Chapter 34 34: Improvise, adapt, overcome

[1st POV] I ran up to the higher ground a little further away from where the herds were grazing. It was far enough that I could see the entire horizon along with the herd. It provided a great view for planning and contemplation. After I reached the place, I sat there and simply observed for a while. The herd of impala became a puzzle that needed solving, and I was brainstorming how to do just that, If the traditional way of stalking and hunting did not work, I just had to find other ways. It was better than spamming one plan again and again and hoping for luck. I spent more time sitting there and thinking than I did stalking them. An hour had passed, and the sun was starting to reach its highest point in the sky. By that point I I finally came up with a plan to solve my problem, In the beginning, I was thinking of plans that were too complex and complicated. But the answer was staring at me all this time. I did not need to constantly invent things or come up with new stuff. Sometimes, reflecting on my past experience worked just as well as coming up with a new plan. I've hunted an animal that was just as cautious, if not more, in the past. The rabbits of the Pride Lands. The same technique that I used to catch the rabbits as a cub, in theory, should work on the Impala as well. But to do that, I needed some preparations So I spent the next hour studying them once more. In total, I spent two hours overlooking the plains. After I was done, I moved down again towards the herd with greater confidence in my new strategy. I've also learned what I needed, now it was just a matter of putting that into action. The Imphala were grazing and while doing so, they were going from place to place in a recognisable pattern. It was their instinct to shift from patch to patch in search of fresher growth and fuller vegetation. So, taking into account the land and the greenery I saw from a distance, it was not hard to predict where the herd would move next. So instead of stalking the herd, I move towards the land I predicted they would graze on next. I then decided on a proper hiding spot that was surrounded by bushes. I had enough time on my hands to make more preparations, so I took some broken twigs and dried shrubs to make the place an even better hiding spot. After I was done, I used my paws to dig the spot. I did not dig too deep, just enough to plough the land and create sand. Then I rolled on the ground, masking my body oil and scent with the dirt. I could never hide my scent completely, but this should help. With the unpredictability of the wind in Serengeti, the small cover could decide success from failure. I was taking all the advantage I could get. After the preparations were done, I lay down on the perfectly hidden spot. The bushes and the shrubs I collected hid me completely. Not just that, I was surrounded by green grass and healthy vegetation, some of which I noticed the impala favouring more than the rest. I did not choose the spot solely because it offered a good hiding spot. I also chose it because it was filled with their favourite grass and vegetation, which they liked to eat. And so I waited. And waited. And waited. And waited a bit more. It was not as long as the time I spent cooking up the plan, but since I had nothing to think about, the time seemed longer. Eventually, the herd wandered into the area just like I predicted. I did not move a single muscle. I waited patiently until some of them wandered close enough to my hiding spot. They were already in my range and I could attack at any time, but I still held back. It was only when one particular impala with distinctive curved horns came close to me that my body tensed. It was the same motherfuker who had the gut feeling and told the others to move during my first attempt. My muscles coiled, my paws spread, and my claws came out to better grip the earth. I waited for the right moment, and when the impala moved down his head to graze, I exploded out without missing a beat. I grabbed the earth and pulled myself forward. I was a rocket of flesh and bones, not particularly fast in the long shot but unbeatable in short bursts. I was simply a living weapon in motion. My target did not run immediately, he was so spooked by my sudden appearance that he slipped and fell. It was hilarious to watch. I released an excited roar that had a hint of hunger. The prey tried to run, but before he could ever reach his full speed, I was already behind him. The impala leapt high, moving in a zig-zag to throw off predators. It was a defensive technique of running that worked well for him so far, considering he was still alive. But I was having none of that. Before his hooves could touch the ground and change direction like a slimy prey, I lunged at him. My body slammed against him while he was mid-air, and my jaw found the back of his neck as if guided. We fell, and I crushed him under my weight. He kicked up a cloud of dust using the last bit of his dying strength, but it was no use as he was under me. I was an immovable mountain that he wouldn't escape even if his limbs doubled in number. I seem to have crushed his ribcage and destroyed some organs when I landed on top of him. So the bite at the neck was just a final blow. The imphala trembled, and I could feel his life leaving his body. After it was over, the soul left a carcass for me to enjoy. I basked in my success I will not simply survive in this land, I shall thrive. The rest of the herd ran away and disappeared far from where the eye could see. I spent the next few minutes biting down on the impala before I stood up and carried it towards a better place. I was not going to eat my meal under the sun and in an open plain. That would be equally uncomfortable and dangerous, as I had come to learned. The impala was not big, probably around 70 kg. When leaving the bones, skin and dirty intestines, it should be enough to completely fill my belly. I carried my meal through the savannah. I was searching for a shade, but the area I was in was mostly open plan with grass and bushes, so trees were a rare sight. But eventually, I saw a tree in the distance. I was about to head towards the shade, but the human vehicle parked not far away gave me second thoughts. I had not seen them again ever since I first saw them, so it was kind of surprising that I stumbled upon them again. In the end, though, I decided to go under the shade anyway. I brought my prey under the shade, and after cooling down for a moment, I began eating my hard-earned meal. I kept an eye on the vehicle while eating. It was about 40 meters away from me, but I could still spot the humans inside the vehicle. For some reason, they were taking a picture of me? Or was it a video? I was not sure; the only thing I knew was that they were pointing their camera at me. In the end, it doesn't really matter to me, so I ignored them. .. .. ... [IMAGE] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author : I wrote these chapters on phone due to the disasters so I apologize if they are short. Anyways, we surpass 500 stones when the goal for extra chapter was 400. Let's do it even easier at 300 stones. Reach an overall of 850 stones for another extra chapter.