RUST&stardust
an excerpt

Prologue:

It was a cool and clear-skied night.

The light breeze rustled the trees and leaves noisily, effectively blocking out many other noises of the dusk. A small animal, possibly a rabbit, scurried warily out of its protective foliage. Its tiny, black eyes darted here and there, scanning the area ahead for possible danger. One ear shifted just slightly, and its nose twitched.

The maybe-rabbit froze.

There, only a few feet from it, was a shadow. Despite the cloudless sky and the near-full moon, the form was barely discernible from the tall oak it stood beneath. As if sensing the frightened gaze, the shadow curled a finger, just a bit, and sent the creature scampering into the brush.

The shadow paid no further attention to this development, and it did not waver its gaze.

It had a house to watch.