To The End

The Hunt

Waiting. It was the worst part of the hunt. She had to wait, watching carefully for her moment to strike. Timing mattered. She couldn't afford to allow her prey to make a noise. If it did, she would no doubt have more to deal with. They would attack in defense of their own. So as much as she was impatient, she had to wait. She stayed crouched low, hidden but ready to pounce from the cover the foliage offered. All it took was one misstep, one mistake, and she had her meal. Her focused gaze never left her mark. Her body tensed subtly as soon as she spotted an opening. Come closer.

She held in a frustrated growl, her body tensing further with anticipation. Closer.

Her prey was now in reach. On instinct she sprang forward, claws held at the ready. They flashed through the air at lethal speed in two quick swipes. Blood arced through the air to paint the ground. The attack was so sudden, so precise, that there was no time to react let alone comprehend what was happening. Her prey fell dead at her feet with a final arterial spray.

Now was the tricky part. She had to decide if she would remain vulnerable while sating her hunger now or risk being seen carrying her meal home. Her stomach grumbled a protest against the latter, eyes locked on the blood drenching the surrounding dirt. She crouched down and reached for a limb, her strength easily tearing it free. She brought the bloody and torn flesh to her mouth and took a tearing bite out of it. Her teeth stripped the flesh with ease.

She purred her pleasure, savoring the rich meat. She continued to devour the portion in seconds before reaching for more, but she halted at the crack of a twig in the distance. An intrusive scent came to her on the wind and she snarled a warning when the threat approached. Too close.

A gasp, a shouted curse, and then the drawing of a weapon. She regretted holding off on a meal. Now that she was interrupted, she would have to abandon her kill. What a waste. Or, perhaps she could attempt an escape with it.

She quickly hauled the body off the ground and leapt for a nearby tree. Her pursuer was only momentarily startled by the sudden movement, but the gun was put to use seconds later. The loud bang rang in her ears. She winced at the sound as much as the burning pain that lanced through her back. Run. Hide.

She launched her catch up into the dense branches above, a decoy and a hope that it would remain there so that she could return for it when it was safe to retrieve it. Another shot rang out, taking the bait. She didn't waste anymore time and jumped to the next available tree. Her assailant gave chase, shouting once more.

Her instincts were on overdrive, focused on survival. Because of the primal shift she was unable to understand what was being said. Another crack from a different direction caught her off guard and she paid for it with a surge of pain in her side. She yelped, fumbling, but managed to cling to the branch she hung from. The exchanged commands and planning happening below her were tuned out in order to concentrate. She started to climb as high as she was able, careful not to grab the thin branches. Once she couldn't advance any higher, she scouted for a destination. She spotted the perfect perch and readied herself. With a lot of effort, she launched herself through the air.

The echo of a gun going off and the tearing of her chest, inches from her heart, caused her to careen off course. She landed poorly, barely catching hold of the desired branch. The force yanked harshly at her arm and set her injuries ablaze. With a growl she forced herself up until she was sitting on the branch, secure.

She pressed a hand to her chest injury, and it came away wet with blood. Hide. Go. Now.

She took a moment to track the nuisances, and then planned accordingly. She traveled across the branches without a sound, slowly gaining ground. She listened as the confusion below worsened and smirked in triumph when she eventually lost them altogether. But now she was injured as well as hungry. Her existance might be beyond a human's comprehension, but she still required sustenance and a healthy body. She was a long way off from her stashed kill, but she was in no condition to hunt down another. So, she had no choice but to double back. She made her way through the trees, remaining cautious enough not to overexert herself or she wouldn't make it back without collapsing.

She traveled with an active gaze, watching for any sign of returned danger. She already made the mistake of thinking her presence was enough of a threat and was injured for her foolishness. They were getting bolder over the years. She had to be more careful in the future. She couldn't afford to underestimate them again. She paused for a moment to breathe in, scenting the freshly spilled blood close by. Her senses zeroed in and her blood lust wiped out all semblance of patience and control. She took the next several branches with haste, not seeing the error of grabbing a branch that had endured one too many harsh storms. It promptly snapped under her weight and she was ruthlessly taken down by gravity.

She tried to slow her descent, but she still hit the ground with force. Her leg gave out with a wrenching crack when she landed on it wrong. She cried out at the sudden sting of pain and rolled off the new injury. Now that she was on her back, she could see the shadowy figure that was her meal and glared bitterly. She failed so close to her prize. She forced herself to her feet with a huff and leaned on the tree trunk, careful not to put too much pressure on the wounded leg. There was no way she could climb the tree now. She wasn't worried about starvation, but she wasn't looking forward to hours of healing on an empty stomach.

Reluctantly, she let herself slide to the ground, ever vigilant in case her weakened state attracted enemies. There had been more than one to deal with this time. They had to have been actively looking for her to be so prepared. They hadn't even flinched when they caught sight of her, as so many had done before. Bolder. Yes. But stupid. Easy to kill.

Her stomach rumbled once more, but there was nothing she could do to put it at ease. She was too tired to make the trip home so soon. She would be expending too much energy only for the reward of comfort. Then she would have to venture back out for her meal. It was better to stay put until she was able to climb and only move when danger was spotted. With her mind made up she allowed it to wander. Soon, she was dozing off. She jumped awake several minutes later at the sound of light steps closing in on her. Her senses branched out, collecting information. A slim form. Female.

The tread wasn't swift. Inexperienced.

A different scent than the others she encountered. Softer.

She inhaled deeply, enticed by the scent and gathering new information. Young. Delicious. Easy.

She growled low, anxious at the opportunity presented to her. Gullible.

She could work with that. She forced her body to relax into a slump against the base of the tree. She let out a few pitiful moans, and sure enough, her meal came running. She licked her lips. She would savor this one.

It wasn't every day when one so young crossed her path. They were usually well guarded and never allowed out once the sun set. Yes. Savor it.

She smirked and patiently waited.