The Leopard

The leopard’s muscles flung it forward as it pounded towards her prey.

Earlier that day in the morning…

The leopardess searched desperately to find food to feed herself and her unborn cubs. Failure after failure, she soon began to lose hope and thought to abandon her hunt. On her journey back to her den a small whirlwind blew her fur in waves. Her spots rippling in the wind, she raised her head and sniffed the smells carried by the gust of fresh spring air. In those smells carried aromas of potential prey, in addition to the lovely perfumes of damp earth and new forest growth.

Her sensitive nose finally caught the fragrance of breakfast. Excited for a possible feast she immediately sprang into action. She leapt into an adjacent tree to lay in wait for her prey. Nearby the rustling of bushes caught her ears’ attention. She rotated her head slowly in the direction of her prey trying to pinpoint its location. Scanning the bushes for any sight of movement, she noticed a large Antelope eating some nearby berries.

Although desperate for this meal, she knew she only had one chance at this kill. Slowly and carefully, she silently crept along a vine covered branch that led her much closer to the target. Stalking ever so quietly while calculating the right moment to strike, she perfectly positioned herself closely enough so that her glistening emerald eyes stared directly down at her prey. Her tail flicked back and forth in anticipation. She readied herself for a strike; she wiggled her haunches, strong muscles launching her down upon the unsuspecting beast.

Wide eyed, the Antelope let out a loud bellow which echoed throughout the canopy. His cry was soon silenced by the leopard’s strong jaws upon its neck. Finally, the nourishment she so desperately needed. The soon-to-be mother ate until her stomach was filled. Surely the smell of her kill would attract unwanted company, so she carried her trophy high up into a nearby Acacia tree and secured it from scavenging lions. She dozed off to sleep as the setting sun cast its kaleidoscope of brilliant colors; hues of oranges, reds and yellows that danced upon the land like a living painting.

In the morning she awoke and finished the remainder of her hunt, while leaving the bony scraps for scavengers. She began her journey for a better home and feeding grounds to raise her cubs. They would be born soon and her current location didn’t offer her much game to raise her quickly growing babes.

Thinking she might have better luck up stream she traveled west along the densely overgrown river bank. She journeyed far that day, frequently stopping to drink from the river to keep her strength up. After catching a fish or two she climbed into a young Baobab tree for some much needed rest, and tomorrow she would continue her journey.

The fiery colored light from the rising sun awoke the young mother. Rising, she stretched, yawned and jumped down from the tree. The leopardess hungry, she scanned around with her smaragdine eyes for her next source of nourishment. Her ears pricked as she detected movement behind her; she whipped her head around and spotted a jackal stalking. She sprung out of the way just in time as the jackal leapt, and she could smell its rancid breath as it barely missed her face.

Spinning around to face the jackal again she pinned her ears back and growled loudly as her tail viciously flicked. Leaping forward, she spread out her giant paws as her claws unsheathed themselves. She landed on the jackal scratching its haunches and it scurried off in wounded defeat.

She now continued walking along the bank of the river traveling upstream. Eventually she came upon a very nice area teeming with prey. It had a water source, a huge rubble pile with a cave, and plenty of trees to shade her little family from the soon arriving summer heat. She decided to adventure into the cave to check for vacancy and safety. Wandering in she smelled the rock and looked for any signs of the cave being occupied. After minutes of investigating she found no signs of danger so she settled down for the night.

The faithful illumination of the rising sun cast its colors upon her new home. Birds were singing their exquisite songs; butterflies danced upon the flowers and dew glistened upon the leaves like starlight. Nature seemed to rejoice for the arrival of two beautiful cubs snuggled next to the proud, young mother.