Wild - micro-fiction entry

source

There it was again. That rustling and growling.

Where was it coming from?

Looking around Sarah could just about see some leaves moving in the corner of the garden. Curious now as anybody would be, she cautiously moved closer watching and listening.

Was that a dark shape in the corner?

Getting wary now, as the growls rose in volume with every step. She could just about see a small ragged dog huddled in the bushes.

Peering into the space she could see its back arched in fear as it growled and squeezed even further into its hiding place. Its fur was torn and clotted with blood streaked across the nose. Underneath all of the blood and filth she could see that it was actually just a puppy. Emancipated and terrified.

Going quickly back inside, Sarah grabbed some food and went back to the bushes. The growling starting straight back up as she placed some meat on the ground just in front of the leaves.
Waiting. Still and patiently until a tiny nose appeared and took a sniff of the food. That quickly disappeared so she put a few more pieces down and led a trail out of the hiding place. Step by step the little creatures hunger overcame its fear until it was out and distracted by the food.

Carefully, while it was eating. She reached out a hand to stroke it and was relieved to see a slight wag of the tail and a sign of hope.