Coyote and Badger

It was late. Very late. The moon was high and the only sounds that could be heard were the occasional whoosh of cars passing on the road above and the hoot hoot of an owl high up in the trees.

“Ah, here it is,” said Coyote play pouncing in front of the entrance. “Yes! Ha ha! Badger! Badger! I found it!”

“Cool,” said Badger. “I was beginning to wonder.”

“No, I knew. I knew. I remembered the tunnel was right here. Because look, it’s right here.”

“I think it’s actually a culvert,” said Badger.

“What? No. It’s a tunnel and I found it. C’mon, let’s get to the other side and we can get something to eat. Oh, I’m so excited.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.”

Coyote and Badger crossed to the other side. And as they walked through the fields and trees, the hum of cars faded into the distance. There was only the gentle rustling of leaves.

“It’s so quiet,” said Coyote. “Do you hear that?”

“What,” said Badger, her short ears at attention. “I don’t hear anything.”

“I know,” said Coyote. “Because it’s so quiet. Wait!”

Coyote froze. Badger did the same. Together they stood side by side, motionless in the moonlight.

“75 feet straight ahead… a hair to the left,” whispered Coyote.

“Hare,” whispered Badger. “Like a rab-”

“No.”

Badger knew not to wait for further explanation. When Coyote was on his game, he was resolute in his focus. Primal. Whatever it was ahead of them, Coyote had already charted his course and velocity. It was only a matter of time before-

Coyote sprang forward and rushed through the tall grass. Badger ran after him, her short legs moving as fast as they could.

“Right here,” said Coyote pawing at the ground once Badger arrived. “Right here!”

“Got it,” said Badger as she began to dig.

“Faster,” yipped Coyote. “Faster! It’s going to-”

“Hey,” interupted Badger. “I got this. Keep an eye on the exits.”

“Oh, right.”

Coyote took a few steps back and scanned the area. Every mound of dirt, every blade of glass, every twig, every leaf… any movement at all…

“Smell that?” said Badger breathing in deep. “So close…”

Badger began to dig faster and faster. Dust got into her nostril and she took a moment to sneeze, and as she did Ground Squirrel bolted out of her burrow and raced past her.

“Damnit!” shouted Badger.

“OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!” screamed Ground Squirrel as she darted and skittered through the weeds. But Coyote saw it all happen in slow motion. In two leaps and a pounce he had Ground Squirrel in his jaws.

“MY RIBS!” screamed Ground Squirrel. “I CAN’T BREATHE! I CAN’T- OW! NO! PLEASE! OH, JESUS! NO! AHhh-”

Coyote turned and stood in front of Badger, blood dripping from his mouth. “Wiffaff duh ooh on?”

Badger rolled her eyes.

“Ar-eh,” said Coyote spitting out Ground Squirrel. “Which half do you want?”

“No,” said Badger. “We’re not doing that. You take a couple bites and then I’ll take a couple bites.”

“Right,” said Coyote licking his lips clean. “This is a good one. So warm.”

Under the moon in the quiet of night, Coyote and Badger took turns eating Ground Squirrel; ripping flesh from bone and leaving only tufts of fur and organs not worth tasting.

“You know what I really need right now,” said Badger licking her paw and wiping her whiskers. “A paper towel. My forest for a paper towel.”

“Oh, oh,” said Coyote. “I know where there’s a stream. It’s not far. C’mon, c’mon.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Badger. “I’m coming.”