Darkness surrounded him. The only sounds to be heard were crickets chirping, the trees rustling in the breeze and his breathing. But he heard so much more. He could hear the heart of a deer beating from one hundred yards away. There was a squirrel running about in a tree, far above his head. He sat with his eyes closed; he was focused on scents and sounds, rather than the scenery. He could see, of course, but he wasn't about to let his eyes fool his brain.
He wasn't about to go for the most obvious kill. No, he wanted to make a "sneak attack". He wanted to make his prey's blood run hot, boiling hot. He would chase the victim until they were dead tired, but their heart would be beating nearly out of their chest.
A branch. He heard it cracking in the distance, about to break off completely. He ran, through the trees, around the bushes, and under the logs fallen from the recent storm. He felt the thorns and stingers of plants digging into him. He felt the twigs break under his feet. Suddenly, he stopped, and he listened again, trying to decide. Should he take this kill, or should he wait for something bigger? It would be some time until he could hunt like this again; he wanted to stamp his hunger completely.
'Fuck it,' he thought, running for all he was worth. It was getting very late, and he was getting tired, and as his hunger became more and more apparent, he was getting very agitated.
Stopping in front of the old, dying tree, he eyed the creature before him. The innocence in his victim's eyes nearly killed him. The plump raccoon was on her hind legs, reaching out with her front paws in front of herself, pleading. He closed his eyes; he couldn't pity this creature, an animal of the night, as he was. If the situation were reversed, this sad being would do the same.
He took a deep breath and listened. The raccoon's heart was beating just as he liked it. Faster than what could be counted. Each thrum melded into the next. The beats put together were barely more than a hum. He opened his eyes, those green orbs that shone with hunger and skill.
He lunged.
