Natalie

Prologue

And so, it Begins

The foliage, heavy from a recent rain, droops, leading small leaf pools of gathered moisture ever downward from the canopy to the forest floor. The small rustlings and vocalizations of those who call the forest home mingle with the light dripping sounds of the rainwater, playing a soft musical tribute to the untouched beauty. Storm clouds shift, sunlight filtering down through the covering, steam rising in a soft mist. Everything the light touches has a soft golden glow adding a surrealistic aspect to the tableau.

Slowly the shadows shift, following the path of the emerging sun and the day progresses, the forest awakening. The smallest of residents begin to emerge in search of sustenance and to drink deep from the various pools of rainwater.

One such creature, a small rabbit, is more watchful then the others, moving from beneath the leaves of a bush with caution. Its little nose twitches at each smell and long ears try to catch every sound as it moves forward, hopping lightly, ever vigilant.

Every sound is suddenly gone. The forest freezes in silence and then explodes in a cacophony of sight and sound. A streak of black shoots into view, like an arrow it heads for the rabbit who suddenly takes off. The chase doesn’t take long, desperation can often hone skills and in a small clearing deeper in the forest, the rabbit is caught with a high-pitched squeal. The raucous cries of the birds and other alarmed sounds cease and all that can be heard is the soft growling of hunger and the tearing of flesh, of breaking bones. There is a soft silent rain, not of water this time but of downy fur. Settling on the leaves and forest floor it mixes with droplets and sprays of blood. As the fuzzy down begins to clear, in the center one can see what has disturbed the tranquility of the forest.

Not yet full grown, a small black leopard takes her place in the circle of forest life, the animals dull coat hangs loose on its small frame, the fur damp, unkempt and now blood splattered. At odds with the downy covered plants is the carnage at the leopard’s feet. Her ravenous hunger finally sated, she slows, the instinct which gave her the flash of vigor fades and she falls like a puppet with cut strings, only having enough energy to curl as she drops, asleep in the middle of the killing field. Were it not for where she lays, one would think her little more than a large housecat, almost sweet in her slumber.

As time passes, forest creatures reappear, their fear short-lived and fleeing with the time. Hearts that raced at the sounds of predator regain their gentle tempo and soon again the air fills with sounds of life. As the moon rises taking the place of the sun and silvering the edges of the forest trees the forest moves on, returning to its normal patterns of life. Except for the sleeping leopard and then a sound, a sorrowful cry of a breaking heart joins the twilight song of life passing through the forest depths.

A small child kneels where the cat once lay and in the gathering twilight, bloody and filthy fingers lightly stroke at the fur left laying in the dirt. She gently lifts a shattered bone with the finger of one hand, the other rising behind a curtain of dark, lank, hair that pools about her knees to rub at her tear stained face. Rocking, her hair swaying gently gives a glimpse of a small heart shaped face screwed up in gut wrenching agony. She begins to croon softly to herself and slowly piles the remnants of the rabbit before her, then, digging a hole with her hands, she buries the rabbit and rises. Her hair, her only covering, falls over her slender form, nearly as encompassing as a short dress or tunic. She stands perfectly still for a moment and then lifts her head, and her gaze, to the darkened forest about her. There is a flash of confusion, the place is not familiar, and her slanted amber eyes widen in shock before her features and gaze calm, her body stiffening in resolve as she begins to walk deeper into the forest, two perfectly formed footprints left in her wake.

One that of a feline, the other that of a small human child.