In The Jungle

I padded through my jungle, feeling the scent of prey in my nostrils. It was still bright in the day, too early for a panther to be hunting, but I was hungry. Too hungry to sleep, or to defend my prey against the jaguars at night. It had to be now.

The smell of a frightened deer was fresh in my mind. I broke into a loping run, heading toward the promise of prey. I could smell  something else, too- something that wasn't prey. It was farther off, and I couldn't be sure what it was. But it had the distinct smell of danger. Better to get my meal and be off as soon as possible.

The dense jungle was especially humid this time of year. Not much of a problem for me, though. I'd lived here all my life, and I was used to the environment. Overhead, I heard the chattering of various monkeys, swinging through the lush green canopy. The warning hisses of pythons, probably curled up somewhere in the trees. No other predators as far as I could tell.

The prey was near, just behind the trees ahead. I could hear its frantic panting now. But what was equally clear was that other smell, heading this way and growing stronger all the while. I recognized it.

Crash! I leapt through a cluster of ferns and landed, as only a panther could, precisely between my prey and the new challenger. But not such a new challenger, really.

"Kiela." The cool, calm, infuriating voice of Pato, the smallest jaguar in the jungle. Pato was a runt. Born smaller than your average jaguar, he always had to fight harder and smarter than the others for his meals. He was less powerful than the other predators I faced, but no less dangerous. I knew him pretty well though. Shouldn't have too much of a problem fighting him off. The problem, however, was the prey.

A long, slender brown body lay against the mossy roots of a great tree. One of the spindly legs was bent at an odd angle, but there was no mistaking the burn scars on the hind of the deer that had run with me, worked to protect me, and probably saved  my life in last year's forest fire.

Ayik. The young male deer had gotten trapped in the burning undergrowth, a forest fire brought on by the dry seasons. I was likewise caught, my hind legs crushed beneath a fallen tree. Ayik had ignored his prey instincts to save me, and together we made it to a river. Grateful as I was, I was still a predator. I could not let myself starve to death. But while I could not promise to never hunt another deer, I could resolve to leave this one alone. We had made friends, as far as that was possible. And now he was right in front of me, helpless and injured.

His gaze locked onto mine. I could see the terror in his large, liquid eyes. Foam lined his open, red, panting mouth and his three good legs struggled desperately to get off the ground. I looked back to Pato, and saw his calm, arrogant, top-of-the-food-chain confidence. This wasn't a battle I could allow myself to walk away from.

"This one is mine." I snarled, baring my fangs and arching my sleek black back. I turned to face the small jaguar completely. "Come on, Kiela. You are hungry, weak. This isn't one you can win. Back off." he said smoothly, infuriatingly. I growled again, raising my fur this time, and gathering my back legs to spring. "One more chance. He's mine. Back off, or we'll see if you're as tough as you think." I warned. Pato surveyed me coolly. He was well-fed, that much was true. Better than me, anyway. His intelligent gold eyes flicked over my still powerful, coiled muscles, and my gleaming fangs. Decided it wasn't worth it.

"Very well, panther. Your kill." he hissed, backing off. I waited till he was at a fair distance.

"Ayik. It's been a while." I said, padding over to nose my friend to his feet. "Kiela, you have no idea." he replied, the familiar warmth in his eyes. "You know, if the other big cats knew I'd been hanging around deer, I'd be dead meat." I joked, like I had a million times before. It's funny, see, because the big cats didn't actually have friends. Ayik gave a half-hearted snort, collapsing down again. "It's no use. My leg's shot." he muttered.

"Well then, I'll stay with you till it's better." I offered. He looked up at me, surprised. "Kiela, you're a predator. I'm prey. It wouldn't work out very well." he pointed out. I laughed, a barking panther-laugh. "Well, Ayik. That's what friends are for."