Before the dawn had quite shaken itself awake, the young skunk returned. Rain still stitched the air in fine threads, soft drizzle darkening the soil and whispering against leaves. The camera caught sight of the little wanderer moving with the same calm assurance as before, stripes dimmed by the hour but still bright enough to mark its passage like a brushstroke of moonlight left behind.

It nosed along the wet grass, unconcerned with the hour or the weather, a creature of patience and pattern. The world was hushed – no birdcall yet, just the steady murmur of water and the sound of its small paws through the damp. For a moment, it felt as if time had paused to let the skunk have the stage.

A reminder that even in the grayest light, there are secret visitations, wild and unhurried. The camera watched until it dissolved again into shadow and rain, leaving us with the quiet gift of its return.


Mood: Early-hour reverie.

Weather: Steady drizzle, dim sky.

Fortune: If you rise before the day, expect to meet companions who keep their own hours.

#backyardzoo #roanokeva #skunk