The forest felt alive today and the hunters weren’t out this time of year, and I let out a small breath of relief as I stepped lightly through the underbrush. With no loud cracks of guns or the acrid scent of smoke to ruin the peace, the woods truly felt like they belonged to me again.

"Hm?" I paused beside a thick patch of brambles, tilting my ears forward to listen. A soft rustling caught my attention, a plump rabbit, maybe? My stomach grumbled at the thought, but I held still, crouching low and letting the breeze carry the sounds to me. No, not a rabbit… squirrels?