Chapter 10: The Encounter
Catherine’s breath was ragged, her heart pounding as she crouched low against the porch, desperately trying to stay out of sight. The second poacher was moving closer, his footsteps silent on the damp earth. The air around her felt thick with tension, each moment stretching into eternity. She could hear the rustle of the trees, the soft shuffle of leaves as he approached, his presence almost predatory.
The mother leopard had not moved from her spot, her gaze still fixed on the first poacher as he retreated into the trees. The cub was huddled in the corner of the porch, small and vulnerable, unaware of the imminent danger. Catherine’s hand tightened around her phone, the screen flashing with a message from the ranger station—We’re almost there, stay hidden. But the poachers were already too close.
Catherine glanced up at the trees, searching for any sign of the second poacher. She could feel his presence, the weight of his approach, but he was silent. Too silent. She dared not move, knowing that the smallest sound could draw attention to her position.
The mother leopard suddenly shifted, her body coiled, her head tilting slightly toward the trees. Catherine’s pulse quickened. The mother had sensed the poacher. She was ready for anything.
The moment stretched on, each breath Catherine took filled with dread. She tried to steady herself, her fingers numb around the phone. She was starting to lose hope. The poachers were too close. The rangers were still a distance away, and Catherine was alone, trapped between the danger of the poachers and the protection of the mother leopard.
Then, without warning, the second poacher stepped into view, just a few feet from the edge of the porch. He was tall, wearing dark clothing, a rifle slung across his back. His eyes scanned the area with cold calculation, searching for something—anything. But he didn’t see her. Not yet.
Catherine’s mind raced. She needed a plan. She couldn’t let the poachers get any closer to the cub. If they saw it, they would take it—if they didn’t kill it first. But with the mother leopard standing between them and the cub, she wasn’t sure how much time they had.
The poacher paused, then bent down, his hand brushing the ground, as if he was trying to track something. The mother leopard’s eyes never left him. She was watching, waiting.
Catherine’s breath caught in her throat. This is it.
She couldn’t wait any longer.
She had to act, or it would be too late.