The wolf watched the rabbit in silence, his golden eyes gleaming in the shade of the foliage. A hard belly beneath his dark fur knotted up slightly, in nervous anticipation and uncertainty. There was his prey. There was meat to be had. He need only take it, to catch the small creature in his jaws and bite down hard.

The rabbit hopped forward a few more inches, seemingly oblivious to the hungry death lurking in wait from behind the bush mere feet away. A cute little nose twitched slightly, long whiskers testing the air as sharp front teeth bit down on a leaf, munching delicately on the sustenance. Eyes looked left and right from that little face, not quite noticing the two eyes staring straight ahead and holding it in view.

The wolf tensed his body, coiling himself to pounce as his tail flicked slightly. He felt incipient triumph swelling as he gathered himself for the assault. He could almost swear he could already taste the hot, sweet blood in his mouth, the raw flesh down his gullet.

His tail flicked against something unexpected, then. It felt like flesh, and yet like cloth. It was cloth, he realized with a start, jerking up and half spinning around as he stared up in shock at the green cloaked figure. The rabbit was gone in an instant, exploding into a leaping flight as it dashed for safety. The wolf stared into the face underneath the hood of that green cloak, whining plaintively. "Dammit! I had him!"

Thin lips curved in a wry smirk. "Some woodsman you are. I've been standing next to you for the past five minutes." The green cloak billowed slightly as the human shifted position, looking at the indignantly scowling wolf.

"I've got generations of hunters in my veins..." The wolf began to retort hotly, his lips drawn back from his teeth in what was meant to look savage, but merely seemed pouty.

"And a few certificates from the university on your office wall, no doubt," came the reply. The hood was drawn back at last, revealing lovely cheeks and soft skin slightly weathered by the outdoor environment as the woman shrugged. "Pity the poor game warden who has to compare pathmanship skills with you."

The wolf's ears drew back as he choked in the effort to think up a suitable response to her taunting words. Then those ears perked forward again as he took a closer look at her face. "Lauren? Is that you?"

The warden looked at him in surprise, her eyes narrowing slightly in puzzlement. "We've met before?" Her elbows drew back the edges of her cloak as she placed her hands on her hips, revealing that athletic body.

"Lauren, yes... it's Lupe!" the wolf said more excitedly, his tail wagging as his posture shifted to a friendly, happy stance. "From school! Remember Madam Puntsdale?"