The Lion's Share

         “Why do we have to wait so long?” Rudy complained.  “I’m hungry.”

         “We’re all hungry,” Hester said.  “Be quiet.  It isn‘t time yet.””

         “When they get done there’ll be nothing left for us.”

         “There will be plenty,” she said and leaned back closing her eyes.  Rudy started to say more but Hester gave him a warning switch of her tail and he fell silent.

         Through the tall grass he could see them.  Cyrus and Max, and Alexander, too, feasting in a circle around the food.  At long last, Cyrus got up and ambled a short distance away.

         Hester and Rudy moved with caution, edging nearer to what was left of the feast. 

         There was a sound that caused Hester to lift her head and look around in alarm.  It was the noise of one of those things that humans rode on. Cyrus got up and headed for the cover of the nearby trees.  Alexander followed and Max stayed where he was.  The thing stopped and the men got out.  Rudy started to get up to run but Hester said, “No. Stay where you are.  They aren’t after you.”

         “Who -- who are they after?”

         “Cyrus.”

         One of the men asked, “Where did he go?”

         “He can’t be far.  The scouts said he was right here.”

         The men moved cautiously, each one carrying one of the things that caused death. 

         There was a loud sound and some shouting.  Cyrus lay on the ground, a blotch of red on his golden side, right over his lion heart.  “Good shot,” one said.  “He’s a beauty.”

         In a short time Cyrus was wrapped in something black and hoisted into the back of the thing they rode on.

         Hester watched as the poachers drove away, then she said to Rudy, “Now we can eat.”

         

300 words