Animal Crackers

Jupiter wove lazily through the mostly hidden tar pits stopping only once in a great while when a particularly macabre scene demanded his attention. He was amazed by the things caught in nature's hot, sticky snares. Some beasts, with eyes glazed and fly covered, were still alive but not long for this world. A man of questionable intelligence though he may be, Jupiter knew better than to approach them. He took the scenes in, the apparent greed of the predators trapped close to their would-be prey, the desperation of the large prey animals scrabbling at firm ground, and went on his way. He could neither free those stuck - should he have wanted to - or eat from the tar's recent victims so there was no reason for him to stay and gawk. The only thing that would stop him was something of immense value. Even then he would be hesitant to approach.

Upon coming across a still living yearling puma who reached out to him with wide eyes, Jupiter simply tsked and shook his head. "Looks like you're up shit creek, buddy, and you ain't takin' me with ya." He wasn't going to stick his neck out for some dumb cat foolish enough to what, jump into a tar pit after a decaying springbok? No way, no how.

The cat, clearly a young thing, wailed at him in despair. Jupiter was unmoved. He wasn't sticking his neck out for what was a rival predator. Not that he would have been more likely to help a wolf either, but eh, details. Jupiter shrugged, "The best I can offer is to stick this," he motioned to a long, skinny stick, "Through one of your eyes and stir it around a bit." Provided the skinny stick didn't bend too much he thought he could give the cat a fairly quick death. "But that's my only offer so speak now, bub, or imma go about my business."

WC: 324

"Jupiter"   "Amadeus" ”You”