Tiktik followed the lizard as it scuttled through the bushes; it crawled so fast he barely kept pace.  He’d gotten a paw on it once, grabbing it by its back end, but it escaped, leaving him grasping nothing but a squirming length of tail.  The morning was sharp; the sun driving off the early fog in a rush, leaving a fine mist clinging to leaves and grass.  The world smelled of sand and new growth, and Tiktik laughed as he chased the green streak.  A rumbled of thunder drew his attention skyward, but there were no clouds.  He squinted into the sun, and even though the thunder rolled closer, he saw nothing and turned his attention back to the lizard.  It dashed under a bush and out the other side, and Tiktik stood and toddled as fast as his little legs could carry him.

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