FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Four Years Ago

I padded slowly out the mouth of the cave into the open world. My big, striped form was greeted by the bright sun. Both my eyes squinted from the rays at first till I was in a spot where they didn't strike me, where the sun couldn't penetrate over the canopy. I stopped and stared at the sheer greenery. I took in the familiar sounds emitting from the jungle and the calm wind lightly brushing against me.

I took a deep whiff and let out all that collected air in my lungs through my jaws, my tail swishing behind me. The night hasn't arrived yet, which was great for me. I have woken up from a long nap inside the cave after my morning hunt. I don't mind napping during the day, but sometimes, and lately as in for the past two days now, I do sleep throughout the entire day without having much daytime, except in mornings. I felt happy I didn't sleep that much now. When it comes to hunting, when I'm HUNGRY, I don't like to hunt during the night. Makes some things hard to see for me. And most importantly, besides eating prey, I do hate what I'm probably missing during the day...Even though there's nothing much that I'm missing around here. It's all basically the same.

This part of the jungle is always the same.

A smirk formed across my lips. I guess I carried this silly trait all the way from my cub days to my grown ass self. My mother thought I wouldn't have this forever, cubs mostly have this problem, but apparently I still do. Maybe I will always be this way, worrying about what I'm missing...And curious about what's beyond where I live. That has been brought from my cub days as well.

I am fully grown into a beautiful, strong tigress, and sometimes still I want to just journey away from home...Just like my dad, and see what he has been seeing. But ever since I've grown big, I still haven't really left my home to explore great distances. I don't think I am THAT eager, not like I used to be. I giggled deeply when memories of me as an eager cub wanting to explore flowed inside my head like a river. I remember being bored by forcibly staying in the cave by my family cause I wasn't old enough to go off alone without a grownup, and look at me now. I don't want to leave!

I don't think I could now. There was no way I could leave my family behind. I think I would miss them.

I would miss my mother, my father, whenever he's home from his journeys, my grandma...

Sadness appeared within my eyes. I dipped my chin when I thought of this certain adult tiger. When I thought of his body laying lifeless on the ground. My grandpa...

It has been a while since he was gone...Since I found him lying dead thanks to...Man. But it still feels like it happened not too long ago. Like it was yesterday.

I miss him...I still miss him to death. More than my father when he's gone somewhere.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying not to build up any tears. But that's not the only thing I'm feeling about him.

I can feel...Guilt as well.

Oh, grandpa...

I'm so sorry...

"Prem?"

My eyes snapped wide open to the voice. Grandpa? At first I thought I heard him talking to me from somewhere, but then my mind swiftly realized that it was a female's voice. I quickly twisted my head to find that my mother had emerged from the cave as well. She woke up from her nap too apparently. Sheer disappointment coursed throughout my entire frame when laying eyes on her. No...It wasn't him. What am I thinking? Despite what I'm feeling, I smiled for her and replied, "Hi, mom."

Mom strode to stand beside me. She was smiling too and asking curiously, "What are you doing?"

I shook my head softly, "Nothing. I'm just...Standing here." I locked eyes towards the jungle, "Just staring at the jungle. I'm...Kinda thinking about going for another bite." That was true at the very least. I was getting kinda hungry.

And at least it'll take my mind off my grandpa again...

Mom offered, "Do you want me to come along?" She chuckled a bit as she went on, "I still have a few more pointers to give you for your hunting practice."

I giggled in reply, "No, mother. I don't need any more pointers. I've been doing just great for a long time now."

Then she said, "What, you don't wanna have a mother-daughter team? Not like it'd be the first time."

Oh, mom. I told her off a bit playfully, "Hey, that was then, before I knew the basics, and this is now. I'm good."

Mom simply stated, concern shone in her eyes, her front paw tentatively raised off the grass, "Well, even there are horrible mistakes. Someone's gotta look out for you. You are still my daughter."

I kinda figured she was still a bit overprotective of me, and I'm an adult. That was why she wasn't letting up with this. That wasn't new. But I know I can take care of myself. I know how to hunt well and fight back when I have to. Besides, she does KNOW that as well, and I've gotta hold my ground. I assured her, but also a bit stern about it, "Mom, I said I'll be fine. I'll be back safe and sound as usual before you know it." I was pacing towards the greenery while looking at her when I added without washing away a grin, "Who knows, I may bring back something for you and grandma. Well, IF I have anything for you guys. Alright? I'll be back later."

When I swiftly focused all my attention to the jungle when I entered it, mother hollered behind my shoulders, "Be careful, Prem!" I huffed a sigh as I padded further and further away from home. I do love my mom, but this was getting a bit annoying. Sometimes I wonder if grandma and grandpa, before he died, ever treated her that way even when she already grown up. Give me a break. Then my mind struck me a sympathetic thought. Then again, I shouldn't totally be annoyed. I can remember how sad she was when grandpa, her father, had left all of us in death.

I knew she didn't TOTALLY have a real reason to be so overprotective of me at first before he died, but now for a long time, she does. She just doesn't want to lose me too.

I can understand her feelings...Even it was the slightest bit annoying.

Then I can feel this twinge of guilt inside my chest. The thought also made me feel bad for her, and grandma...As always.

Oh...I'm so sorry.

You have no idea how much I am.

None of you guys do...

I continued to pace on this trail between all those big tall trees. I glanced upward. The canopy blocked the sky, leaving only glimpses of blue and rays in several spots. Every step my paws made, I closed my eyes for a moment and basked in the peaceful scenery, making me brush my thoughts aside. At least with this lone walk away from the cave, it helps me not to think about the past. My stomach growled a bit. And food will help me do that too...If I ever find it.

I opened my eyes and saw that I was strolling past bushes filled with pretty pink flowers. I smiled a bit as I strode by them. I always thought those things were beautiful. If only I actually knew what they were called. I heard birds tweeting high above. Then a minute later, a monkey shrieked from a long distance like something else had gotten it. That didn't bother me during this serene trek. It didn't bother me at all.

This was the jungle...Anything can be eaten out here.

As was I was going to do to something else.

I was glancing from side to side, scanning the environment for prey. I don't see anything around here. Then I found myself wandering off the trail finally after a little bit. Guess I'll head this way. My form advanced through some thick greenery till I got out of it and going through some space between me, tree and bush. I wandered through the jungle for a long time, getting a little impatient for the lack of a good meal.

My ear flicked when it heard something off to my far right. I snapped my whole body towards it, ready to confront anything. But I didn't see anything at all. I frowned. That was odd. I could've sworn I heard something. Actually, I also could've swore that something else was watching me from a distance. Quite honestly I've been feeling that way for some reason lately...Especially when I was hunting at night. I don't know why. It was pretty weird.

I shook my head out of this trance, sighing then moving on my way. Probably my imagination playing tricks on me. Then again though...I never felt this way before growing up around here. Not until recently.

What's going on with me? I don't know why I am feeling weird around here lately.

Finally, all that got swept away when I froze to a complete stop, finding something VERY GOOD standing in a small clearing from a great distance.

A water buffalo.

I grinned deviously, showing teeth. Oooooh...I haven't had one of those in a while. Perfect! Without taking my gaze off my potential prey, I moved around the area so its back was to me. When it still hadn't noticed anything was watching it, I was slowly carrying myself closer to it, trying not to make any slightest bit of sound. As I got about several inches behind it, I lowered my belly to the ground, my claws digging in dirt, ready to dash and take it down.

Then I rushed forward. The buffalo jerked its head at my direction. I roared and tackled it. Teeth and claws dug into its hide, earning crimson and cries of pain from the huge horned animal. It tried to fight back, with its horns and hooves, but I dodged its futile attempts. I was winning the battle here. Then finally my teeth pierced deep into its throat for the deadly blow. I can the taste the gushing blood into my mouth while the animal cried weakly and strained to fight back. It lasted a good minute till it gave out its dying breath, and at last lie motionless below me.

I finally turned loose of its neck, standing triumphantly over my prize. I swished my tongue across my lips. Heh...This was easy...As always. Time to eat.

And eat I did. My jaws tore through its flesh, tearing it off the bones. I satisfyingly snacked on the meat till my stomach had enough. I let out a sigh of satisfaction as I stared down at the partially eaten carcass. An idea popped up in my head. Well, there is plenty of more meat here. I guess I can drag this thing all the way back home to mom and nana. No need to waste good food. Yeah! I can do that. I haven't actually done that before. They'll be so impressed! And who knows, maybe mother will quit worrying about me so much. I huffed out, staring off at a direction. But first...I'll need to satisfy my thirst before I do any more hard work.

With that, I headed off to look for a river to drink off of. I shot a quick glance over my shoulder at the dead body before returning my gaze towards ahead. I trekked through the jungle for a little bit till I came across the river me and my family used time and time again whenever we wanted a drink. I bent down and had my long pink tongue lap at the liquid repeatedly until my thirst had disappeared as my hunger. After heaving out another satisfied sigh, I whirled around to return to my dead buffalo.

A triumphant, glorious thought ran through my mind as my paws carried me through the jungle once more, bringing me closer to where I had left it. All right...Time to drag this thing back to-

I came to around a corner, and my eyes went wide when I jerked to a stop. What the-?!

The body was gone.

My jaw dropped where I stood. My eyes blinked from being flabbergasted. Gone?! What in the world?! I moved myself closer to the spot where it once lay, inspecting it. There definitely is some blood there, but no body. It was definitely here.

I was growling loudly in anger, fury shone on my face as my tail lashed behind me. Someone took it! That son of a bitch!!! I was glancing around, trying to see if I can find the thief, but whatever, or whoever it was, was already gone. They didn't even leave behind a blood trail for me to follow.

Someone really covered their tracks.

I growled again, in defeat, even when I didn't want to be. Bastard.

Who did this? Huh? Who?

I'll get them for this...