The Mountain Range Guide

[Embyr_Somm]

Prowling away from her common haunts was unusual for the dark leopardess. But, to match the atypical behavior, she was also feeling rather adventurous. Was fate at work again, casting one of its players into a situation only it knew the reason for? Perhaps, even likely. Either way, the female fell for its ruse, giving up on any attempts for relaxation before trekking into the wild.

Her journey led her far from the higher, cooler mountain stairways to the flat, extensive plains of the savannah. By the time noon hit, Kilimanjaro was behind her. It was always in view with just a turn of a head, but the trails from which she had come from were less than a day away.

Tail swaying casually, Missteri looked in the other directions for cover, spotting Pride Rock while squinting. She had never had a reason to go into the heart of the Pridelands, but knew its residents had ties to the Majabali pride. Her own bloodlines were not connected directly to either, but the feline wondered what it was like to be able to map most of your ancestry through the very land you lived in. A tinge of jealousy entered her; no wonder lions were so vain. These thoughts were interrupted by a very unexpected sight.

It was rare when she came in contact with those of her own kind. By nature, they were habitually more solitary than their other cat counterparts and preferred to keep their distance, unless in special circumstances. On the other hand, lions could be considered the real oddities instead, as far as social lifestyles were concerned. Anyways, it would have been a real treat for any onlooker, to see two of them, three counting her, in close proximity like this and in broad daylight.

[Daimu]

During that very moment, there were many questions desperately seeking answers.

The other two leopards Missteri has come to meet seemed to be standing their ground against each other. Pawprints were everywhere, even near the place where the old leopardess herself stood. The two males in front of her were snarling and growling at each other, as if they were both trying to scare the other one away.

This situation was far beyond any compromises. The scent of blood was painfully intense. The battle that was raging on was a fight to death. It was not usual for leopards. Not a single one of them wanted to get injured - in the wild wounds often meant a long and painful death.

But then, suddenly, one of the fighting males, despite all the blood on his fur, launched at his opponent fiercely. The strength of his blow threw him on the ground. She couldn't see what happened next, as the males disappeared in the bushes. The roar of pain and fear suddenly stopped.

And then the reign of silence began.

Nikolai could only fall. Struggling to breathe, he ended up laying just in front of the dead corpse of his brother. The taste of his blood he would never forget, as he closed his eyes, not even aware of what has just happened.

It was done. The last blow was like an exclamation mark, which has summed everything up. He gave a sigh. And that was how it has ended.