A Blue Moon Inspires Buster to Fine-Tune his Classic Leap

Yes, it was a Blue Moon--the rarest of lunar events!

Twice in a single month, the full moon shone brightly over the evening snow. With a lycanthropic howl, I set about perfecting my "Classic-Buster" leap!

What, exactly, is "Classic Buster?" It's, well, rather vestigial. Evocative of earlier times. Mother, apple pie, and rotting mastodon carcasses on the pleistocene tundra. Nasty Neanderthals competing with wolves for scarce protein resources. Oh, the romance of it all!

Now, the "Classic Buster Leap" is necessarily preceded by the "Classic Buster Stalk." Here I am sniffing out a Giant Ground Sloth in quintessential Kerry Blue form.

Now...The Leap...

It is performed in precisely five highly-choreographed movements:

I. The Launch

Note the semi-camouflaged position of Canis Busterensis Terribilis at the very beginning. This fearsome predator is actually airborne before his prey even notices his presence!


II. Gaining Altitude

In this phase of the manoeuvre, all legs are deployed to the rear, facilitating the aerodynamic lift-to-drag ratio. Ears are forward, and fangs are bared.


III. Preparation for Landing

Forepaws now extend in front of C. Busterensis. Head moves downward to better track the movement of the now-terrified Giant Ground Sloth.


IV. Descent

Fully-extended forepaws contact the cold tundra. Local Neanderthals scatter in fear. Ground Sloth knows its fate.


V. The Landing

Ever hear the phrase, "hit the ground running?" Here, I am moving horizontally at a dazzling rate even as I land. Note the tracks of the terrified sloth...


Putting it all together....

It's difficult to judge the vertical distance from this angle, but there are three steps and about three and one half feet to the deck...


Encore?

That ground sloth was awfully good!





My mom tells me I'm a growing wolf, and a single carcass just wouldn't suffice. I found a sabre-tooth tiger in the kitchen!





Anyway, that's today's report from the Younger Dryas. I can't wait for Global Warming!

Your friend,

Buster