Broken Pride

He was unaware of his stalker, at least not until the world became so eerily silent that it just felt wrong. He shortened his steps, blue eyes narrowing as the fur on the back of his neck started to stand on end. He remained quiet, ears slowly moving as he strained to listen for any sound around him. Carefully, he placed the deer on the ground so he could get a better smell of his surroundings, nostrils flaring as he tried to detect something other than the fresh kill he had. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, his head turning to try and catch whatever it was but the figure slipped behind the cover of the trees that adorned this place. A low growl began to rise in his chest, one that was almost quiet enough just for him to hear. He scanned his surroundings, paws turning him in a slow and careful circle to try and catch sight of whatever seemed to be watching him. He didn't smell anything and the lack of wind didn't help him either. The world had fallen silent and still, and it began to set him on edge a little bit. Whatever was watching him, he didn't like it...he didn't know what it was. Another wolf? A bird? Someone he knew?

"Alright," He muttered to himself, his irritation growing. "I know someone's there, show yourself!" He bellowed into the silence. His voice echoed around him, but no answer came. Eyes narrowed, ears flattening against his skull as that nagging, prickling feeling wouldn't go away. He wasn't about to just stand here all day waiting, either. So he decided to pick up his kill again and try to hurry out of there. He didn't get further than a few short steps before something came bursting out of the trees and crashed into his side, sending him rolling into the snow and forcing the air from his lungs on impact. Surprised and winded, he blinked his eyes open to see a cougar in front of him, a massive paw aimed directly at his face. Greed managed to wriggle away just in time as he clumsily got back on his feet, teeth bared as he instinctively snapped at the incoming paw. The cougar roared as his teeth closed over one of its toes, but it managed to yank itself free.

Greed squared off, his hackles bristling and teeth bared as the pair circled one another. He had tracked this kill for a good while and he didn't really feel like letting it go without a fight. The cougar no doubt, was hungry. Which was more than likely the cause on why it had decided to attack him for the easy meal. He circled back around until the deer carcass was behind him and the cougar was in front of him. He feigned a lunge towards the cougar, who in turn hissed and swiped at him. He waited for it to attack first, and when it did he was ready. The feline charged at him and Greed did the same. The pair collided with force, though the cougar had the upper hand. It swung its forelegs around to either side of his body, claws gripping and digging into his shoulders which caused him to yelp with pain. He swung his head towards the cougar's throat, aiming a bite at the side of its neck and shaking his head as much as he could. The cougar claws at him as it tried to bite his face, but he kept tucked close to the cougar's neck to avoid it as much as he could. When he felt his fangs puncture the cougar's skin, it roared and pulled away from him.

Narrowed blue eyes watched for a second as the cougar's right paw came swinging at him, and as he tried to turn his body away he felt claws slash across his left shoulder. A pained growl slipped from his jaws, and while he wanted to continue fighting he was beginning to feel the exhaustion from his previous trek. Panting, he growled and turned his body, following the cougar's movements as it circled him. His shoulder bled the lacerations left behind from the cougar burned. While he didn't want to leave his prey, he knew he wouldn't win. He couldn't chance to get severely injured out here so far from the others. Reluctantly he began to back off, teeth bared as he moved away. As the cougar hissed at him, Greed backed off and went back the way he came.

He was pissed that his kill had been stolen from him, but there was nothing he could do in his state of exhaustion without getting seriously injured, or worse. With a bleeding wound and his left foreleg held off the ground, he began his slow journey back to the mainland.