“Predator and Prey”
Sep 29, 2019They stared at each other from opposite sides of the park. Predator on the prowl. Prey on the defensive.
The dog was tiny but it was vicious. Its fluffy white fur was dirty like it had been in a dust storm the past two months. It showed its teeth and let out a low, steady growl. I’m gonna destroy you.
The squirrel just wanted to find something to eat. It hopped around and scanned the grass, looking for a piece of pretzel some fat tourist didn’t manage to shove in its mouth. The squirrel tried to ignore the dog but it could sense the looming danger.
The humans could sense something was about to go down. They stood smiling and pointing at the two animals.
“How cute.”
“Looks like they’re gonna play.”
“I wonder who’s going to win.”
And the onlookers gasped as the dog made a run for it. No hesitation. Do or die. Its legs were tiny but it was quick. And its willpower was strong. It has a thirst for blood.
The squirrel was far enough away that it had time to think. The park was enclosed by a fence, surrounded by spectators who looked like they weren’t interested in letting the squirrel escape. There was a large tree between it and the dog, and the dog was quickly making that a more difficult safety zone.
The dog yipped and the squirrel ran. It happened so fast. The squirrel was smaller and slower on the sprint, but it could zigzag like nobody’s business. The humans were cheering, some rooting for the dog, some rooting for the squirrel, all pointing with their phones and cameras. Let there be blood.
They ran in a large circle, the squirrel leading the way. It weaved between picnickers, heads turning to follow the chase. The dog was less graceful and trampled over blankets and jackets, knocking into and bouncing off the delighted humans.
The dog closed in on the squirrel. But the squirrel closed in on the tree. It could feel the dog’s breath and hear the chomping of teeth. Almost there! The squirrel did not want to die today. The dog opened its mouth and lunged forward. The squirrel’s tail tickled the dog’s wet nose and the dog stumbled. The squirrel used its last bit of energy and threw itself into the air. It grabbed hold of the tree bark and scurried up to the first branch of safety. The dog smacked into the tree. It jumped up a few times, barking and trying to dig its claws unsuccessfully into the tree. The dog knew it had lost this battle. The squirrel panted as it sat on a branch and looked down at its enemy. The dog resigned and trotted away.