Epona

The dark Trakehner mare grazed along a hillside, choosing to stay near the bottom where she was blocked from strong gusts of wind. Her two good friends, Ayla and Norther Star, were out exploring other parts of the Valley at the moment.

Growing restless and board, the mare tossed her head up and neighed loudly, hoping her call would be heard by the lead stallion.

Snowden

The snow leopard was laying in the shade near a stream, greatly enjoying his new life as a bachelor and learning to live off the land, instead of depend on his mother or friends to get food. As he rested contently in the warm grass, the neigh of Epona brought his short, rounded ears up in a flash. His broad, blunt head shot up next and his tail thrashed once against the ground.

Stealthily, the cat pulled himself up with bent limbs that held him very low to the ground. He mounted the hill that sheltered the mare from the wind and gazed down at her. Only his head was visible above the grasses, but the sun shone so brightly off his white coat that it was hard to tell just what was there. He watched and waited.

Epona

The horse tossed her head up after a moment, catching wind of the feline. Instantly her eyes widened and she stamped a hoof into the ground. Her frightened gaze shifted around wildly, trying to see just were the danger lurked, but the sun blinded her from Snowden's position.

Snowden

He watched her for a moment, stalk still and ears flattened. Then he thrusted himself forward and bounded across the ground. Traveling down the hill, he gained incredible speed in just a few bounds. Each spring of his powerful hind limbs drove him several feet over the ground, picking up more and more speed as he went. He aimed to spring at her side and send her off balance.

Epona

The mare turned and began to run as soon as she saw the form come rushing down the hill. But it was too late now, as she felt claws dig into her dark haunches. Instantly her hooves flew out to kick at the feline, but his weight sent her crashing to the ground with a resounding scream of terror and pain. She thrashed and struggled to get back to her feet.

Snowden

Snowden kept to the side, avoiding the hooves as best as he could. But one grazed his side and made him hiss sharply. Dodging the deadly hooves, the snow leopard went straight for Epona's throat and tried to wrap his strong front limbs around her neck to hold on.

Epona

She gave a shrill scream again, hoping desperately to get the lead's attention, or even her mare friends. She kicked and thrashed, but could not pull herself up with the weight of the cat on her. His jaws closed on her throat and she panicked as it began to get harder to breath. Her struggles grew more intense as she tried to throw him off so she could get up!

Snowden

Snowden pinned his ears back and dug his claws into her flesh. He bit down harder against her throat, trying to cut off her airway and puncture her windpipe. He was still very cautious to keep away from her hooves by staying on her side.

Epona

Epona struggled with incredble determination and managed to somehow get up on her knees. From there she wavered before standing to her full height, gasping for air that came harder and harder to draw in. She tried to buck out of instinct, but energy was draining quickly and she fell crashing to the ground. Her eyes glazed and become bloodshot as her struggles went on and oxygen came in less and less.

Finally, after several minutes, her body relaxed completely in death.

Snowden

Snowden clung to her throat several minutes after she stopped breathing, just making sure she was dead. This was by far the largest creature he had ever felled, and on his own! He felt like running off and announcing his victory to his sisters and mother, but didn't. An almost selfish feeling overtook him, and he began to feast ravenously on the dead mare, finding the taste of horse very much to his liking.

Once he had eaten all his bloated stomach could handle, Snowden began to drag the remains away. But he soon found that it was too heavy. Lashing his tail in frustration, he tore off the largest peice of meat and bone that he could and carried it away. His snow leopard nature told him to guard his kill, yet the heat was too much for him out in the open.