AngelsHaveNoWings by AE Roud Page B

two fallen trees, she found the ground there was soft enough for her to dig a hole large enough that she could remain on her knees and birth her cub. She broke the soil apart and dug out a shallow pit. Into this shallow hole, she dragged leaves and supple branches to give support, then grass and more leaves and on top, some of the extra clothing she’d brought from home. With the hole dug and prepared, she removed her long skirt and eased herself down to her knees and waited for nature to take its course.
    As the sunshine of the summer day shone down in patches through the canopy of the small forest, a female cub, with tan fur and evenly spaced black stripes, was born. The cub’s sudden cries sent birds in a nearby tree to flight.
    With the birth process over and behind her, the new mother turned her full attention to her cub. She wiped as much of the birth matter off the cub and checked the small creature over, counted and kissed each finger, toe, ears and eyes, inhaling of the cub’s scent to imprint, then wrapped the cub in some of the extra clothing, then set the cub to her breast for the all important, first milk. As her cub suckled, mom relaxed against the log and covered them both up with her long, wide skirt.
    Movement to her left, put her on alert. If needed, she could bring her claws to action. She relaxed after a moment as she watched a black and white rabbit, hop within touching distance. The rabbit munched on grass completely unaware of the predator hidden in the shallow hole, so close the two could almost touch.
    The tigress remained very still. Her stripe markings blended in with the movement of the shadows from the trees overhead.
    When the rabbit did look up, their gazes met and the air between them froze in the moment. Senses locked. The tigress could almost hear the rabbit’s heartbeat increase. A flash of fear crossed the rabbit’s eyes. The cub’s sudden mews broke the sacred moment. As the tigress turned her attention to her cub, the rabbit sprinted off with a zigzag motion into tall green and yellow grass opposite the birth lair.
    With the cub set again to nursing, the tigress relaxed. Her acute hearing pinpointed the rabbit across the way as it moved through the tall grass toward safety. The little creature just learned a valuable lesson and if used again, the small animal would live to see more days.
    The tigress yawned, showing her long canines in the sparse sunlight. Looking up through the canopy, she let her thoughts drift to a time not long ago when her mate lived and the joy they shared in the short time they were together.
    Falory, although not a monogamous species, were a matriarchal society. Females chose the males they wanted to have cubs with and live in their compound. Most males chose to move in as a tigress with cubs was never without food. Once in a compound, a male gained access to more breeding females. Accepting a female’s offer was most advantageous for a male that no longer wanted the title of rogue.
    The male she picked as her permanent mate was the best of the available males she’d seen on Prin. His black stripes were clean and equally spaced and that was an unusual quality among her species. After a brief courtship, she decided it was time to make her request.
    He accepted her request and within hours moved to a small house adjacent to the main house where she and any cubs would live until they were grown and on their own. They began their future together, and the proof of their commitment was in the cub she conceived.
    As her new cub slept on her chest, the tigress took a catnap herself, resting but not asleep. Her ears twitched and turned to sounds as her nose worked on the scents that came to her on the air. When the cub fussed again, before opening her eyes, she inhaled deep of the air around her for any scent of danger.
    With no danger on the air, she opened her eyes and pushed the veil of her nap farther from her mind and body. It was then the shadows caught her