- An animal snarled in the distance, ear shattering loud in the quiet of the night. The relative, temporary quiet. There was no true silence in the savannah, nor the jungle. Only life holding its breath for a moment, maybe two, as peace settled in amongst them.
Peace, tranquility, was even more fleeting than the quiet.
It was a cool night and Tahir felt chilled to the bone. His fur was greasy and thin, offering him no protection from the night. There was no fat on his body, little muscle to give him mass. He was a skeletal figment traipsing through the darkness, silent as a devil as he dragged himself through the grass. His emaciated body shivered with chills as he walked, but there was no sense in stopping.
There were lions back where he came from. Hunters, with a kill. Tahir was certainly not an invited dinner guest, and he’d been chased away from the scene with a bright red slash on his thigh for his efforts. Stupid of him to have attempted to steal a bite or two in the confusion. Not even blood could cover his stink.
Something gasped in the grass.
“What is this?” Tahir hissed, stilling. He cocked his head, ears perked and straining. No more gasps, but the quiet inhale-exhale of something breathing caught his attention. The grass rustled and tiny footfalls started to drift away.
Tahir grinned toothily and took one mighty leap through the grass.
Something yelped and scrambled away. Tahir was fast. He snapped his jaws on something furry and tossed it up in the air. It landed with a heavy thump and a sharp cry of pain. Good. Tahir padded toward the little, mewling lump and pressed a paw on it.
“A lion cub!” he exclaimed, brow raised. Not a very old one at that, but it was strong enough to struggle against his foot, trying to sink its little needle-teeth into his bony wrists. Tahir shook it off and gave it another whack to settle it. It hissed at him instead.
Tahir rolled his eyes and sighed,” You’re a bratty little morsel.”
The Captain Britain
I'm so sorry this took so long! This week got busy. :C
