Story

Caught in the Wire The young pronghorn’s chest pressed directly against the twisted strands of barbed wire along the roadside. Its slender legs planted stiffly into the dirt as it let out soft, repeated bleats toward the open prairie. A few yards away, an adult pronghorn stood alert in the dry grass, ears pinned forward, … Read more

Ambush At The Water’s Edge The small calf pushed its trunk into the calm surface of the brown pool, drawing up a cautious sip. A dark snout erupted from beneath the mud, jaws snapping wide inches from the young animal’s face. Water churned violently into brown foam as the calf stumbled back on unsteady legs, … Read more

Caught in the Wire The young bison calf jerked its front leg against the lower strands of the barbed wire fence, splashing muddy brown water across the dirt road. Coils of stiff steel wire gripped tightly around the calf’s small lower hoof, pinning the animal against the wooden fence post. A low, guttural cry pushed … Read more

A Persistent Visitor at the Firehouse Door A golden retriever pushed his snout past the heavy glass door of the fire station, trotting onto the sidewalk before stopping in his tracks to turn around. Behind him, a firefighter stepped outside in full turnout gear, lifting heavy boots onto the pavement. The man tilted his helmet … Read more

Tangled In The Wire The tiny yellow gosling shoved its head forward, driving its soft neck deeper into a square of coated green garden fencing. Its downy body kicked against the damp turf, but the wire frame held firm around its shoulders. A few yards back, two adult Canada geese stood side by side on … Read more

A Struggle on the Wet Timber Grey downy wings flapped against rough wood as long, slender legs kicked tangled black mesh. The young crane lay pinned across a weathered timber dock, unable to pull its feet free from the plastic netting. A few yards away in the shallow marsh water, two tall adult cranes stood … Read more

An Unexpected Discovery In The Current The woman stepped through the clear, rushing water near the base of the waterfall, her sandals gripping the wet river stones. A dark, zippered duffel bag sat wedged between the boulders, half-submerged in the swirling stream. Water lapped against the nylon fabric as faint, muffled squeaks came from inside … Read more

A Sudden Standoff by the Water A red fox darted out from the tall lakeside grass, fixing its eyes on four tiny ducklings huddled near the water. A runner in a pink top and black shorts broke her stride on the dirt path and sprinted directly toward the shoreline. She threw both arms overhead, widening … Read more

A Deadly Circle Closes In A trapped crane thrashed violently against black mesh netting as a dozen monitor lizards crawled across the red dirt toward it. Their long, blue-tinted tongues flicked inches from the bird’s tangled feathers. A woman stepped between the predators and the shoreline, waving her arms and shouting to push them back. … Read more

A Solitary Path in the Woods The young fawn stepped onto the leaf-covered dirt track, its spotted coat catching the filtered morning light as its slender hooves paused among the dry foliage. Its ears flicked toward the rustling brush. A lone jogger passed in the distance, leaving the small deer grazing quietly on nearby green … Read more

An Unexpected Visitor on the Showroom Floor An older man in scuffed work boots stepped across the polished showroom tiles toward a black truck. His denim jacket carried frays along the collar and small tears along the elbows. His faded jeans bore worn patches around the knees as he paused near the vehicle’s front bumper. … Read more

A Spilled Bucket on the Upper Level Gray water splashed across the polished marble floor as the yellow mop bucket tipped onto its side. An older man wearing faded blue coveralls leaned on the handle of his mop, catching his balance against a white pillar. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. A security guard in … Read more