at her best when she was hunting, really hunting, something on the run.<br/><br/>Pozhvim raised his head, glancing around the tree without peering over the side of the limb whose base that sheltered him. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. That limb, yes, and those bushes. The limb’s end drooped, coming within maybe four or five kobold-heights of the ground, and the bushes were of a sort that he knew had springy, soft branches, easily pushed through, not twiggy branches that might splinter, break and jab.<br/><br/>She’d be getting impatient, the thrill of the hunt ebbing. He didn’t hesitate to think or check, just sprinted quickly along the branch, diving down and rolling in an almost perfect somersault as the soft foliage cushioned his fall and let him roll up to his feet again (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=128628).<br/><br/>A moment after his shoulders first touched the ground, Pozhvim was up and sprinting, but he knew that his huntress was at least as quick as he was, and stronger. Surprise might've gotten him a few extra yards at most.<br/><br/>This part of the game would be over within a few score strides, and then…well, then the other part of the game would begin, and he was never sure about how that would go, but he was certain that Nug would make it enjoyable for both of them…Eventually.<br/><br/>Still, this way the other kobold would have to catch him, tackle him down, not stand there tapping her claws on the ground like an angry nest-guard while he scampered over to her like a hatchling caught doing something stupid, or having to climb up to drag him down like a treed kitten from an unsteady perch.<br/><br/>He wondered momentarily as he ran whether any of the other kobolds had ever had to deal with rescuing a treed kitten.<br/><br/>For the moment, Pozhvim exulted in running flat out, even though he knew the race would be lost and he could practically feel Nug’s heated breath at his back.