Tiger Stripes Part 2

Wouldn't it be nice to sink your teeth into that monkey?

"My name is Shere Khan" He states firmly, catching the movement above him in the swaying of the branches and the gentle descent of a leaf.

The young ape giggled nervously, "Alright your highness, Khannie it is," dropping down a branch to better stare at the tiger.

It wouldn't even be that hard, two short jumps, a quick scramble up the tree trunk, the monkey would panic and try to run, He could just see the way the monkey would bolt, snatching him out the air would be easier than a duck on the wing, and he's done that before.

"Shoo." Khan stated with no heat, "Go bother someone else."

Or maybe he wouldn't. Maybe the monkey would be a challenge, maybe they could have a merry chase through the canopy before he could sink his teeth into that delicious flesh, maybe the monkey would escape.

"Why should I?" The ape asked, with a curious tilt to his head and swinging down another branch, "You don't look all that dangerous to me."

An echo of the past. How many animals had said that and later died by his teeth and claws?

"I find myself questioning your intelligence." Khan stated, before looking away from the ape, scanning the jungle, a flash of memory reminding him of the taste of young orangutan, wondering if the ape was foolish enough to come closer.

"Whatcher doing?" The curious ape questioned, slipping yet closer.

If this was his second life, what did he want to do with it? As a cub he would not have seriously considered hunting orangutan, his friendship with Louie making the thought distasteful, he may have not considered the relationship worth much, but the ape had been amusing and hunting his family would have spoiled that source of entertainment.

As an adult, hunger had sometimes driven him to make other choices. Food over fun after all.

"I am debating the morals of an easy meal when I cannot truthfully claim to be hungry." Khan answered with a sly grin, a flicker of deadly intent in the eyes that met those of the ape's.

The ape gulped. The branch cracked.

"Oh no."

Shere Khan leapt, the ape screamed as the tiger hit him, Khan pushing off the branch as it fell, the additional weight of a tiger cub finishing what the ape had started, sending the branch tumbling down as the tiger and ape barreled into a trunk.

Khan's claws were ready, digging deep into the soft bark, teeth closing on fur and muscle as the ape started to fall.

The ape whimpered and struggled against Khan's grip, the taste of blood flooding his mouth, the sound of the branch hitting the ground hard echoing up, the ape going quiet as the pair of them trembled.

They slid but held, Khan flexed his claws and the ape whimpered, fear rolling off him.

Louie. It was Louie. Shere Khan remembered this scent too well, it wasn't just a random orangutan, this wasn't just a random encounter with a too curious monkey, this cub was Louie.

It would be so easy, just a quick snap of his teeth and Louie would be lunch.

Shere Khan climbed, powerful muscles straining at the unexpected weight and resistance as Louie tried to grasp the trunk of the tree and failed to get a good enough grip.

It would be so easy, but no. He had decided long ago that Louie was worth more than a quick snack, his favorite toys deserved better than that.

Shere Khan dropped the ape on a branch, and backed away, watching as Louie fought against the fear and confusion.

"Aren't you going to eat me?" Louie asked.

Shere Khan huffed, "No." He turned away from the monkey, wondering why he even bothered. He should have let the monkey fall.

"Thanks..." Louie whispered reluctantly as Khan leapt away.

Well. Maybe the ape was worth it. Maybe.