Hidden in the sigh of the wind <br />a low keening cry reverberates <br />off the craggy hilltops. <br /> <br />Heavy breathing and snapping branches <br />puffs of smoke in the dark. <br />Blood pounding in her ears she stops, <br />trusting her senses to guide her. <br /> <br />A miasma of rotting leaves, wet wood, <br />and something darker floats in the air. <br />Throwing her head back she lets out a primal laugh, <br />she knows she's close. <br /> <br />Glancing through the trees and scrub, <br />she catches her first glimpse. <br />The beast crouched over its prey, <br />blood dripping from its gaping maw. <br /> <br />She feels her blood begin to heat. <br />All of her senses coming to the fore. <br />Her muscles tense and bunch preparing to strike. <br />She unleashes an earth-shattering roar and lunges. <br /> <br />The beast looks up yellow eyes gleaming, <br />its victim rasping for air, <br />clawing at the gory mess where his throat and shoulder had been, <br />he gurgles his final breath. <br /> <br />The woman springs, landing feet from her prey, <br />the beast acknowledges her with a grunt. <br />She circles, waiting for it to make a move. <br />They watch each other ever moving <br /> <br />Tiring of the game she leaps forward, <br />landing a blow to the creatures throat. <br />It doubles over gasping, she turns away <br />and slides in a pool of cooling blood. <br /> <br />She hits the ground, stunned. <br />The beast makes its move, <br />landing on top of her, its mistake. <br />She sinks her teeth deep into the beast ripping and tearing. <br />She assuages her hunger and watches as the body cools. <br /> <br />Gathering herself she stands, <br />Smiling she wipes her mouth. <br />A sense of justice fills her as she walks away. <br />Knowing this time the hunter became the hunted. <br /> <br />(02/07/08)<br /><br />Aimee Pruitt<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-hunter-12/
