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Year of the Tiger This was my year. I had not known it, but it was to be a good year. I was newly born to this world. Fresh from my mother's safe reach. I now wondered the jungles and plains in search of none other than life. I feed when I am hungry and I wander when I feel restless. This was my year. I had yet to truly make my first kill as a hunter. Before as always, I killed with my brethren. I have slain many creatures, but I did not yet know my own personal mastery until the first night of my year. I had slept in a tree all afternoon long. It was hot and sultry in the jungle. I had been traveling for days to reach better game in the mountains of the jungle. My eyes opened and I twitched my nose so the smells of the sultry jungle air. My nose twitched again. My eyes began to truly focus in the night light. The moon shown very dim through the jungle tree tops. I crawled from my tree to the ground. Thirst was upon me and I sought a sip of water. The air was crisper now and a cool breeze shook the branches. I crept quite, like always, through the jungle. My keen eyes saw all in front of me and my ears tuned to the sounds of crickets chirping. I wondered aimlessly until I found a watering hole. Seemed to be a simple pond, cut out in the forest. I crept around it before entering into the circle to expose myself. I kneeled to serve my thirst and began drinking. I licked the droplets of water from my mouth and began to turn from the pond, my eyes darted to the far side. There a full sized ram, whom had come to seek water. I crouched hard and deep. This was my year. He was large but so was I. He'll be fast through the jungle. I am just as fast. I could take him. I knew something was different. Something was not the same about this night of the new year, my year. Boom! My heart thudded as I leapt after him! One bound and I was half the distance toward him. But he felt me coming. The game was on. I was to pursue until no end but bloodshed. My legs carried my swiftly toward my prey. We weaved through the jungle trees and through the shrubs. I caught hold of him with my deadly weapons, like razors my claws ruptured his hind-quarter's flesh. I drew blood, but he was to serve his own blow. He jerked forward only to rear and kick my right shoulder, stunning me. He was off again, but he did not know, this was my year. I leapt up after only a few seconds. I was in hot pursuit of him. I was not conflicted with thought now. Only the image of my claws at his head and teeth at his throat. I moved quickly. I cut clean. I was upon him. This was my year. This was my kill. I leapt after him. Faster now, the jungle began to blur and all I could see was in front of me. We came upon a stump. He jumped over it, while I jumped on it to over leap him. I leapt. He was right under me when I reached out to snag his head with my now talon like claws striking from above. I grabbed his head and threw him over me in a summer-sault. He smashed into a crumpled pile on the ground. He was mine. It was my year, the year of the tiger. Ever sense that kill I have hunted well and fed great. I am a master of my ways, a beast killer. I have slain many and feasted upon their flesh while roaming the jungle. I am a tiger. That was my year! Hnoss | |