Ovelia's POV
The rabbit's sudden appearance made me exhale sharply, my death-grip on Ann's fur loosening slightly as I watched its white tail disappear into the undergrowth. My shoulders slumped with relief - just a forest creature, nothing more. But Ann's body remained rigid beneath me, her black ears swiveling like radar dishes as she sniffed the air in short, sharp bursts.
"Ann?" My voice came out thinner than I intended, barely above a whisper. "What's wrong?"
Her muzzle wrinkled, exposing gleaming canines. "Something's still in those bushes," she murmured, the words vibrating through her chest. "I can smell it but... I've never encountered a scent like this before." Her claws extended reflexively, digging shallow grooves in the soft earth.
