The Tiger and the Hawk

Copyright © 2021 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(eBook) 9781005226374
 

The Tiger and the Hawk

By

Kiltron

At the foot of the cliff face, a tiger strolled lazily to the running stream. Black stripes danced in a wavy motion on his orange and white fur coat. The Tiger glanced to the heavens. There a golden-brown hawk glided above the craggy cliffs in, a wide arc. The two suns were high and bright that sent red and white rays which made a yellow glow in the trees. The breeze was cool and crisp. Spring the season of new life, where young leaves escaped winter’s freeze and the flowers bloom to live again.

         The Tiger lowered his head. He drank deeply of the cold refreshing soothing water. His tail swished back and forth. His ears perked up. The Tiger was about to lift his head when sharp talons sank deep into his furry back. He yowled in pain. The Tiger turned over, his claws lashed out and swiped a few tail feathers from The Hawk. The Tiger landed in the stream and it had soaked him to the skin.

         The Tiger was back on his feet in an instant, and shook droplets of water from his fur. His bright green eyes glared toward the blue sky in search of the bird. The Hawk circled around for another attack. This time The Tiger was ready for him. His eyes never left the aviator.

         The large feline crouched ready to spring up and attack. His deadly stare followed The Hawk’s spiral flight. Then suddenly The Hawk dove down like an arrow toward its mark. Wings held close to its body, legs tucked under its belly, The Hawk’s eyes centred on The Tiger. A screech came from The Hawk and in a flash, talons struck out tearing into feline fur. Ribbons of blood sprayed in the air. Then, The Hawk was back up in the sky again, just out of reach of slashing claws which almost had more feathers. A roar of rage erupted from The Tiger. The Hawk soared up higher circling for its next strike. Again, The Tiger crouched and waited. Again, The Hawk swooped down, talons ready to bite deep.

         The Tiger sprung up and caught The Hawk full on. Talons dug deep into nose and mouth. The two animals went to the ground sprawling. The large cat’s jaws clamped around one of the avian legs, breaking and chewed it apart. The Hawk’s beak shot forward, which gouged out one of the feline’s eyes. The cat roared in agony slashed out and just nicked the bird across the head and side. The two animals flopped in the wet grass. The Tiger rolled into a boulder smashed its shoulder. The sound of crunching bone and grinding cartilage was loud enough to hear over the animal’s roar of anguish. The feline ended up into a small pool where the stream emptied into, nearly drowned. The Hawk landed in the dirt on its back. The avian struggled to flip over. The struggle proved true. The bird rolled over on its bad leg and let out screech of pain. The Hawk flapped its torn wings franticly and rose ever so slowly into the air, its mangled leg dangled uselessly at an odd angle, held on only by a few tendons. The Hawk flew off unsteady, weaved back and forth into the suns setting forest. Its wounds may never heal, badly as they were.

         Meanwhile, The Tiger managed to crawl out of the pool which had turned red. Wet and shivering from the cold water, The Tiger half crawled, half limbed away from the sunset to lick its wounds. But would these proud animals survive their wounds? It is possible!

         There was no winner today. Two majestic animals fought a great battle. Silence now reigned the forest trees. Nature is at peace until the dawn of a new day. But will this day ever be remembered? Indeed, it will. For the battle between The Tiger and The Hawk was witnessed from cliffs on high, by the eyes of a wolf. (04/11/02)