The air is thick, humidity high and moonlight pierces through some low cloud. Beneath the moonlight, a lush dark green ominous blanket of tropical north Queensland hinterland forest. The loud choir of midnight insects and night creatures cover the sounds of the hunt within.

Moments before, Darius, in a drug fuelled fever dream decided that this would be the night he finally goes through with his master plan - break in and rob the people at the Kihuna Lodge. Miscalculating or perhaps, amphetamine courage at play, Darius woke the residence after breaking the glass doors. Soon after finding a perfect hiding spot in the nearby heavy foliage he heard the commotion of cars at high speed in the distance, the red and blue flashes bouncing off the foggy horizon. He couldn’t stay hiding. He wasn’t going back to prison, not again, not so soon.

Now, running through the dark forest, he has but one thought riddled in paranoia - ‘don’t get caught’.  As he traverses deeper into the embrace of the forest, he could feel the tension - he was being hunted. 

In pursuit, Ripper - the black German Sheppard and his handler. Hot on the track of the unknown suspect.  The pale blue moonlight streaking through the deep dark forest starkly broken by red torch light shining the way for Ripper’s handler so as not to break his night sight.  The pursuit is difficult, the mud and forest floor making it difficult terrain but Ripper is laser focussed and determined - the scent is getting stronger. 

Darius, now tired and his amphet adrenaline draining away, stumbles through a muddy hole. He falls face first.  He knows that whatever is behind him - is close. He pushes himself upright, he can see a clearing in the tree tops ahead. Was he finally close to the end of the forest line? A road he can navigate, perhaps even to strongly convince an innocent motorist passing by to ‘lend’ him a car? 

These thoughts are rudely interrupted by an immense light and the distant low rumbling of rotor blades. Now blinded by the midnight sun, he instantly knew that he couldn’t run any more. 

In his crazed thoughts, if he could only get rid of that pesky light, maybe he could hide and wait it out. 

Reaching in the front of his pants, he grabbed hold of his mud covered pistol. Raising it up towards the light he starts squeezing the trigger. “I’m not going back in” he said to himself. 

A black missile leaps and tears into Darius. Ripper has found his target. His handler not quite quick enough to keep up to the end but eventually arrives on scene. He sees Ripper doing what he does best, taking down crooks… and loving every bit. 

Backyard - Eyes on, always.