Eye of the Tiger

The tiger waited silently, his prey nearby.

His muscles rippled underneath his orange pelt, every movement carefully calculated,
controlled. The shadows of palm trees and nearby bushes provided a perfect means of
camouflage to the experienced tiger, leaving him completely unseen to the antelope
grazing in the small sunlit clearing.
As he prepared to pounce, his muscles tightened in anticipation. He shifted his weight to
his back paws, giving them just the right amount of tension to make the fatal leap.
Suddenly, a brief flash of reflected light broke his concentration. He flicked his tail in
annoyance. Only the eyes of another tiger could catch the light that way.
Get off my territory. he growled silently, so as to not disturb his prey.
Territories were clearly defined and seldom overlapped. It was an unspoken taboo to
cross over unless invited.
I wouldnt do that if I were you, a lilting voice answered.
He grunted in recognition as a small tigress immerged from the surrounding shadows.
As tigers went, she wasnt particularly attractive. The orange of her pelt was considerably
discoloured and held loosely around her body. A scar ran from her nose to the left ear,
leaving her face somewhat disfigured. Nor did she seem to make up for it with strength or
any particular skill. Yet there was no denying that she had a bizarre way of getting exactly
what she wanted, from whomever she wanted.
And why in the world should I give up a decent meal? He flashed open his claws. I
could give you another scar. Make that face symmetrical. Ill tell you one more time. Get
off. Now.
She casually brushed aside the threat and strolled teasingly around him.
It just so happens that I know something you dont
Really? he asked sceptically, and what would that be?
She grinned, revealing her most flattering feature a row of deadly white teeth.
Theres a hunter over there.
He turned reluctantly and strained his eyes to see the other side of the clearing. Sure
enough, there was the awkward form of a human hunter. He cursed silently under his
breath, for not having seen it beforehand. Had he jumped into view he would have been
as good as dead.
Both tigers twitched slightly as the hunters gun went off, leaving the antelope slumped in
the centre of the clearing.
Just thought you might want to know.
She turned smugly and disappeared as quickly as she had come.
He didnt try to stop her to say thank you. He was too proud for that. He would give her
what she wanted later.
He owed her, and she wouldnt let him forget.
But at the moment he was hungry. He had another meal to track down.