Chapter Three
Springing over downed tree trunks, I race along the edge of a stream under the hazy light of a full moon. Beyond the scents of nature, I detect a faint trace of salty air carried inland from the coast on the humid night breeze. Other animals hide or run in the opposite direction, avoiding the unfamiliar yet clearly dangerous predator in their midst.
I love being in my feline form. My lioness is strong and nimble on her feet, running for miles without tiring. Surrendering to primal instinct, I give chase to a fluffy brown rabbit until it disappears into its underground home. The woods are teaming with life, from busily buzzing insects to other predators on the hunt for their next meal. Yet they all give me a wide birth. Except for one.
A colorful butterfly lands on my nose
