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Hidden among the swaying grass, the hare stilled its movements as a fleeting shadow swept over it. Despite its diminutive brain, an instinctual awareness stirred within, recognizing the significance of the passing silhouette. Too swift, too calculated to be dismissed as mere cloud cover, it hinted at a predator, a raptor, gliding gracefully above the undulating terrain.
The hare, naturally cautious and reclusive, seldom ventured beyond the shelter of the meadows and pastures that stretched across the land. Yet, with the arrival of spring, primal urges stirred within, compelling the creature to seek out a mate. Driven by instinct, it bounded eagerly in search of a suitable partner.
A potential mate caught its attention, or so it believed. However, upon approaching, the hare was met with a barrage of slaps, signaling rejection or perhaps an unripe readiness for courtship. Undeterred, the hopeful suitor lingered nearby, sensing the proximity of the female and anticipating a more opportune moment for connection.
Yet, looming overhead was the ever-watchful raptor, her keen eyes scanning the landscape with precision. Despite her superior hunting prowess, the pair maintained a delicate balance of scouting and striking, each taking his turn in the intricate dance of survival.
Perched high above, the raptor spied a tempting prey below—a small brown creature, a hare, offering sustenance for her and her hungry offspring.
She veered in her flight, momentarily losing sight of her quarry. Yet, it couldn't have fled too far. Ah, there it was, nestled amidst the dense patch of grass. Such lush growth was becoming a rarity, thanks to the relentless grazing of the buffalo. The raptor, focused solely on the tactical advantage of sparse cover for hunting, paid no heed to the consequences of vanishing grasslands, mirroring the indifference of her master—the man on horseback below, with his outstretched arm and sturdy glove—both living for the moment, heedless of the future.
The raptor, a majestic golden eagle, issued a piercing cry, signaling to her mate all that was required.
The hare, trembling with fear at the sound, weighed its options. Should it risk exposure by fleeing, or remain concealed, vulnerable to an aerial assault? And where was the female? The male sensed her presence nearby, but was she also cowering in fear?
Unconcerned with protecting his mate, the male hare would have readily sacrificed her to the raptors' hunger, if only he knew how. The primal urge to mate pulsed within him, yet the instinct for self-preservation held greater sway. Another mate could be found, but facing the talons and the beak of the predators was a risk not worth taking.
The female eagle emitted a distinct cry, signaling her satisfaction as she watched her mate descend with a terrifying shriek, honing in on their prey. With savage joy, she swooped down, reveling in her predatory prowess.
The hare's futile attempts to evade her only fueled her determination. "You cannot escape me," she seemed to taunt, embodying the divine will of the Eagle God.
As her feathers strained under the braking maneuver, the satisfying strike of talons, the crimson spray of blood, and the echoing scream echoed through the air, reminiscent of the bipedal beings that roamed the land, tending to their grazing buffalo.
Calling out to her mate, the female eagle invited him to partake in their well-earned feast. "Join me, my love, in the bounty bestowed upon us by the Eagle God."
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Slowly the trembling subsided. The hare wasted no tears for the one that might have been its mate. Though the female was dead, the male would live, for the nonce. It would feed, even as the raptors fed on the corpse of the female. 335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0shkSrAVaq
How much better then, a man than a hare?335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ2wKPE39l
