
Ochieng had been happy living in the jungle for the past couple of weeks. He'd kept to himself and kept out of trouble. Well, until now, he guessed. The leopard had been walking along, simple enough, right? until he heard a mighty roar that rang through the jungle. Well, things didn't really ring through the jungle. Foliage and vegetation dampened sound, so that must mean that whatever it was that roared was close. He shrank down, making himself small, and was quiet for a moment. All that moved were his ears to catch the sound of a voice. Female, was it? The roar didn't sound like a lion and cheetahs couldn't roar. Maybe it was a female leopardess? That wouldn't be so scary, right? Maybe she was nice and pretty!
Ochi sunk lower into his little mass of cowardice. He was an adult by now. He'd made it in the world growing up without a family. He shouldn't be scared of anything, he was tough! Right? He straightened up slowly, and then stood at full height. After all that he had to prove to himself that he wasn't a wimp. Not a coward. He took off in the direction of the voice.
"Hello?"