Spring 54, 513
The wilderness surrounding Lhavit was thick and teeming with life. Recent rainfall brought on by the Spring weather had left dew drops behind, turning the forest into a maze of budding flowers and glistening rainbows. The mountain air was fresh, and just what Lyall had needed to feel rushing through his lungs. Lhavit was an inspiring city with its starry structures and majestic temples, but he had missed the simple, powerful beauty that nature wielded; It was unparalleled.
The tiger slipped easily between the trees, looking somewhat out of place with his shock of orange fur, and the dull brown pack locked between his formidable jaws. He'd run out of food a few days back, and the dull ache in the pit of his stomach served as an irritating reminder that he shouldn't have waited so long to go hunting.
He dropped his pack carelessly against the base of a tree, and slunk into the cover of the bushes, waiting for some unsuspecting prey to pass him by. He wasn't particularly fond of hunting birds, it had always seemed like to much energy to exert on something with so little meat stretched across its hollow bones. His nose wrinkled in distaste at the thought. He was craving something more satisfying.
Fortunately enough, it wasn't long before the sound of a large mammal trampling through the underbrush made itself known. Lyall's eyes lit up, and he slunk from the cover of his hiding spot, steadily closing the gap between himself and his prey. As he grew closer, he caught sight of a young elk grazing steadily on the vegetation. It had long, slender limbs covered in a thick brown coat. On the top of its head, were two small nubs where its antlers had begun to grow in once again.
Pleasantly surprised, Lyall made sure to remain hidden, tensing his muscles beneath him, and reveling in the untapped power he felt there. In one fluid motion, he sprung forwards, a streak of orange against the backdrop of trees. It didn't take long for the elk to catch wind of him and bolt, but it was too late. In one final burst of energy, Lyall leapt onto the animals side, dragging it down with his own immense weight, while simultaneously locating its' throat, and clamping down on the prominent jugular vein with a vice like bite.
The struggle couldn't have lasted long from there, but it felt like hours to Lyall, as each of the elks failed attempts to stand resulted in a powerful thrashing for him, and the taste of the blood flooding his mouth and staining his face intoxicated him, bringing his hunger to the front of his mind where it could no longer be ignored.
When it was over, and the elks heart quit on it in one final sputtering pulse, Lyall felt dazed. Despite the intense urge to drag the carcass somewhere more secluded, he rolled away from it, shifting in the process. His hands instantly found their way to his side, where his ribs had taken a beating. A very animalistic hiss escaped from between clenched teeth as his hands made contact with the injured area. He knew he should move, the scent of fresh blood combined with all of the noise the elk had produced in its final moments, was bound to attract other predators, but everything hurt so badly.
