Animal

Late spring of 2006
It's night and I'm in a forest. The moon is full. Deep snow covers the ground and clings to the tall pines trees. It is still snowing heavily and I can't see very far ahead. It's completely silent apart from the snow crunching softly under my feet- my paws? I am a mountain lion, my paws sinking into the snow. There are two small cubs. They are so young their eyes are barely open. They are crying for me. They are freezing. I am carrying one gently in my mouth, leaving the other behind for a moment. I walk down a slight hill and place the cub under a shrub. The branches are holding the snow up and the ground underneath is dry. I'll be right back. I go for the other cub now. Up the little hill. It is laying on the snow, too light to sink down. It is barely alive. I pick it up, snow falling off it as I do, and walk to the edge of the hill. It's not going to make it. I know it's not. It is breathing so shallow and is going to die. It is weak. I throw it down harshly. It cries. The snow turns red. My claws dig in, my teeth shred and rip. Done. I go to the other cub, blood still dripping from my face. I bring it out and do the same as I did to the first cub. Done. I stand there panting for a moment. Then I leave them and continue walking through the blizzard on my own.