Many kalona enjoyed the hunt more than anything else, but Ruadh was different. The stallion managed the hunt only as a necessity. There were times that he enjoyed the hunt - when he could feel his prey's legs getting weaker from the pain of constant use; or the labored breathing that burned their lungs; or -especially- when that stubborn cling to hope starts to die away when they realize that the monster behind them would not stop until they were had. Today, his prey was more unusual - a challenge, perhaps. He did not usually venture far from the desert, but today he had gone closer to the woods, where the desert transitioned to a lame excuse of a prairie. There were trees around, but they were sparse. He had rushed a prairie dog, and the two had tangled for awhile as it skitted from one hole to the next. It was getting tired when it finally settled on an unfamiliar burrow, and the only escape was to try and face the gray-scaled kalona waiting outside.
Ruadh was patient. He had long ago forgotten about any gnawing hunger he might have. In fact, he commonly staved off hunger as he fed off his own slight pain. It was when he wished for the pain of others that he started a hunt that would fill the rest of his enjoyment or give him the annoying nourishment his body required. So, while the prairie dog convinced herself that her predator would leave if she just waited - Ruadh kept sentry and waited for her return.
Finally, her own hunger got to her, and she peeked her nose outside. The grasses didn't move, and she naively thought all was clear.
She didn't even see the shadow when Ruadh lunged from the steady grasses and caught her up before she could squeak a surprise.
And then, he began his ministrations. At first, she cried out from every cut, lick, and poke, but she eventually gave up the hope. Somewhere, she believed that maybe that was all that was going to happen.
But Ruadh was just getting warmed up. Because he did intend to eat this prey - eventually - his first cut was to her hind legs. Without those, she would not be able to get far.
