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The sun was just starting it’s descent as the black cheetah peered out from atop the rock formation that jutted up in to the sky. Purple eyes scanned the horizons, looking closely for any forms that may have been coming his way. Sonu did not like strangers getting near his den for they would surely try to steal the stash of various ‘treasures’ that hid within. To most they may just look like piles of dirt, grass and stick, and really that was all they they were. To Sonu though they were his, and no one was going to take them from him.

In the distance he spotted movement, and it was surely headed his way. Sonu crouched and slunk slightly down the jutting rock, hiding behind it’s bulk as he peered around it. Something was coming his way, though he could not yet tell exactly what it was. The black cheetah waited silently, eyes fixated on the form as it came ever closer until he could finally make out that it was a leopard. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he watched. They were far too close for his liking now as the female was maybe a hundred feet away. Too close.

However something of interest caught his attention. She appeared to have a bag on her person, and who knew what wonderful treasures were held within it. The bag piqued his curiosity enough that he nearly forgot about his own treasure hoard just below was possibly within danger of being plundered, however the thought came back to his mind quickly. He wanted to know what that bag held, but he also did not want to leave his own things unguarded. Perhaps if he could get her away from the bag he could get a look inside.

Unable to further control his curiosity he slunk off the back of the rock and circled around it, body low to the ground as he moved towards the leopardess. If he could get close enough maybe he could get in the bag and grab something. When he had something he could run, be off with his prize before perhaps she could even notice.

The genius plan had failed as the leopardess turned and spotted him. She bared her fangs, yelled and clung to her bad. It would be much harder getting at it now, but that was not going to stop him. Sonu kept his body low to the ground and stood stock still. Purple eyes peered out of the grass at her. Sure she had already seen him, but he wasn’t going to just give up and walk away. He wasn’t so easily deterred.

Especially at the word ‘shiny’. She was guarding this bag, saying shinies were in it, so there must have been something very valuable inside. Sonu wanted it. The leopardess was staring right at him, and Sonu stared right back. Without another thought he continued to creep forward, tail lashing behind him. “Shinies?” He hissed back, curiosity apparent in his voice. “What do you have in there?” Didn’t seem too likely she would reply, but who knows. Maybe she was one of those types that didn’t keep secrets well.

Ever closer the dark cheetah came, eyes still fixed upon the female. She became even more hysterical the closer he got to her. Perhaps out of dumb luck though this seemed to cause her to tear a hole within the bag, and in an attempt to keep her valuables from slipping out she simply made it worse. From the hole in the bag spilled forth shiny, golden coloured gems. Before one could even blink he was rushing forward and swatting as many as he could out of the leopardess’ reach. Such beautiful gems the bag had held! Had he known sooner he may have acted more quickly. “Such treasures I have found!” He exclaimed, quickly grabbing up as many as possible within his mouth. ‘Ahhn aww furrr mweeee~” The words came out around the gems as he turned to flee back to his den.

The leopardess was momentarily forgotten as he scurried away, his only thoguhts focused on the amazing treasures he would be adding to his collection. He may not have grabbed many, but the amount he did not possess was good enough for him. It was more than nothing, and something was obviously a lot better a deal than nothing was.

With the leopardess slowly floating to the back of his mind he continued back to the fock formation atop which he had earlier been perched. At it’s base he crawled in to a small opening formed between the rocks and disappeared within. The space was possibly just big enough for the average leopard to get in to, or perhaps slightly less than, but certainly nothing bigger than that. Easily accessible to the smaller frame of a cheetah though, which made it quite ideal for Sonu. The less people that could get in the better.

Within the area it was dim, very little light managing to get in through the front, and only a little extra shining through a crack at it’s top. Sonu moved easily through his little den, avoiding the small, but growing piles of leaves, sticks, grass and rocks. In to the back he continued. These were some precious items he now held in his mouth and he would hide them in the back where they were less likely to be seen.