Bat-Eared Fox Page #3

---

the cheetahs have another meal

in mind.

With the danger past, Selene calls

the other pups from the den.

Only Adventure shows little interest

in nursing.

He's well on his way to being

weaned.

Now almost 2 months old,

it won't be long before the other

pups follow suit.

But they still haven't lost

their interest in having fun.

There's always time for a good romp.

These rough and tumble games

may be practice

for more dangerous encounters

to come.

In the cool of the early evening,

games give way

to more serious matters.

The cheetahs have focused on

a herd of springbok.

The hunters eye their prey, waiting

for the right moment to strike.

The springbok are unaware of

the predators...

but these young cats are

still learning the rules of the hunt.

They launch their attack.

But it's too late.

The inexperienced cheetah

has let the prey escape.

Over the next few hours,

the cheetahs will test

their skills again.

By night, the cheetahs would

make the kill that eluded them by day.

Of course,

the jackal is never far off.

If he's hoping to find a meal here,

he'll have to settle for scraps.

All he can do is wait.

But other hungry eyes

watch from the darkness.

And the jackal decides to move in.

The cheetahs won't stand for it.

The scavenger continues

to lurk in the shadows.

Finally, the jackal can stand it no longer,

and grabs at the only thing it can

the discarded entrails.

And then the brown hyena

launches its assault.

Powerfully built,

with bone-crushing jaws,

the hyena is a dangerous rival.

The cheetahs won't risk injury

just to keep a few bones.

They've had their fill.

But as the carcass disappears

into the night...

the loss is harder on the jackal.

With their stomachs full,

the cheetahs settle in

to groom and lounge.

With all this action so close to home,

Ajax and Selene set off

in search of another den.

But moving at night can be risky.

The jackal is already on their trail.

And this time...

he's brought his mate.

Out in the open,

the foxes have nowhere to shelter

their pups if trouble begins.

Suddenly, Selene senses danger.

Ajax repels the first assault.

But this time,

the jackals aren't running away.

Selene looks for her pups

one's missing.

Little Joe has wandered off.

Ajax goes on the offensive.

But as he fights off the first jackal,

in the confusion...

the other goes for the prize.

In a matter of seconds...

little Joe is taken.

There's nothing Ajax can do.

The Kalahari

has claimed another victim.

As a new day breaks,

it's an unsettling time

for our fox family.

They've moved to a new home,

but paid a terrible price.

And there are more hard times

to come.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes