The panther is a majestic animal, prowling the forest in search for prey. Its magnificent black coat resembles that of a starless night sky. No animal can see it in the dark. No animal knows it is there, watching, waiting.
The tree is where it spends most of its time. Ever since it was a cub, it had been climbing trees, seeking refuge in the branches above. It loves the feeling of the hot sun beating down on its backside. But the main thing about hiding in trees is that it can hunt prey, and remain unseen.
A tall tree catches its attention, and the panther climbs it easily, gripping the trunk with its strong paws. The leaves rustle as it finds a thick branch. It sits, and waits. It is a patient animal, but it can't be patient for long.
It spots a movement below. It is already night time, but it is not blind. It makes out the figure of the animal below, innocently chewing on grass, unaware of its presence. It feels a pang of hunger in its stomach-it is hungry, and it can wait no longer.
Letting go of the branch, it lands right on top of its victim, a young, plump deer. It grips the herbivore tightly, its claws puncturing skin. The deer hoots, tries to kick at it. But it is too late.
It licks the blood off its chops, and bites down into the flesh of the dead deer, taking another large chunk out of it. It is a delicious meal, but it is not enough. In fact, nothing is ever enough for it.
It is sick of eating the same food, sick of having to hunt the same prey. They are all dumb, all stupid enough to fall into its trap. It is hungry for more, hungry for something else.
The panther tosses the carcass aside, ignoring the hyenas that materialize out of the bushes. It is no longer interested in the deer. It wants something else. It wants something different.
It stands, and opens its jaws wide. It is desperate for more, but it doesn't know what it is craving for. And then, it sees its prey. And it is exactly what it wants.
"You stay right here," there is a voice it has never heard before. It doesn't sound like an animal. It sounds...different.
"Just take a picture, and let's get out of here," another weird sound from nearby. The speaker is sitting in an uncanny-looking thing. The thing is white and unmoving, with round, black circles supporting from underneath. It has never seen anything like that before.
But the panther's eyes are only focused on the two living creatures. They are emitting a strong heat, and although they are quite a distance away, it can sense the change in temperature. Whatever those things are, it can smell them. It is a delicious smell, an irresistible smell.
The deer have scattered, and it catches sight of one of the creatures in the open. It has two hands, two legs, and has a tuft of hair on its head. It is holding something big, and is looking through it, aiming towards a single deer a few feet away. It is dark, but the creature seems to have no problem with its vision.
"Run!" there is a loud shout, startling the feline for a moment. One of them must have seen it, somehow.
"What?" the one standing on its two legs, barely ten feet away, looks around in a dazed manner. It does not seem to comprehend. That is a good thing. Stalking prey is one thing; stalking confused prey is another.
It grins menacingly, a growl escaping its throat as it inches closer. The two-legged creature must have heard it, because it turns. The expression on its face is strange, yet priceless. A loud scream deafens the predator momentarily.
"Holy sh-! Holy crap!" the queer-looking being stumbles, falls to the ground. It drops the item it has been holding, and begins to run.
"Hurry up!" the other waves both hands frantically.
The panther pauses for a moment, and studies the running being. The scent is too overwhelming. It can control no longer. It can no longer withstand its urge to feed.
It roars, loud enough for all the inhabitants of the jungle to hear, and charges.
Dust billows up into the air as it pummels right into its prey, knocking it to the ground. The being thrashes, pounds at the beast's hard front, shrieking wildly as its claws begin to dig deep into its flesh.
"No!" the other has descended from where it has been sitting, and is pointing something straight at the feline's head. "Get off my man, or I'll shoot, I swear," it says as it steps closer.
"Don't!" the man under the panther's grip is bleeding from the puncture wounds in its chest. "Get away!" it said to its companion.
"I won't leave you. I will shoot this cat dead, right here and now."
The beast ignores them. It has to satisfy its needs, and now is the time. It swipes a paw across the man's head, and the screaming stops. Permanently.
"You son of a-!" the other man has an astonished expression on its face. It straightens the lengthy tool, points it at the beast.
But before it could do anything else, the panther lunges, aiming for a pulsing vein in the neck.
The beast drags its kill to a spot under the tree, and settles down for a big feast. All is silent again-it is as if nothing has ever happened.
The hyenas approach the two dead bodies, but this time, they aren't so lucky. This time, they are not allowed to share.
The panther is finally pleased. It has killed not only one, but two. And its prey is something different, something more delicious. Something queer, yet interesting. Something it knows it can never get enough of.
There is a thought wandering around in its head. Are there more of them out there? Is there probably hundreds and thousands, possibly millions and billions of those creatures out there? Is there an endless supply of them?
Its curiosity is overpowering, but there is one thing it knows for sure.
It is desperate for more.
YOU ARE READING
HUNT, OR BE HUNTED
Misterio / SuspensoHe was always blacking out, always confused, losing control of his actions. And when he did, he would have no memory of it. What he didn't know was that there was a monster inside him, a monster that he couldn't control. Once it took over, not a sin...
