IT WAS DARK NOW.

The Geaux house was on a small cul-de-sac. The backyard was fenced in, but a few yards beyond the fence ran a small creek. Usually at this time of the evening, the sounds of night creatures filled the air. Tree frogs peeped, alligators bellowed, and birds called to each other as they settled in their nests.

But tonight it was silent.

Tonight there was a new, strange predator in their midst.

The beast stalked slowly along the bank of the creek. It worked its nose over the wet, muddy ground. Somewhere nearby was the scent. It was very faint, but it was there. The prey was nearby. Or had been recently.

It paused a moment to drink from the creek. A small log lay just above the surface and a turtle, spying the predator, dived into the water. It growled then, and other animals could be heard splashing into the creek and scurrying away into the underbrush.

Nose to the ground, it moved farther along the creek. It saw lights in the houses beyond the fenced-in backyards. The fences were placed there to keep the alligators out, but presented no obstacle for an animal with its climbing and leaping ability.

The hair on the back of its neck stood on end. Its head snapped up. It smelled the prey’s scent. Close by and strong. It followed the smell to the base of the fence. The fence was made of cypress planks, but it was not nearly tall enough to prevent the predator from leaping to the top of it. Clambering down the other side, it found itself in an empty backyard, except for the trees.

One of the trees was covered in the scent. The beast sniffed at the base. There was dog smell here, but the scent of the prey rose upward, which was confusing. The creature stood on its hind legs, inhaling repeatedly. With a powerful leap, it climbed up the trunk, and the smell grew stronger. The prey was not here now, but this must be his lair, for his odor was very prevalent here.

The creature’s claws dug into the trunk. Above it, in the branches, was a small wooden structure with a hole cut into the floor. It climbed inside, and was overwhelmed by the scent. It was everywhere — along the floorboards and in the corners. But the prey himself was not here. The predator smelled the air and caught the scent again. The wooden tree box had screens, and through one of them the creature saw a house. Lights were on, and there were humans inside. From here, their odors combined, but the creature inhaled deeply and … there it was. The smell it sought.

The prey was inside the house.

Quickly it exited the wooden box and descended the tree. It let out a low growl as it stalked across the lawn toward the house. Carefully and cautiously it crept toward the rear door. The smell was much stronger now. It triggered a release of saliva in its mouth, as it thought of the delicious food it received from the man whenever it found the source of the smell.

There was a stone floor in the grass that led to the door of the house. The hybrid silently crossed it, until it could peer in through the glass. There were several humans inside. Now the predator began to plan. The smell was inside. The smell meant food.

The creature backed up, studying the outlines of the humans inside the house. With a mighty roar, it reared back and charged forward, leaping toward the glass.

It was time to attack.