I Am Weary, Let Me Rest

So warm. How could it be this warm? Was it always so hot here or had she accidentally happened upon a new area that was experiencing an unusual heatwave? Whatever the case it had made her lazy, taking shelter beneath the intertwined branches of what she supposed was an oversized shrub. It was much large than what used to grow back home. Home. It was so strange to think that she was so far away from there, lost within this crazily warm territory. No, I'm not lost. That was right. How could Laila possibly be lost when she had no idea where she was going to begin with?

She was more than content to nap away until nightfall, to wait until the air cooled as much as it would before rising and beginning to find herself a quick meal to get her through the night. Amber eyes were half lidded as she flexed her claws restlessly, peering through the vegetation listlessly. Rounded ears turned, stopped, suddenly fixing upon a sound. Was that... Was something nearby? The lithe huntress's body tensed slightly even from where she lay, turning her head and staring as she tried to identify what it was that she had heard. Whatever it was scrounging around and rustling about was sure persistent. Quietly, each move made with care, the cougar pulled herself to a standing position, dark tail tip flickering slightly with anticipation. If it could be possible to find a quick meal so easily, she would have been a fool to pass it up.

Mindful of her movements, Laila crept forward, listening and watching and inching closer to the sound. Just a little further... Lowering her body, she sprang forward into a sprint, hearing the sound of scrambling little paws as well as spotting fragmented views of grey fur as the prey ran, swerving and racing...and running right into the path of another predator. Laila spotted the incredibly large cat before she could get close enough to endanger herself, and instantly her heart, which had been racing already from exertion, was racing from fright. Claws raking the ground, the startled cat drew to a swift, skidding stop. Her back end lowered and a paw raised defensively, her eyes narrowing as she bared her fangs with a noise somewhere between a growl and a hiss. "Stay back!" Goodness, if that was not the largest cat she had ever seen! Hastily, the shaken cougar retreated back a few steps, not daring to take her gaze from the large striped cat or allow her guard to slip. "I don't want trouble," she stated, tone still hard and defensive but mostly from fright. She did not know the intent of this cat here, and considering the incredible size difference she would have hated to get on his bad side.