Pine Marten on Lichen Branch at Sunset

Golden horizon light wraps the damp foliage of a game trail near Chongqing as a pine marten perches on a thick, lichen-crusted branch. Fine rain droplets rest on the dark fur and the rough bark, catching the low sun. The animal faces away, its bushy tail curling slightly over the wood. Patches of white and pale green lichen contrast with the deep brown of the branch and the wet, glossy coat of the creature. Moisture glistens on nearby leaves, signaling a brief sun shower ending in the dry season. One water droplet hangs from the tip of a fern frond at the lower right edge.