Fun Fact: Though black panthers are often thought of as a separate species, they're actually leopards (in Africa) or jaguars (in the Americas) with a rare genetic trait called melanism, which gives them their dark coats. In certain light, faint rosette patterns can still be seen under their black fur.
Since their first hunt, the adolescent cubs had participated in more, the initial shock of gore slowly molding into ambition and love for the game. It was exhilarating, the rush, the fail and rare wins. They'd been trying their claws and tactics on smaller creatures around the den. Giant squirrels, lizard and moles had become the common training muppets.
And spearheading this project was none other than, Tobey. He didn't force them to follow his lead, but the fifteen odd siblings had kept an eye out for him and his antics ever since he tipped the scale for them on the first hunt. And on one particular morning, some had spotted him chase around a squirrel. Within no time, more heads had popped from the den to watch as the rodent toyed with him.
Not knowing better, the squirrel chose not to escape, but rather, mock the predestined King of the Savannah. It had mainatained speed until the miniature lion almost tasted its bushy tail before suddenly taking a swerve and cackle as Tobey failed to adjust his momentum.
More than once, he'd tumbled across the dusty ground. But his indomitable spirit kept ablaze! This was no game, but a form of training to him. Tobey knew he'd meet evasive prey when he became older, the likes of antelopes, gazelles and deer would make him run for his money. Grasping the tactics while young was the best course of action, and what better training partner than the hyper little bastard?
Grrrr~
Another failure had him rolling on the ground once more, nonetheless, he rose, his coat dusty. As he spat out sand, his eyes locked in on the slightly–larger–than usual squirrel and with a chirp, Tobey leapt into the game of cat and mouse.
The other cubs were riled up every time Tobey almost nibbled at the tail. And they watched his every move with fervent gazes, the only thing restricting them from joining in on the frey, was Zyphros' tentative gaze. She had a feeling that Tobey wouldn't appreciate any distraction, he was so focused on his game that it actually resembled a hunt. He applied the lionesses' movements while advancing on prey.
She glanced over at Ayden and Radi, only to realize that the sisters were focused on the scene. Shocking of all was Radi, Zyphros could literally taste the anticipation in the air, impatience was oozing off of her figure in tidal waves. But she kept still, reigning in her childish instincts so as to try and learn something from Tobey.
At the end of the day, Tobey, despite not having captured his prey, had left his markings on it. The squirrel hadn't escaped scot–free from the play hunt either. Its tail had almost been bit off! It now lay loosely, broken in half. Sooner rather than later, it would surely meet its end, with a busted tail, surviving had gotten leagues harder!
°°° °°°° °°°°
It was a lazy afternoon, and a hefty meal had dictated a general nap time for the big cats. The lionesses were sprawled outside the den, with the sub–adults being the only clique to remain inside.
The air was heavy with heat, buzzing with flies and the soft hum of distant cicadas. Dust clung to the fur of the sleeping pride, their flanks rising and falling in slow unison. Cubs lay in untidy piles, paws twitching in dreams, tails flicking against each other's ears.
Tobey was restless. His eyes blinked open against the glare, golden lashes catching the sun. He rose quietly, careful not to wake the others, and padded toward the edge of the den. Zyphros' ear twitched and she raised an alert head, eyes immediately homing in on Tobey. He wasn't there! Fully awake now, she leapt from in–between the two sisters, rousing them from sleep as well.
After a unified sweep of the area, the trio finally found him. He'd propped himself on a crooked tree just a few yards away from the pride. Relief washed over Zyphros, and they padded toward him. Truthfully, Tobey was the only one amongst the siblings and even the lionesses, who willingly climbed trees. He'd been doing it since infanthood, and now, he was so proficient at it that he could adeptly run up a tree trunk!
Tobey stirred awake from his unfocused stare into the horizon, and stared down at the three musketeers attempting and failing to claw up the tree. He scoffed, and they glared up at him, Radi's eyes burned with rivalry and tried harder. She actually stepped back to gather momentum to leap up the trunk, her claws caught true and firm on the bark and she smirked at Tobey!
'Hehe~ Radi is often misunderstood, her playful nature tends to categorize her as an idiot. But amongst the three, she is the most adaptable!'
Tobey turned his gaze to Radi's sister. She was clawing her way up the trunk below him, her small body jerking and slipping against the bark. Each scramble ended the same, a squeak, a fall onto her back, and a puff of dust rising around her. The stumbles only sharpened her temper. With a growl, she would launch right back at it, claws scratching, tail lashing.
But Tobey noticed something else. With every slip came a change , a paw placed differently, a shift of her weight, a quicker spring. Ayden was learning as she climbed, taking feedback from the tree itself and applying it before she even hit the ground again. It wasn't clean skill, not yet. It was raw instinct hardening into talent, visible in every stubborn leap upward.
Now, rather than advancing in a vertical trajectory, she clawed her way up diagonally, zigzagging along the trunk like a furred serpent!
'At times, I wonder if these girls carry transcendent souls of their own. Ayden, with her short fuse, seems the type who would explode in rage and charge back up the trunk, bulldozing through the same mistakes. Yet, unlike when we were younger, she now bends that fury into fuel, sharpening her instincts, driving her mind sharper with every outburst.'
Turning to the last participant, Tobey tilted his head in curiosity. Zyphros hadn't moved an inch, she just watched the two progress smoothly, after confirming that they wouldn't be falling off anymore, she nodded and suddenly turned her attention to Tobey.
Silver eyes met amber. Zyphros' pupils enlarged, consuming most of the silver and Tobey felt a shiver up his spine. Without tearing her gaze off of him, she walked over to the tree, and not breaking stride, proceeded to climb up the trunk as though she were on a stroll!
'What the heck!?'
Zyphros easily by–passed Radi, then smoothly weaved around Ayden and got to Tobey first. She purred as she walked along the branch he was on, smirking at his gobsmacked expression. Unbeknownst to Tobey, she had been mirroring his every move, and due to him having gotten used to her presence, Zyphros had quite literally melded into his shadow. If he did something new, she practiced the hardest in the shadows and made it a vow that she'd not be the one to hold him back!
Tobey shifted closer, brushing against her side until their fur mingled. He coiled his tail gently around hers, a soft knot of warmth and congratulations. For a heartbeat, the world stilled around them. Her panting eased, her small body relaxing against his as though she finally allowed herself to rest. Claws still tingled from the climb, yet in that closeness, none of it mattered.
Tobey re–evaluated her in his mind, of the three, Zyphros was the calmest and had an invisible presence to her. Moreover, her thought process far exceeded a cub's. She'd sacrificed the typical instincts a cub possessed for a calmer, observant mind!
Ayden arrived next, Radi in tow, puffing and pissed at how easily the last racer had overtaken them. Ayden's claws were still unsheathed, for the sake of caution, Tobey stepped forward and congratulated them too. Ayden huffed a pout but didn't back away from his caressing.
Just as tranquility settled amognst the leaves, Tobey felt the fur along his spine rise on end. Swiftly, he swerved, turning his back toward the girls, almoat shoving them off the branch. He growled at the tall grasses, the sun was on its way to the other side of the world, shadows reigned supreme.
But his eyes itched for some reason, he felt his pupils elongate into slits as he watched the grass below him. He was on edge, the others understood this and despite not knowing the cause of such, they switched into overdrive as well, lips curled back revealing rows of teeth.
Tobey growled deep, etching his intent to the visitor. They knew they were there, no use in playing the waiting game anymore.
A moment passed and nothing happened, the four still didn't let their guard down, and when it seemed as though this staring contest would stretch for an eternity, there was finally movement amidst the tall grass. They swayed as the creature within stepped forward, and Tobey couldn't withhold the gasp at the sight!