Prologue - Book series name still considering

The elegant animal moved almost effortlessly through the lush jungle, navigating expertly between thick undergrowth underpaw and oppressing trees in the canopy that blocked out the sunlight, and the rare watery shaft of sunlight was appreciated by the animal. It was almost gliding above the ground as it moved with confidence, putting one paw in front of the other. It was silently stalking its next meal, a monkey. While its paws did the work as it dodged twigs and roots, its eyes tracked the monkey's movement above in the trees, as the lanky mammal swung from branch to branch, gleefully hooting, unawares of it's stealthy stalker.

The leopard's muscles rippled under its sleek, richly spotted fur as it finally halted its movement at the base of a sturdy, yet imposing tree. It bunched its muscles and sprang, easily digging its claws into the bark, and ever so cautiously, it clambered up to the top of the tree. Now the chirping of the birds was disrupted - as if they sensed a predatory presence nearby. As the leopard stepped onto a branch, the birds took flight, and alerted the monkey. The gleeful hoots swung to terrified, piercing screeches, and the leopard flattened her ears as the monkey took off. Curling her lip, the leopard sprang from branch to branch, all caution forgotten.

As the leopard gave chase, her flailing hind paw caught a rotten branch and it snapped, falling to the ground. It threw the leopard off balance, and letting out a throaty growl of frustration, the leopard plummeted to the ground, her prey out of sight. Ignoring the pangs of hunger that gnawed at her belly like desperate, hungry maggots, the leopard slunk low to the ground, scoping out her prey's location. This was a catch she was not going to give up on.

"Bad luck?" The amused rumble of a male leopard sounded from behind the female leopard. The elegant hunter spun around, growling, until she saw her former mate, Strike standing before her. Her hunt forgotten, the beautiful female straightened and took a menacing step towards Strike. The male leopard stood firm, however, and looked down his smooth, straight muzzle down at her, his eyes gleaming.

"What are you doing here, Strike?" The female leopard forced out, her voice raspy as if not used for years. She flexed her long, gleaming claws and dug them deep into the leaf litter of the jungle, scuffling at the earth. Though she had not put much strength into her claws - yet, she noted - they had left deep scars in the ground.

"After you were exiled, Flight, I spent years trying to find you." Strike said, sitting down on his haunches. The male leopard was definitely a big threat - he had a powerful, well-muscled build, and long, curved fangs that would easily snap the spine of any animal. However, Flight just glared at him with burning yellow eyes, hatred clear in her gaze. "You shouldn't give up hope on life. The tribe will welcome you back, I'm sure."

Flight laughed, a rusty sound that sounded like a mix of a growl and a rumble. "After what I've done? No, Strike. You are far too hopeful. I thought you were the one in favor of my exile during the triburnal? I never forget. You betrayed me, Strike. Now are you going to drag me back to your tribe's base and ask Fang to hold a public execution?"

"I was wrong back then," Strike admitted, all amusement gone from his gaze and voice.

"Good that you noticed," Flight snarled nastily, her voice laced with venom. "As you can see, I'm surviving perfectly well on my own. There's nothing to worry about, Strike. Now go back to your tribe before I claw your face off."

"I see you haven't recovered from the scars of your past." Strike sniffed, gazing at Flight's build. It was sleek, definitely - but that was because her fur had always been of pristine condition since birth. Her ribs were showing and her bones were jutting out of her pelt. Despite the female hunter's pride, she was definitely not doing well. "Please, Flight. Come back. You were one of the tribe's best hunters. It has been a poor warm-sun, and the tribe is not getting enough prey to eat. We are growing weak. Surely you aren't going to resort to sitting there and watching your former tribe waste away?"

"They are scars too deep!" Flight lashed out, her tail flicking angrily. "It isn't of you to beg, Strike. Perhaps I will return. Perhaps I won't. Maybe I will resort to watching my former tribe waste," she added, sneering. "This talk is over."

Flight turned tail, and stalked off into the shadows, the dappled light overhead mottling her spotted pelt with shadows. She didn't pause to look over her shoulders to see Strike's anguished face as she padded off.