User blog:AdorableEspurr193/Ruby

I yawn in the shade of my den, in a small outcropping of rocks. My mother paces outside. We haven't caught much prey, but mother is still happy with what we have. My sister Lucky plays with a moss ball nearby. Mother once saw us playing with an antelope leg, and she was angry. Since then, we've only played with moss. I call to Lucky, and she freezes and leaps on me. I yelp excitedly, it's time for a new game. Lucky knaws on my ears and grips my shoulders. I claw at her and roll on top of her. Then we tumble and run about, jumping and clawing and mewling in delight. Mother looks back towards the den and purrs, happy that we are content.

Everything is right with the world, until a loud crunch rings through the trees.

Mother whirls around and lowers her head, growling low in her chest. I stop playing with Lucky and I back into a corner. Lucky whimpers and I signal to her to be quiet. Mother's ears flatten as a tall figure emerges from the trees.

I've never seen prey like this before.

''Go Mother! ''I think. ''Prey like this isn't too big. You can take it on!''

But Mother doesn't look ready to take it on.

More creatures come out behind the first. One has a long, black, shiny stick. One has a bunch of what looks like vines tied together, forming a square pattern. Mother backs away. One creature barks, and the one with the stick steps forward, shaking a little. I wonder how strong the creatures are. Maybe they haven't come to hurt us.

Mother's tail whips back and forth. She signals to us to hide as well as we can. I crouch in a shadowy corner with Lucky trembling beside me. Mother growls once, and then she leaps at the thing with the stick.

A loud noise booms through the forest.

My ears ring. I can't move. All I can do is stare in horror as Mother freezes mid jump and slowly collapses onto the dusty ground, blood leaking from her chest.