Random Writing

The Last Stripes

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Crouched low, camouflaged in the bushes, it layed. Watching. Waiting. Just ahead in a small clearing, stood a tall Sambar deer nibbling on the grass it likes. BANG. An ear splitting ringing resonated through the forest, creatures scattering as far as possible. It knew that sound. It knew that sound all too well. There was no other choice but to flee. Slowly it began to creep away from the lifeless body of the deer. When it judged it was far enough away, it ran, bounding through the foliage.

"Ivy, where's mother?" pants Fior, rushing into the den. "Out hunting, why?". "Humans have invaded the territory!" he growls loudly so that the rest of his siblings hear him. They searched the surrounding area desperately for a few minutes. Suddenly, a familiar roar was heard along with a loud bang, followed by a sorrowful, pain filled whine, then silence. Within five seconds, the most important creature in the cubs' lives were gone, forever. Slowly Fior and his siblings crept out towards where the events occurred. Being the oldest, he took the lead. Hypervigilant, he sniffed for any sign of the gunman. Assured, he dashed towards their mother's body. Lifeless, slowly paling and becoming cold. The cubs gathered around and snuggled into her body, mourning. Before the men came back for her beautiful striped pelt, sharp teeth and claws, all of her. After a while they reluctantly moved away, taking in their mother's comforting scent one last time.

Their home was no longer safe. They had to abandon their den to the mercy of the humans. Together the cubs set out in search of a new home in an unclaimed territory, far away from humans. Fior took the lead, sub consciously deciding to make himself responsible for his younger siblings. Kai and Lea were kept in the middle to protect them. Ivy and Flora brung up the rear while Stripe wandered up, down and around their small party of 6. But there was a problem. Hunting. Fior and Stripe being the eldest could, but that leaves the younger ones alone. Ivy, Flora, Kai and Lea mainly stayed in the den and played together. Ivy and Flora had started to learn, but Kai and Lea were too young. They were also still small and couldn't hunt large ungulates, which were their usual diet. They started to travel more slowly at a maintained pace for a few hours then rest and continue with the pattern. They passed their mother's territory border in the second hour. Darkness soon began to fall over the forest, and the trees' shadows lengthened and morphed into wild, abstract creatures of the night. Fior, Stripes, Flora and Ivy took turns on watch, leaving the youngest two to sleep peacefully through the whole night. Throughout the day, anything small or something they could catch was hunted, though they stayed away from water sources unless they needed a drink. Even if they could swim and fish, crocodiles among other large animals made it dangerous, especially due to their small size. They were also able to avoid other tigers' territories and any confrontations. However none of them noticed the stalking eyes peering at them from the trees. Days and nights they progressed, taking their time. Much caution had dissipated, and confidence grew. Of course travelling together was highly unusual, but Fior was fiercely protective of his siblings, as was Ivy. Except it was almost time for the elder ones to gain independence and claim their own territory. Even if they're siblings they'd rarely ever enter one's territory.

Hunger had evolved to starvation. They had rarely seen or sensed any ungulates. Small prey was hard to catch, especially for the younger cubs who had no experience whatsoever. Ivy and Flora had begun hunting rabbits, but there were few and far between. Their main source of prey were wild pigs, but that wasn't enough to feed the six cubs. They'd stayed in the same area for a week. The area was plentiful, so they had stayed in hopes of catching enough prey for their hunger to be satiated. "Stupid, foul beings. Poaching and chasing away our prey, now we have nothing." grumbled Striker, impatient as ever. Fior was trying his best to hunt as much prey as possible, but the animals were catching on and started to avoid the area. This led to trailing them further away from where the cubs camped, increasing the possibility of running into a settlement or farm. Soon they would have to move deeper into the little forest left or up to the cold mountains, which they weren't used to. Stripe had grown restless. Kai and Lea tired and bored. Ivy and Flora helped Fior to hunt, happy to be of any help. But there was nothing for them in the area anymore. They could stay no longer. Fior had to take the risk, had to lead them into danger, into the possibility of losing everything. He had to take them close to a human settlement.