A Lion's Mane: Chapter 6: Waiting

Grandroar’s father helps him up into the top branches of a tree, which, because of his size, sways a bit but does not fall. He dangles the grapefruit and vine down, and waits. They wait, and wait, and wait, and wait………it feels like hours. Then, they hear small footsteps. Grandroar guesses who it is and braces his muscles for what he must do. The steps stop, a sound of delight is heard, and they start again, this time heading for the grapefruits that Grandroar is dangling out of the tree. Suddenly, a growl is heard, and a cougar springs out of the brush, and Lovelypaw (for that is who it is) gives a cry of fright and backs away. His father cries “Lovelypaw!”, and is about to fling himself to the ground, when, for the first time in his life, Grandroar feels his predator’s instincts kick in. With a ferocious growl, he lunges at the cougar.