The Pack : Prey Vs Predator

by Adams R. Young

  “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.

  All of a sudden, his neck held a set of jaws. They sunk deep within as his loud bellow filled the dark void of the night. He helplessly kicked, trying to shake him off. Edgar held on, as William grew weaker. He slowly faded as his muscles cramped from the weight. Desperate, he drove himself into the tree as Edgar still held on. He rammed him head first, and he finally let go of his throat. Blood trickled down his sore neck as he stumbled away. He still managed to hold himself off the ground, but his feeble legs shook from under him. He mustered all the anger and hate he had left and dragged himself over. Edgar still laid there, groaning in pain. He noticed William standing next to him and appealed to his noble nature.

  “Let’s make a deal. Let me live and I’ll go away. I won’t bother you ever again.”

  “It’s over Edgar, no more deals.”

  William was fed up with his smart talk. He slowly and painfully lifted his front legs with every strength left. He mustered his agility and endured all that pain coursing through him. It was all for a single hope that he would finally end the tyranny’s reign of terror.

  “W...w...w…wait…wait…wait…William…wait!” He made one final plea, but the words escaped him.

  Suddenly, he heard a faint shriek emanating from the woods. A shriek he was well familiar with.

  “Kelly!” He sighed, his mind imagining every possible scenario.

  He turned around with his heart set on her. He tried sprinting off to her rescue but Edgar cleverly tripped him. He now stood on top of his weak and motionless body and wasted no time ripping his face off with his bare claws. A red river washed down the slope as he laid next to it. He could hardly breathe. He listened to every scream for help she made, knowing how helpless he was to save her. The torture alone was unbearable enough to bring a tear to his eyes. With one final strike, Edgar viciously put an end to his misery. He ripped his throat with his bare teeth and forced it out of its socket. Blood profusely gushed out of control as he slowly faded away. His heart slowed down and he lost all his senses.

  With his head tilted to the side, he stretched out his hand and uttered one last thought, “Am sorry.”

  Edgar stood over him and watched him fade away. He then turned around and walked away, leaving his lifeless body in the hands of mother nature. With a mischievous smile plastered across his face, he disappeared into the forest. From a distance, William laid peacefully underneath that umbrella tree. Lightning brightened the sky one last time and the clouds finally cleared up. The moon shone its bright light down on him, and through it, his spirit rose to the heavens.

  Kelly still writhed in pain as she hopelessly laid there. The jaguars had done much damage to her and left her for dead in the middle of the woods. Zafeen crawled out of his hiding spot and came running to her side. He tried as hard as he could to wipe off that explicit horror from his mind.

  “Zafeen,” she took notice of him, “What are you still doing here?”

  “I couldn’t leave you behind. Dad wouldn’t have wanted me to.”

  “You can’t stay here,” she coughed, struggling in between words, “Please go.”

  “Mum?” He worried.

  “I’ll be okay sweetie. I promise.”

  “Mum?”

  Her fragile heart suddenly gave out to the agony of the broken ribs and damaged lungs. He laid closer to her and sobbed, crying his heart out. He took her motionless arms and wrapped them around him. For a while, he laid cozied up in her arms, letting the world pass him by. That’s when he heard the faint chatter and laughter of the jaguars. This tore him in two, for he couldn’t decide whether to leave her or not. He knew that crossing the border was the only way he would finally be safe. He reluctantly stood up and took one last glimpse of her, before hastily dashing through the forest. He ran as fast as he could until he bumped himself into a young antelope. He was carrying a piece of a leafy stem. Zafeen still heavily breathed while his heart paced. He moved back and stood across from him. He then noticed two more a few steps ahead. They stopped and came back to see what the commotion was all about. To their surprise, they glanced down at an image long forgotten. Zafeen just stood there and felt out of place. He was so embarrassed that he sought to run away from their piercing stares.

  “Whoa!” He gasped and stopped him in his tracks. “Calm down.”

  Zafeen still gruntingly pushed on, trying to escape his grip.

  “It’s okay,” she lent a hand.

  Zafeen reluctantly calmed down and shied away from their gaze.

  “Where are you from little one?” He politely asked.

  “The border,” he softly replied.

  “That explains it.”

  He addressed the matter over to his companion. Zafeen then slowly lifted his head and came face to face with the young antelope. He tilted his head to the side and the fawn copied his every movement. He curiously stared back at him.

  “Where are your parents?” He resumed.

  Zafeen’s heart suddenly skipped a beat as he vividly recalled every single excruciating detail. He once again looked away as tears watered his eyes.

  “It’s okay, you’re safe now.” She blindly read the expression on his face.

  “My name is Anther,” he introduced himself and his family, “This is my wife Cathy and my son Varn.”

  “What’s your name?” She asked.

  “Zafeen.”

  “Well Zafeen, how would you like to join us for dinner? You look like you’re starving.”

  He arguably wanted to reject their offer, but his rumbling tummy made it harder for him to make his case.

  “Come on buddy, let’s get out of here bef
ore it starts raining again.” He instructed.

  “You too Zafeen,” she added.

  With large chunks of leaves on their backs, they led the way as the two fawns followed in the back.