Darkwing

Chapter 5 - The Prowl

From the top of the hill Carnassial saw the familiar profile of his forest. His strides lengthened, Panthera keeping pace at his side. The day's heat was at its most intense now, but he was impatient to be home after so many days of traveling. His fur was matted with sweat and dust, and his breath came in ragged bursts.

Entering the dense cover of trees and ferns, Carnassial felt a great wave of relief and well-being wash over him. The light softened, filtered through the high canopies. His pupils dilated. His pelt cooled, and he stood, panting, to better absorb the beloved smells of the forest.

With Panthera, he navigated the scent trails that their prowl had marked along the forest floor. All around him, he was aware of other felids stirring from their midday slumber or grooming quietly, curled on the ground or in the low branches. Carnassial felt eyes following him, and heard his name whispered, at first soft as a breeze, and then more loudly, as many felid voices took up the chant.

"Carnassial... It's Carnassial... Carnassial's back!"

Many pairs of felid hunters had set out on this last hunt, and he and Panthera had been sent farthest. They'd been gone a full month, and he was fairly certain they were the last to return. As they neared the poisonwood tree that marked the heart of the prowl, there were now hundreds of felids keeping pace with them through the trees and on the ground. Carnassial could smell their expectation.

He stopped at the base of the poisonwood and looked up into its branches. These trees were common in the forest, and had long been favorites with the felids, for the touch of their leaves caused a fast and maddening rash on many animals, including the saurians. The felids were immune, however, and so the trees were safe havens for them.

Patriofelis, the leader of the prowl, walked out along the lowest branch, limping slightly on his aged legs. His pale brown fur was shot through with gray.

"Carnassial! And Panthera! Welcome home!"

He jumped nimbly enough to the ground, and sniffed both Carnassial and Panthera fondly in greeting.

"You are the last to return," Patriofelis said. "Some began to worry, but not me. Nothing could harm our two finest hunters."

"And the others?" Carnassial asked eagerly. "What did they find?"

"Nothing. Not even one nest. And you?"

"A single quetzal nest with two eggs. There was no sign of the mother or father. I believe them dead. We destroyed the eggs."

"The last eggs, then," Patriofelis said hoarsely. "Carnassial and Panthera have destroyed the last nest!"

He arched his back, stretched his jaws wide to reveal his black gums and still-sharp teeth, and shrieked his jubilation to the sky. His cry was taken up by the entire prowl, thousands of other felids.

Patriofelis swiftly clawed his way up to the poisonwood's lower branch, and the ecstatic screams of the prowl faded as its leader spoke.

"Three days ago, we had reports from the other beast kingdoms. The tree runners, the paramys, the chiropters, and dozens more. None of their hunting parties has discovered a nest in more than a month. This can mean only one thing. We have triumphed. The Pact has succeeded."

More roars of approval rose from the prowl.

"Without our brave hunters, this would not have been possible," Patriofelis said. "All the beasts have worked hard, but none harder and longer than the felids! I will dispatch emissaries to the other kingdoms to tell them of Carnassial and Panthera's glorious and final victory. The battle is won. The saurians are gone; and we have inherited the earth!"