Blood trickled down his jaw while he savagely licked his lips. He stared directly at him with his red soulless eyes. He then mischievously smiled, welcoming a familiar sight. William was disgusted by his presence. He could almost feel his antlers beckoning him to attack. With his buffy paws and stiffly potent legs, he slowly and precisely circled William. His dark yellow fur and largely spotted feline body stood calm. He then quirked his head in a peculiar manner and smiled, letting out a disturbingly fearsome chuckle.
“Nice to see you again William.” He growled.
“Likewise Edgar.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still upset?”
“What do you think?”
“Fine, let’s get down to business then. It’s payday.”
“Not today it isn’t.”
“According to my calendar, it is.”
“What happened to the last shipment we sent you?”
“It ran out. You know how we predators can be.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“It is now. Back off and let us do our thing.”
“Not this time.”
He stood his ground as Edgar smiled at him. Suddenly, it all became silent. Their little beef obscured them from reality, drowning and blinding them from reality. William was now all alone in the hands of the beasts. All that remained was his fellow prey mates laying on the ground. They were nothing but carcasses rotting away at every second as the greedy savages slowly devoured them. Edgar crouched and narrowed his eyes. He stared at him, ready to pounce. Out of nowhere, a herd of deers came storming in. They stood behind him, bravely and heroically backing their fearless leader. Now it was his turn to smile. Edgar slowly reversed his crouching technic as he came to terms with his present situation. He tried so hard to come up with a plan and suddenly realized what a stupid thought that was. He was after all the apex predator. Surely, he could take on a bunch of miscreant deers.
“You called backup?”
“You gave me no choice.”
“Have you all forgotten who’s in charge?”
“They know who’s in charge, and it’s not you. This is our land now. You’re no longer welcomed here.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.” He smiled and looked back.
He then roared aloud, commanding his entire pack to fall in line. They hurriedly dropped their catch and rushed over to his side.
“If you wanna take over this land, you’re gonna have to go through us.”
“Sounds good to me,” he growled, “You heard him boys.”
They roared and pounced at the fear stricken herd while Edgar stood back and watched. William on the other hand had his plate full. He took charge in the frontline and fearlessly led his herd. They came at them from all sides. They tore down their defences, only to be taken down by his elite strike team, the stags. With their antlers, they pierced through every tough skinned jaguar. The odds were in their favour, and Edgar grew worried. William shouted out commands as they pushed on and took down every single member of the jaguar family. He then stood back and let his herd finish the job.
They were no march for them. The deers fought bravely. Even though they kept losing one of their own, they still kept on fighting. When they were knocked down, they got back up. They never gave up. To them this was more than just about the land. It was about honour. They desired, once again, to restore their civilization back to its former glory. Unfortunately, William was too distracted to notice Edgar sneak up behind him. He mischievously crept up, jetting out his claws. He then fiercely growled, letting him know of his presence. He slowly turned around and met with an unexpected blow to his head. This left him severely marred as he fell down to his demise.
“Did you really think I was gonna let you win?” He growled, slowly circling his hopeless body. “You are nothing more than a bottom feeder.”
William struggled to his feet and surprisingly let out a silent chuckle.
“What are you so happy about?” He asked, confused.
“We’ve won Edgar. We’ve won.” He coughed. “It’s over.”
“Not yet, not until I say so.”
Suddenly, the earth vibrantly shook as William focused his unbelieving eyes on the horizon. It was an unforeseen sight. As furious as he was humongous, he came straight at them. He crushed everything that laid in his path. Every step he took was more than a hundred steps to them. He was so tall that he didn’t run, instead, he just walked. His sharp enormous claws and knifelike serrated teeth were a thousand times the size of any normal predator. His scaly skin was pale green. William abruptly lost all hope the moment he saw the creature’s disturbingly torn up face as he made his way down.
“Have you met my newest recruit?” He boasted while the creature stood behind him. “Say hello to Garrett, the greatest tyrannosaur that ever lived.”
The t-rex roared and asserted himself at the top of the food chain. He stunned them all and immediately ended the fight. Everyone gazed upon the great force before them and the deers looked on to their fearless leader.
“Am only gonna say this once,” he roared, “Surrender now and I’ll go easy on you.”
The deers still looked to him and awaited his commands. He gazed at them and saw how much they had all gone through. He wasn’t going to put them in any more harm. Just as he was about to give up and surrender to his foes, the unspeakable happened. Every single prey suddenly nodded his head. They then gazed into his eyes, and together they made their final stand.
“You gotta be kidding me! Are you serious?" He laughed.
“We are not going down without a fight.”
“Then you leave me no choice.”
He fiercely roared and the tyrannosaur charged in. He stomped and crushed every single last one of them. He bashed their heads to a pulp and flung them in the air. He then rapidly grasped them in mid-air and tore them limb from limb. Not even their fearless leader could save them this time, as they encountered the toughest scaled skin reptile ever. They cried out in pain as they slowly faded from existence. William tried rushing over to their aid, but was knocked back down. Edgar stood over his barely conscious body and placed his right paw against his neck. He forced it down and poor old William gasped for breath as Edgar mischievously smiled.
“You are not going anywhere,” he insisted, crushing down on his throat, “You brought this on yourself.”
He then relentlessly twisted William’s head to the side and revealed to him the unspoken horror that befell his herd. Blood spilled to the ground while flesh scattered all over. There were bodies flying everywhere as the t-rex disrespectfully plaid catch with their disembodied carcasses. He gasped as he watched his entire herd fade into oblivion.
“Finish ‘em boys!” Edgar roared in utter thrill.
The jaguars took no mercy on them. They came rushing in and laid to waste all that stood in their path. They made sure that they stayed dead as they delightfully sucked out every last drop of blood. Edgar laughed as he watched his will being done.
Suddenly, William felt a release in his throat that saved him from almost losing consciousness. He was relieved for he could finally breathe again. He sucked every single grasp of air he could manage as if it was his last and struggled to his feet. Still drowsy, he stumbled at every step he took. His eyes were still numb and could only reveal a blurred vision in his mind. He strongly focused on everything around him and finally came to. He was surprised to see Edgar lying on the ground and standing next to him was his second in command. He was his most loyal soldier and closest friend. Even though his skin was clotted in blood and his entire body bruised beyond compare, he still had the will to pull off one last deed.
“Go! Run!” He yelled and bowed his head in honour.
The jaguars took notice and headed towards them. Their slobbery jaws and fiery red eyes led the way.
“Go! I’ll hold them off!” He cried as they drew near at each passing second.
Edgar finally got back up only to spot
William sprinting away from his sight. He then noticed the foolishly brave stag making his stand against his entire pack. Seething with rage, he roared out an undeniable command, “Kill him!” They sprinted and pounced hard on him. They savagely ripped him to shreds until he was nothing more than a stain on the ground. However, Edgar was still not contented. He wanted more. He desired retribution in the only amount of viciousness that could tame his wretched wild heart.
The sun had now set and clouds engulfed the sky. They completely darkened the already invisible night. Lightning struck and lit up the earth. A deep and loudly prolonged rumble followed. A rumble that startled a young fawn.
"It’s okay sweetie, it’s just thunder.” She calmed him and nudged him closer. She held him tightly in her arms. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Mum?”
“Yes?”
“Will dad be okay?”
“Of course he will. Your dad is the toughest person I know.”
“What if he never comes back?”
“He will.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Rain pelted down from the heavens and dampened the ground below as frightened little Zafeen laid restless in the cave. He tried forcing himself to sleep and drown out his thoughts. He shut his eyes and comfortably placed himself in her arms. That’s when he heard a loud stomping outside. He placed his right ear against the floor and drowned out sound of the pouring rain. He focused all of his senses on it until he could clearly hear the vibration of the sprinting steps. It got louder every second. He stood up with his senses high on alert. He then looked to his mum and noticed that she wasn’t laying down either. In fact, she was standing next to the doorway. Suddenly, everything was silent. They heard nothing except for the sound of the pouring rain as it hit the earth.
“Mum,” he cried out.
Through the waterfall curtain, came in a familiar sight. He stood right in front of them and smiled. He was still hyperventilating and could hardly breathe.
“Dad!” He delightfully screamed.
He ran across the room and into his arms. He was not able to hold back his emotions as the tears cascaded down his cheeks. He did not care to mind his wet fur.
“Missed you too,” he whispered and hugged him back.
“What happened?” She jumped in.
“Not now. We need to leave.” He pulled away.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“No time to explain. Let’s go.”
“Dad?” He cried. He had never seen him like that before.
“It’s okay. Everything we’ll be okay.” He calmed him down.
“Then why do we have to go?”
He crouched down and got closer to him. He then gazed into his eyes.
“It’s not like that son. Think of it as moving, okay? We’re just going to live somewhere else for a while, that’s all.”
“But I like it here. All my friends are here.”
“You’ll make new friends.”
“I don’t want to.”
“It’s only for a while. We’ll come back, I promise.”
Zafeen frowned and looked away. Noticing his son’s dismissal, he insistently called to him.
“Do you trust me?”
He stared right into his father’s soulful eyes and couldn’t resist giving in.
“Then let’s get out of here, okay?
“Okay dad.”
He got back to his feet and gently punched him on the shoulder before proceeding over to Kelly.
“You okay hon?”
“Yeah.”
He gently caressed her. Her warm embrace drowned his cold shivering body, and for a while, he felt all was right in the world. He pulled away and walked towards the pouring rain. He then looked back and motioned to them. Leading the way, they followed him through the cold and rainy darkness. They left behind the warmth and cosiness of the cave in their shadow as their nocturnal eyes lit the way. They walked side by side and caught every single cover of shade they found along the way. Their paws however left tracks in the mud for anyone to follow. As it got wetter, Kelly moved closer to Zafeen and passed her warmth over to him.
“How much farther is it?” She grew tired and restless from their endless journey.
They stopped under an umbrella tree.
“It’s not that far. We’re almost there.” He assured her.
“Where are we going?”
“To the antelope’s territory. It’s just across the border. We’ll be safe there.”
“Safe from what?”
“From me!”
Suddenly, a loud fierce growl permeated through the curtain of rain and straight within their ears’ reach. A shot of fear rushed through their nerves as they all focused on the estranged voice.
“Come out and face me!” He roared.
“Don’t go dad!” Zafeen pleaded.
He cried out, trying to make his way over to him, but his mother wouldn’t let go. She forcefully held him back as she gazed into William’s eyes and gracefully bowed her head. He got out of the shade and headed towards Edgar. The rain dripped down his eyes and shortly blinded him. When his sight cleared up, he caught a glimpse of him standing in the rain. Behind him was his pack. All present and accounted for, except for the t-rex. The rain had apparently clouded their presence.
“There you are. You ran off before we could finish our discussion.” He spoke, the second they were across from each other. “Did you really think you could run away from me? There’s no place in this world you can hide that I wouldn’t get to you.”
“This is between you and me Edgar. Let my family go.”
“How stupid do you think I am?” He growled. “You disrespected me. Somebody has to pay for that.”
“Then let it be me.”
“Am sorry William.”
“Run!” He quickly turned around and screamed with all his might, sacrificing himself. Not long after, he felt a sharp blow to his head that sent him spiralling to the mud.
“Seek ‘em!” Edgar growled.
The jaguars sprinted into action, thirsty for blood. Their canine instincts kicked it and they followed the scent of the two cowering in fear deers. Into the woods they ran, with nothing but fear driving them on. They struggled through the bushes, stumbling into the muddy ponds as they tried to make their way to the border. Poor little Zafeen couldn’t bare it any longer. He fell down at each step he took, and each time Kelly was there to pick him off the ground.
“What about dad?” He worriedly asked while they ran. “Mum, we have to go back. Dad needs our help.” He persistently nagged.
“We can’t!” She snapped, and they came to a sudden stop.
“Why not?”
“Cause he’s gone, and he’s never coming back.”
This almost made his heart give up. He sobbed uncontrollably, not holding back his tears. To him, all hope was lost. His father was his only hero in the entire world. If he’s gone, then what chance does a little fawn like him have against the cruel world? Kelly realized her wrongful actions and tried to comfort him. She gently wiped his tears away.
“It’s just you and me now sweetie,” she whispered.
From the horizon, she could hear the sound of the very angry and pissed off jaguars heading their way. It was only a matter of time until they caught up to them.
“We need to go,” she urged him.
She dragged him and took to their heels. They dashed through the forest with the jaguars hot on their tail. They could hear their vicious growls growing nearer.
“Faster Zafeen, faster!”
Suddenly, Zafeen tripped and fell face first in the mud. Kelly was a few steps ahead when she abruptly stopped and came back for him. She quickly helped him back up and were about to flee when she heard them. It was clearer now. That’s when she realised there was no way out of this.
She nudged him to the side and whispered in his ear, “Go.”
“Mum?”
“It
’s up to you now.”
“What about you?”
“Be brave and make us proud.”
She took one last glance at him with her watery eyes. Her heart broke at the thought of leaving him, but she had no choice. Louder and louder, the jaguar’s steps grew through the heavy rain.
“Go,” she whispered once again.
He reluctantly walked away, taking in mere glances at her. However, instead of running away, he hid behind the bushes. He was just a distance away from her. One by one, they crept in from the neck of the woods and surrounded her. Their slobbery jaws drooled all over, adding to the bulky dampness of the already wet floor. They horned in on the prey, slowly buying their time. Time, which they used to appreciate the finer things in life. For example, an easy target that stood right before them.
“Let’s finish this!” He growled.
William dragged his limp body off the ground and faced his mortal enemy. The wind blew mightily against the soggy leaves. Lightning stroke the night sky and his brother thunderously roared. Even the tiniest creatures that lay beneath the earth heard his loud blaze. The stormy weather didn’t seem to dissipate, as more dark clouds engulfed the sky. They blocked every single chance the moon had to light the way for earthling critters. Edgar charged in with his laser eye focus. Two clenched paws after the other, he made his way through the stormy rain and pounced. He knocked him right back to the ground. His out of control body fell with a loud thud, splashing the pools of water to the side. This sent a mild surge of pain up his spine.
Edgar stood on top of him and forcefully brought his paw down his face. However, William abruptly kicked him to the side with his powerful hind legs. He groaned and limped away. He tried to escape, but was suddenly flown all the way to the umbrella tree. William’s antlers accurately connected to his hard-skinned gut. He restlessly laid in agony. William glanced at his weak and beaten flesh, and suddenly the thought of his family ran through his mind. He turned his back against him and stared into the woods. He thought that maybe he still had a chance to save them.
The Pack (Prey Vs. Predator) Page 5
