Melinda's Bobcat Story
Melinda Maddolin
10-3-07
Snow had fallen, winter had set in. There was a hush over everything as nature settled in for another night. The moon was full and voluptuous, making the white powder that consumed everything seem to glow.
A shadow cast over the snow, shaped roughly like a large cat. The spotted animal paused as a bush ruffled in the distance, its ear twitched impatiently as it strained to hear. The bush rustled again, and the cat stood rigidly still, it’s nose twitching as it sniffed the fresh night air.
His yellow eyes narrowed and its body lowered, posing for a strike. In a split second the chase was off, a snow show hare bolted, hopping as fast as its small body would let it. The cat galloped after it, its ears set flat on his head. There was a sudden growl and a second cat jumped out of the bushes, pouncing on the hare with a single jump. The first Bobcat skidded to a halt; the invader ended the hare’s life with a single bite, and looked at him, her bright yellow eyes glowing in warning. She bared her fangs and let out a low growl, the male back up slowly, his ears flattened in an anxious and angry manner. The female had won.
She picked up her prize and started on her way back to her den, her small kits waiting for their nightly meal.
The male sat, his tail twitching in annoyance. The snow around him was disturbed and dribbled in crimson; the hunger in his belly only grew as he smelt the spilt blood of the prey. The bobcat stood slowly, and head hung, started back into his own territory he stopped at a large tree, and renewed his claim, carving the bark out with his claws leisurely. Then in one graceful movement, he hopped up, clinging to the bark and lazing on the first branch. He set his chin on his forepaws and looked out at the forest. There was a sudden crack, and a pained screech was let out as the bobcat fell from the low branch. Momentarily stunned, he laid on the snowy ground, a red puddle forming near his back leg.
Footsteps crunched on the snow and the animals ears flattened and he stood as best he could. Blood dripped down his rear leg as the footsteps approached, and in a split second, the cat was sprinting, running as fast as its wound would allow.
“Ah god Joey! You didn’t kill it!” A voice sounded in the distance, two men stood, watching the animal run, the silent one sent a glare at the older man and raised his shotgun once more, looking into the scope. He sent out a single shot.
The older man whistled through his front teeth, “Well…you just about scared every animal in a five mile radius away.”
Joey looked at his companion, “Let’s track ‘em, he won’t get far…”
“Track him? Are you insane?” The older man smacked him upside the head “We’re poaching you moron! Do you want to get caught tracking a wounded animal that you shot? An animal out of season? At night?”
Joey rubbed his head gingerly, “Fine. Let’s just go home then.”
The older man rolled his eyes and started tromping in a different direction, Joey paused, glancing at the trail of blood; he sighed and followed his father.
~
The animal let out a low whine as it licked the bullet wound gently, he set his head on the cold rock surface and let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes, another small whimper emitted from the small bobcat and slowly it drifted into a deep sleep.