Squirrel evades Dogface

You are a squirrel and you are searching for nuts. It is important to begin your winter-store as soon as possible. Forward-thinking. That's a squirrely-way-of-thinking. Jackpot! You have found three nuts near to the path. Humans often leave things lying around. Especially when they have had a 'picnic'. You sniff the lovely nuts. At last, the humans have left something useful. One of the nuts is huge, the other is very small and the last one is sort of in-between. Being a squirrel, you can't possibly ignore the opportunity to take one of these delicious looking nuts. Which one do you choose? The [[big one|big nut]], [[the small one|small nut]], or the one [[in-between|middle nut]]?

(set: $nut to "big nut") You pick up the big nut. It is really heavy. You're not sure how you're going to carry this back to your hiding place, but you're determined to try. Suddenly you hear something thundering towards you. It's a (transition: "pulse")[dog!] The biggest dog you have ever seen! You can run up the [[hill|hill]] towards some undergrowth, go back on yourself towards [[your tree|tree]] (the direction the dog is coming from), or [[zig-zag|zig-zag]] and hope for the best.

(set: $nut to "small nut")You pick up the small nut. It may be small, but it is easy to carry. You won't have any trouble getting this back to your hiding place. Suddenly you hear something thundering towards you. It's a (transition: "pulse")[dog!] The biggest dog you have ever seen! You can run up the [[hill|hill]] towards some undergrowth, go back on yourself towards [[your tree|tree]] (the direction the dog is coming from), or [[zig-zag|zig-zag]] and hope for the best.

(set: $nut to "middle nut") You pick up the middle-sized nut. It is a bit heavy, but you think you should manage to get it back to your hiding place. Suddenly you hear something thundering towards you. It's a (transition: "pulse")[dog!] The biggest dog you have ever seen! You can run up the [[hill|hill]] towards some undergrowth, go back on yourself towards [[your tree|tree]] (the direction the dog is coming from), or [[zig-zag|zig-zag]] and hope for the best.

(set: $journey to "hill")You hold on to your (print: $nut) as you run up the hill. The (transition: "pulse")[dog] is gaining on you. (if: $nut is "big nut")[The nut is too heavy. You stumble and the dog is throwing you into the air. You sigh as you die. You shouldn't have picked the big nut. [[end.]]](elseif: $nut is "middle nut") [The nut is heavy but you think you'll be ok. You stumble into the [[undergrowth]] just in time. The dog's jaws snap around your tail and you feel it (text-style: "blur") [bite down,] but you pull free. You try to catch your breath while the dog searches for you.](elseif: $nut is "small nut") [You are glad you chose the small nut. The hill is steep but you should make it. You disappear into the undergrowth before the dog gets too close. You try to catch your breath. You are [[safe]] here.]

(set: $journey to "tree")You hold on to your (print: $nut) as you turn back for your tree. You see the (transition: "pulse")[dog] charging towards you! (if: $nut is "big nut")[The nut is too heavy. The dog's jaws bite down on your (text-style: "blur") [tail.] You jump and manage to free yourself. You land onto the tree trunk, [[just out of reach]] of the dog.](elseif: $nut is "middle nut") [The nut is heavy but you keep going and narrowly avoid the dog's snapping jaws. You jump onto your tree and make it to [[a good branch.]]](elseif: $nut is "small nut") [Nothing is really weighing you down and you run as fast as you ever have. You skip past the dog and chitter at it, as you leap into your tree and climb the branches to the [[very top.]]]

(set: $journey to "zig-zag")You hold on to your (print: $nut) as you zig-zag, narrowly avoiding the dog's snapping jaws. (if: $nut is "big nut")[The nut is too heavy. You slip as you zig and as you zag, and all the while the dog gets closer. You see a bush to hide in just as the dog's jaws bite into your (text-style: "blur") [tail.] You jump and manage to free yourself. You land in the middle of the bush and [[assess the damage.]]](elseif: $nut is "middle nut") [The nut is heavy but you keep going. You notice a bush and zip into it, breathing heavily. You are [[safe for now.]]](elseif: $nut is "small nut") [Nothing is really weighing you down and you run as fast as you ever have. You zig near the dog and zag away and into a handy bush. The dog [[didn't even see where you went.]]]

(set: $damagedTail to true)The dog is still out there. You can hear its human calling for it. Dogs always come with humans. You are breathing quickly and you try to calm down. Your (text-style: "blur") [tail] is throbbing. You look at it. It hurts but there is no blood. The dog is getting closer. You can [[make a break for it]], or [[hunker down]] and hope it loses interest.

(set: $damagedTail to false)The dog does not seem to know where you are. It is sniffing all around, but you are able to relax a bit and breathe deeply. You can hear the dog's human calling for it. Dogs and humans always come together. You can [[stay here|hunker down]], or try to [[make a break for it]] when the dog isn't looking.

You charge out of the undergrowth as fast you can. The (transition: "pulse")[dog] resumes the chase. You can see the tree-line just ahead. You race as fast as your little squirrel-legs can go. (if: $damagedTail is true)[Your (text-style: "blur") [tail] hurts more and more. You can almost feel the dog's hot breath on the back of your neck. You try to dodge, but you trip and fall flat. The dog races forward. You might still get away. Do you [[freeze]] or [[leap forward]] and try to get away?] (if: $damagedTail is false) [You leap and turn and dive and jump and zig and zag. The dog just can't catch you. Every time you hear its deep pants getting closer, you twist out of jaw-reach. You make it to the tree-line and leap onto a [[branch]]].

It looks like you managed to lose the dog. It is searching for you, but you think that all of the smells here will confuse it. You don't notice it circling closer and closer until it is almost too late. You can [[freeze]] and hope for the best, or [[leap forward]] to try and escape.

You freeze. The dog approaches. It sniffs you all over. You stare into its eyes. It does not seem fierce. The dog sneezes, sits back and scratches its ear. You do not understand why it hasn't killed you. Just then you hear the human again. So does the dog. It turns and saunters off in the human's direction. You are alive! You can't believe it! You will be a hero among squirrels! [[end.]]

You make one last desperate attempt to escape and leap forward. The dog is surprised but it quickly lurches after you. (if: $damagedTail is true)[You try to zip past but its jaws close around your body. It shakes you back and forth and throws you into the air. When your body hits the earth, you are dead. [[end.]]] (if: $damagedTail is false) [You use your tail to corner just out of reach of the dog's snapping jaws. The dog tries to follow but you have a good lead now. You see a tree and leap onto a low [[branch]]].

Haha! You are on a branch! Dogs can't climb! You win! You do a dance of victory, sit back and eat your nut while the dog watches. You are a hero among squirrels! [[end.]]

(set: $damagedTail to true) You try to climb the tree trunk but your tail (text-style: "blur") [hurts]. It hurts a lot and you can't climb as well as usual. The nut is too big. It makes it even harder to climb. The dog jumps up and tries to reach you. You won't make it! [[Keep trying]] - you can't lose your nut, your lovely, lovely nut. [[Drop the nut]] - what good is a nut if you wind up inside a dog?

(set: $damagedTail to false)You are comfortable on the good branch. It is sturdy and the dog can't reach you here. That was a close call. You look at your lovely medium-sized nut. As you stare, lovingly, at the thing you nearly died for, a crow dive-bombs and tries to knock you out of the tree. It wants (text-style: "italic") [your] nut! As the crow flips about in the air you realise that it's coming in for another pass! [[Run away]] - this is your nut! [[Drop the nut]] - it isn't worth being knocked out of the tree!

(set: $damagedTail to false) You sit at the top of the tree and watch the dog and the crows a little further below you. The crows begin to dive-bomb the dog and you chitter. Crows are usually your nemesis, but today they are your friend. You sit atop your tree and regard the nut you managed to pilfer. It may be rather small, but at least it is all yours. [[end.]]

You (text-style: "italic") [will] make it up the tree. You (text-style: "italic") [will] make it up the tree. You (text-style: "italic") [will]... (text-style: "bold") [not] make it up the tree. You realise, quite suddenly, that you really, really will not make it up the tree. And then you are falling. You hit the ground with a WHUMP. Something hurts a lot. The dog comes for a sniff and you steal yourself for the bite. The dog noses you gently. You do not know what to do with this new information. Just then you hear the dog's human arrive. They do 'human-talking'. You've heard some of the sounds before, like 'poor thing'. You do not know what 'put it out its misery' is. Not until the boot hovers above your head, and you watch it descend. Oh well, you think, oh well... [[end.]]

You drop the nut. The lovely, lovely nut is gone. You feel sad. (if: $damagedTail is true)[You watch the nut fall. It hits the dog on its head and you feel a moment of victory. Why didn't you think of this before? [[Begin pelting the dog|attack]] with twigs and unripe conkers. [[Sit back and rest|rest]] what is the point of continuing to fight? You decide to relax and let your (text-style: "blur") [tail] heal.](if: $damagedTail is false)[The crow grabs the nut and caw-caws its victory. Crows are your nemesis. You stare at its nasty sharp beak while it eats your nut. Stoopid crow. You sit back and watch the dog pacing below and the crow eating your nut. You suppose it could be worse. [[end.]]]

You run along the branch, trying to evade the crow. Another stoopid crow joins in and there is no escaping them. One of them (text-style: "bold") [knocks] into you and you slip. As you fall from the tree you have time to reflect on your choices and to wonder if all of them were quite as wise as they might have been. You hit the floor and your last breath leaves your body. [[end.]]

You've had it! You had a lovely nut; then you got chased by a dog; it hurt your tail (which still (text-style: "blur") [throbs]), and then you had to drop your nut! That is it! Enough! You grab as many missiles as possible and start launching them at the dog. When you hear the dog whimper you feel much better. It runs off and you chitter loudly. You are Squirrel! And even dogs fear you! [[end.]]

You breathe in a deep and calming breath. What is the point of all of this agression? You sit back and rest. Life is short, you think, why waste it on stoopid dogs. [[end.]]

(set: $damagedTail to true)Your (text-style: "blur") [tail] is hanging at a weird angle. You can hardly raise it up. You wish you could just stop still and rest, but the dog is still looking for you. You look at the nut you've been holding onto. Maybe eating it will give you more energy. [[Eat the nut]]. [[Save it for later]].

(set: $damagedTail to false)You catch your breath and twitch your whiskers. There must be a way out of this situation. The dog is circling and your heart starts beating faster. This is it. You will have to (text-style: "bold") [run.] [[Run!]]

(set: $damagedTail to false)The dog is circling, but it had no idea where you went and it is nowhere near. You twitch your whiskers with satisfaction and lick your nut. It tastes nice and salty. You sit back and wait for the dog to leave. Then, with slow deliberation, you saunter off to your tree with the nut, and your life, intact. [[end.]]

As you eat the nut you feel a burst of energy. Even your tail doesn't feel so bad anymore. The dog circles closer and closer. You need to run now, before it's too late. [[Run!]]

You hold onto the nut. You are a squirrel, and squirrels store food for later! You can hear the (transition: "pulse")[dog!] getting closer and closer. You need to (text-style: "bold") [run now], before it's too late. [[Run!]]

(if: (history:) contains "Eat the nut")[You burst from the bush and run straight past the (transition: "pulse")[dog]. It looks surprised and takes a moment or two to gather itself. Before the dog has even begun to turn you are long gone, bounding through tall grass towards your tree. You wish you still had your nut, but at least you are alive. [[end.]]](if: (history:) contains "Save it for later")[You burst from the bush, but your tail drags you down and the nut is just (text-style: "italic") [so] heavy. The (transition: "pulse")[dog] is surprised, but it manages to turn in time to grab you. This is it. The end. You wish you had eaten the nut. [[end.]]](if: (history:) contains "safe for now.")[You run out of the bush and past the (transition: "pulse")[dog.] You head for a low branch in a nearby tree. The dog takes up the chase. The nut you are carrying is slowing you down. [[You drop the nut.]] [[You hold onto the nut and keep going.|Keep going.]]]

You drop the nut. It is one of the hardest things you have ever had to do, but now you can run much faster and you outpace the dog long enough to reach the tree. You can feel the dog's warm breath on the back of your neck as you jump up to safety. You wish you still had the nut, but at least you're alive! [[end.]]

This is (text-style: "italic") [your] nut and you are not about to let it go. You worked hard for it. And by 'working hard', you mean that you happened to come across it before any of the other squirrels. That makes it (text-style: "italic") [your] nut. (text-style: "italic") [Your] nut, and... The dog reaches out and manages to grab you. It hurls your body into the air. For a glorious moment you wonder if you can fly. Then you are falling, and when you hit the earth all thoughts about nuts and dogs and storing things for the winder vanish. You are gone. [[end.]]

Thank you for playing Squirrel evades Dogface. Whatever your ending, whether it led to your untimely demise or you were able to wreak havoc and vengenance... I hope that you enjoyed yourself. This game was a geekygirl production, by Beccy Stirrup. If you would like to see the games that led to this one, then you can find them here: [[Dogface finds a stick]]. [[Dogface chases squirrels]]. For a quirky, short podcast series about a space archivist go [[here]]. And if you'd like to know more or keep an eye on any future bits and bobs, check out my site [[geekygirl.uk|blog]].

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