Current location:	my room, as usual when typing here
Current mood:	tired
Entry tags:	ice leopard

Ice Leopard entry 3
Another couple chapters are edited and ready to post. I hope those that are reading enjoy them. If you can, give me some feedback. I appreciate it. I'd like to give shout-outs to snowwolfmystic for the inspiration she provided for this story. I never could write about such things so well without her help, even if she doesn't know she provides it. I'd also like to thank cwtyger as he's been the number one source of motivation I've had to write. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't even know about National Novel Writing Month. That's the thing that's gotten me to not only write novels, but to finish one a couple years ago. I hope to finish this one, also. Thanks for the help you guys. Inspiration is a great gift to any artist of any kind.



Chapter 4: Rescue


Time was not something perceivable during his expedition away from their den. In the blizzard he’d been lead a distance further than he’d realized, and the journey back was similarly imperceptible. It was over in a flash and at the same time took eons. Whatever the true time, Orion only knew that he’d been gone too long. His parents were sure to worry.
He wasn’t too far from home when he noticed something off to his left, an irregular mound in the snow. A small rock pile beside a hill caused snow to drift nearby making it nearly invisible at the edge of that drift. Normally, it might have been overlooked, but he’d changed since he’d left. A lot had changed, and it just kept changing. He was different, if only in his mind.
So he made his way over to investigate, the wind and snow still churning and making it a tedious task for any. Perhaps he was finally feeling fatigue, but it seemed more like he glided through the winter as before, another element of the weather. Before he knew it, he was upon the source of his curiosity. Nosing at the mound, he noticed tufts of fur. It smelled familiar even in the frigid air and caked with snow as it was. He sniffed some more as horror struck him, and he immediately began digging. A snow leopard cub of his months is not nearly the size of an adult. His paws just weren’t big enough to move much snow. Ears back, lungs heaving, he scrambled to dig them free. It was a monumental task. Shock turned to terror, pure fear paired with concern. He had to get them out! All around him the wind continued to whirl and the snow kept on blowing making it all the harder for him to succeed in his task.
When hope began to leave him, he couldn’t even find either of his parents’ heads, it was then that he stilled and stood there panting. A calm came over him, peaceful and serene. His eyes lighted with the same sparkle they’d picked up after his dream, though now it shone brighter. Suddenly, everything was quiet. The storm went on everywhere but in their small circumference. He stepped forward again and resumed digging. It didn’t take as long now for him to find where their heads were. First, his father’s was exposed, and then his mothers. They weren’t moving though, unconscious. Eyes widened only slightly, the snow leopard cub proceeding with his excavation.
Taking time to interpret the situation and what was best to do next, Orion paused in thought. Neither showed anymore signs of life than the occasional movement caused by breathing, and those were shallow. His ears flicked while he considered. Knowledge was there within him, he knew it was. He just had to remember. With persistence he fretted over how to get them to safety. It was still too cold out there even if they were shielded from the worst of the weather. Almost as if by instinct he lifted first one forepaw and then the other, placing them on his mother and father’s snow covered, furry bodies.
The haze of his mind cleared similarly to how the blizzard which obscured the mountain range from his vision had disappeared to allow him to see before. He breathed in slowly, ears canted as he concentrated. No sounds of storm penetrated their bubble. Neither did he feel isolated. Instead, everything felt connected and safe even out in the open. However, he would not feel truly safe until his parents were all right. With an exhalation to match the patience of the breath he took, Orion sensed the world change. His world, that is. Both Jallot and Illyria opened their eyes and looked up blearily, and he knew that everything was all right again. Never would he be whole without them. Fortunately, he wasn’t given the time to think along this dangerous train of thought.
His father chose that moment to speak, “Son, where are we?”
Before he could answer him, his mother asked weakly, “Orion, are you all right?” He nodded but didn’t say anything at first. She tried to raise herself to her paws but struggled to do even that. Limbs trembled and collapsed. He hated seeing her so vulnerable. She’d always been immortal to him, as all children see their parents when so young and innocent. “Why did you leave like that?” Her second question struck him, but he could not easily explain it to her.
“I had to take a walk.” He replied. It was the best truth he could give her.
“But why?” His father stumbled to his paws beside his mother. If it hurt him to see his mom, not just mother but mom, momma, gentle caretaker, security, warmth and love, like this, then it killed him to see his always strong and noble father, dad, mentor, protector, provider, teacher...idol in such a state. He quivered inside and fortified his soul to withstand what he didn’t want to face.
“It was just something I had to do.” He knew as he said it that it didn’t tell them what they wanted to know, nor did it make up for what he’d done. He’d almost gotten them killed. It might have been to fulfill some destiny, but he could never forgive himself for this. If it were not for the ever-present pull to follow what had taken hold of his heart, he’d have denounced it right then and there. He did not, and so his story took a very different course than it might have. Not that one like Orion can ever really denounce the truth. They might ignore it, but one day they would have to deal with it no matter how they felt. Such was destiny.
Illyria looked her son in the eyes for a long time, and then turned her sight down so she could concentrate on standing. Her mate also locked his gaze on Orion’s blue eyes. He was already standing, ears half back. They twitched and lifted, and he shook himself, barely maintaining his balance.
“Come, we should get back.” Orion said simply, turning to go. They gave each other a curious look before following, making no further comment on their way back to their den.


Chapter 5: Predator and Prey


Days after his quest into the blizzard, Orion walked along side his father on a hunting trip. He was teaching him how to track their various species of prey, and more importantly, how not to give one’s self away. This time Jallot did not overlook teaching his son the concept of remaining downwind. The storm that nearly killed him and his mate had left the world blanketed in snow so deep and soft that paws sunk and slowed movement. The day was clear enough though, and so far the travel hadn’t been too bad. A gentle breeze, crisp and reminding one of what season it was, ruffled their fur. The ice hadn’t melted from the trees. It was just too cold. So the chimes of branches sounded, the few which remained that could touch in the wind after the weather had stripped the trees of most others.
A crash in the distance had both felines tensing. Then their fur settled, and they continued on their way. The prey was out here and there, but most was still tucked away this far up in the mountains. Hares, they were a staple of their diet as of late. So far this day they’d only found trails, a glimpse or two of a hare perhaps, but nothing more. Ibex weren’t around. They needed large prey. The weather had been harsh on them. Small animals just weren’t enough to sustain the three of them.
“Dad, where are the sheep?” Orion ventured as he padded beside him.
“I don’t know son.” Jallot replied, his voice soft. “Remember, don’t speak so loudly, son.”
The cub’s ears flattened, and he hesitated to respond, “I’ll remember.” He so wanted to prove himself to his father.
Their conversation was cut short when a huffing sound up ahead. What luck, it was almost directly in their path. Fortunately, it was making enough noise to alert them before they gave themselves away. They were on the southwest of the wind and could just barely sniff a hint of their quarry’s scent. It might have gone unnoticed even had the blue sheep, as Jallot recognized it from the smell, been quieter.
A silent signal in the form of an ear twitch here, a tail weave there, let Orion know how his father wanted to play this. The terrain was rocky, covered in snow, and less than easy to move swiftly over in pursuit of prey. This very fact was what had led their unlucky victim to its imminent doom. When the two snow leopards came up over the rocks that kept them from its sight, ears flat, crouching against the ground so as not to give the sheep anymore chance of spotting them than they had to, they discovered its plight. A hoof was caught in some rocks, sunk through some soft snow that hid the gap. It still had not seen them, and the wind was cooperating by not switching direction and giving their scent away.
Orion looked to his father, eyes questioning. In his body language he was asking his father if that was why it was making so much noise. The adult snow leopard swiveled an ear and rolled his shoulders, readying to make his move. That was answer enough, telling the cub that yes, it was caught and was being foolishly loud as it tried to pull itself free. This was the perfect opportunity to get themselves the food they’d been dearly missing. Then he paused, glancing at his son with a peculiar expression before gesturing with a movement of an ear toward the sheep for him to go.
The young snow leopard was reluctant, unsure of his skills as a hunter and afraid he’d mess up if he tried to do this alone. Jallot stared into his eyes with stern resolve. It was enough to get Orion over his hesitation. Slowly, he slinked over the rocks into full view of the sheep. His coat hid him well though, camouflaging him so that one would have to know what they were looking for to see him, and then they still might not notice until it was too late. He was hoping this would be the case now.
He was within fifteen feet of his prey, his movements deliberate and measured. It appeared that there would be no trouble. He could leap up and clamp his jaws on its throat before it even knew he was there, and then just hold on until it succumbed to suffocation. It should work. There was no way it could resist with its hoof trapped like it was. Orion told himself this, bolstering himself for the final plunge. He’d killed hares and other small animals, but this would be his first big kill. Excitement warred with anxiousness within him, and somehow he willed his ears and tail not to reflect his mood as they usually did. One stray twitch might reveal his location before he was ready. Even if the sheep didn’t tear itself free in panic, it might become difficult to overcome. No need to make a hunt more difficult than it need be. That was another rule his father had taught him. Following everything he knew about hunting, he was sure it would work out now. He was closing on it. Just another step or two, and he could make his move.
“Who’s there?” Someone said. His ears perked against his will. There was only the sheep in front of him. Could it have been it that had spoken to him? “What do you want?” He heard the voice again. It was the sheep. He was sure of it. Did it really know he was there?
“Are you going to eat me?” Now he knew it saw him. Its eyes were directly on him, camouflage or no. Orion didn’t want to answer. He just wanted to get this over with, have himself a big meal, and enjoy the praise of his parents on another hunt well done. This was definitely not in the agenda.
“Please, don’t kill me.” There was pleading in the voice. His ears flattened against his skull. He didn’t want to hear it. He’d not said anything in reply so perhaps it didn’t know exactly where he was. It might just be guessing. Did he make enough noise as he approached for it to have noticed and picked him out from that alone? No, it couldn’t be... He wasn’t so sure. Paws were silent on the snow. He couldn’t even hear but a soft, muffled allusion of a sound when he stepped. Somehow it had noticed him. That’s for sure.
“Are you just going to ignore me and kill me then?” The sheep’s tone turned forlorn.
“No.” He figured he might as well just give in and talk to it. Besides, he was curious.
“How eloquent you are.” It replied, still staring at him even though he should have been invisible. Just how did this thing see him anyway? That is, if it really was looking at him all along. If it had its suspicions that someone was where it was looking, then now it knew for certain. He’d given it that much when he responded.
“Hey, if you’re just going to insult me...” The cub warned, feeling insulted, and by a prey species!
“All right, I apologize. But you must admit, you are being rather rude.” The sheep was quick to tell him. It didn’t fear for its life enough to stop insulting him though.
“Why are you talking to me?” Orion asked, his curiosity continuing to distract him from his purpose.
“Well, why not?” It replied in question.
“I...” He couldn’t quite get it out.
“Go ahead. You’ve got something to say. Say it. Or just get it over with already. I don’t want to stand here all day with only a mumbling fool to talk to.” His ‘prey’ told him in what he recognized as a superior tone. Arrogant, was it?
It was enough to give him the courage to speak. “I’m supposed to eat you.”
“Oh, are you now?” The sheep looked amused.
“Yes.” The cub said, his ears starting to fold once again.
“Hungry, are you?” It asked. He couldn’t tell if it really was curious or just toying with him.
“Yes.” Orion told him.
“Well, I’m hungry also. Does that mean I should eat you?” It gave him a pointed look.
“No, that would be silly. Sheep don’t eat snow leopards.” He replied with a mixture of laughter and scrutiny. Just what was this sheep up to anyhow?
“Then why must snow leopards eat sheep?” It asked of him without changing the intensity of its gaze upon him.
“Because we must. We eat meat. It’s just how we are made.” Orion tried his best to explain.
“Why not eat something else?” It pressed.
“Another animal? Would you sacrifice another to save yourself?” If only he knew where it was leading with all of this.
“Well, perhaps. What I meant though was why don’t you eat some plants?” It elaborated.
“Snow leopards can’t live on plants, silly!” He had to try hard not to laugh out loud at this.
“I don’t see why not.” The sheep seemed put out.
“We just can’t. That’s how things are.” Orion said matter of factly.
“Plants are very good and filling. You should try them.” It went on, ignoring his argument.
“We can eat them a little from time to time if we have to, but we can’t live on them.” As a cub he just didn’t know how to win at this. At the same time he wondered why he was even trying. Debating what a snow leopard should or should not eat with a blue sheep when he should be eating it. What had gotten into him? And what must his father, who was undoubtedly watching him, be thinking?
“Ah, there, you just said it.” The sheep’s ears twitched.
“What? What’d I say?” Orion was truly perplexed.
“You can eat plants. You just choose not to.” It thought it had scored a victory.
The snow leopard was getting irritated by now. His ears perked high, and he said with full conviction, “No, we eat what we must because we must. It’s as simple as that.”
“You did say you can eat plants.” The sheep reminded him.
“We only can eat them some.” Orion amended.
“I suggest you eat them all the time.” His foe said smartly.
“We can’t!” The cub objected
“And why is that?” The sheep’s ears swiveled forward.
“Because we must eat meat.” Orion answered.
“Why only meat?” The lordly sheep inquired.
“It’s the only way we can survive.” Orion finally got to the root of the question causing his prey’s expression to change.
“There, was that so difficult?” It asked him.
“Why’d you bother with this crazy conversation if you knew that all along?” The snow leopard demanded, his tail lashing in aggravation.
“Because I wanted to be sure that you understood it.” And it really sounded like it meant what it said.
“Why do you care what I understand?” Orion couldn’t help but ask.
“If I am to die, I at least want the one who kills and feeds on my flesh to know the truth behind what he does beyond simple instinct. We are more than we know we are, young one. Remember that. Never let yourself become instinct alone. That is folly.” It explained with truthfulness to what it said that could not be ignored.
“I don’t want to kill you.” Orion told him after a short silence.
“You are a feline of conviction. You proved that already when we debated. I am ready to die if what must be must be.” It replied solemnly.
Orion didn’t say anything in response to that. Instead, he moved toward the sheep. It thought itself dead at this point. When the young cat began nosing at its hoof, it looked lost.
“What are you...” It didn’t get a chance to finish the question.
“Just a sec.” Orion told him. And then with a gentle pressing on a rock with both his forepaws the sheep’s hoof was free. It pulled it out and eyed him suspiciously.
“Why?” Its ears flicked in bewilderment.
“Go.” Orion said as the only form of answer. The sheep stared at him a moment longer and then dashed off, miraculously not getting its hooves stuck in anymore crevices hidden in the snow covered rocks.
When it was just at the edge of a ridge and about to drop down and out of sight it, turned its head and called back, “I won’t forget this.” Then it was gone.
Orion plodded back to where his father was with dread. He’d let him down. How would he ever live with the shame? When he arrived where he’d left his dad, he couldn’t bring himself to look up.
Jallot was the one to speak first. “That, my son, is why we don’t talk to our prey.”
“I’m sorry. Are you mad?” Orion asked with worry in his eyes.
“No, it was a lesson that you needed to learn.” His father replied, standing.
“I really am sorry.” His son told him with sincerity.
“I know. It’s okay. We’ll just have to find something else for dinner.” Jallot notified him with not a hint of disappointment in his words.
“And if we can’t?” His ears perked and then fell as he looked at his father.
“Then you will know further hunger and the truth of what you told that sheep about our survival.” Jallot replied in a stern yet not unsympathetic tone. “As well as you will know the hunger of your family and responsibility in providing for them.”
“I understand.” Orion told him sadly.
They didn’t walk into their den that night empty-muzzled. Each carried a hare, allowing them to eat that night. As a further lesson to his son Jallot did not allow him to eat. His mother was not happy with the idea, but she understood her mate’s reasoning and went along with it. So Orion went hungry, and he learned well. Perhaps he had a hint of memory of how things once were though, when death was not required to promote the life of another.