following the loner

Murka turned in fear, and at that very moment, a dog's jaws snapped shut a couple of mouse-lengths away from her, splattering drool. The she-cat let out a shriek of icy terror, but then forced her body to run, quickly spinning around and bolting through the undergrowth. Blind with panic, Murka felt grass whipping her flanks, but she raced on, leaving tufts of her fur caught on thorns. The dog let out a furious, snarling bark, its hot breath scorching her tail, its jaws snapping close to her ear. Her heart pounded wildly. Then the grass vanished before her, revealing a narrow stream, and Murka desperately pushed off with her hind legs, thrusting her forepaws forward, and hung in the air. Time seemed to slow, the trees stood still — but in that very heartbeat, she landed on the other side of the small stream. The dog did not give up. With eyes stinging from the wind, she spotted the sheltering oak grove ahead. The she-cat crashed into a tree and frantically scraped her claws against the bark, leaving deep scratches behind. Murka turned in horror and pressed her back against the trunk. Squeezing her eyes shut, she braced herself for the terrible pain. But then, the dog let out a pitiful whine, followed by a bark. Opening her eyes, she saw a lean, dark-furred loner, his mighty claws slicing through the air and leaving deep wounds across the dog's body. In that moment, Murka knew what it meant to fall in love at first sight...