Stalker in the Woods

I step through the autumn leaves, trying to avoid making a sound. The faint footsteps are hard to track, the disturbance in the underbrush and branches. He's done a good job at hiding his tracks. I've already been following after him for hours and I haven't been able to catch up with him. I'm tired and I wish I could just catch up with him already. I want to go home.
I come across a river and sigh. I walk up and down the river a bit, but I don't see any footprints. He crossed the river. I find some rocks and jump to the first one. I land on the rock, balancing with both hands and feet. Jump like a frog. I jump to the next one, then the next one. The second to the last one is very slippery and I lose my balance, slamming my head into the slimy rock. I barely manage to drag myself back onto the rock, laying there while the world spins. Once I can stand again, I try to reach the last rock only to get swept downstream.
The water washes over my head and I panic, until I wash ashore moments later. I breath heavily, then get up to my feet, fluttering my wings to dry them off. Blood drips down my face as I walk back down the river to try to pick up his trail. At least the mud has left deep footprints, letting me find his trail again.
Having wet and muddy boots complicates things for him, making his trail more noticable. That doesn't last long. I let out an irritated scream. I'm cold, muddy, bloody, hungry and tired. It's almost dark and it's getting cold. I wander around for a moment, then I see another footprint. I follow after it, finding more footprints as I go.
Then I hear the sounds of a fire. I drop down, slowly and quitely creeping forward through the dark underbrush towards the fire. Then I see the fire and him. I get lower to the ground, waiting. He is walking around, gathering firewood. He hasn't noticed me. Get closer, get closer.
He walks right in front of me. Yes!
I leap out of the underbrush and land squarely on his shoulders. He lets out a shout of surprise and almost falls over
"Found you!" I shout, wrapping my arms around his neck. He laughs, pulling me off his shoulders and into his arms.
"Yes, you did. Took a bit longer than I expected." Then he sees the blood. "Little bug, you're hurt."
He sets me down and cleans up my head. "Dad! I'm hungry!"
He laughs. "Alright, I'll get you something to eat."
Dad lightly pats my head. "You're tracking skills are getting better. You'll be hunting real prey in no time."