The cub did not speak of the tiger.
But he carried the weight of that gaze with him.
It became a silent fire burning in his chest, a challenge unspoken yet undeniable. Every time he moved through the jungle, every time he crouched low in the grass, every time his claws sank into the earth—he thought of those golden eyes.
One day…
But for now, he was still learning.
And the jungle had more lessons to teach.
The night was thick with the scent of rain. Storm clouds loomed overhead, rolling in like restless spirits. The air was charged, humming with the promise of thunder.
His mother led them deep into the jungle. It was time to hunt again.
This time, they were not after a fawn.
This time, they were after something bigger.
The herd of wild boars had gathered in a clearing, their massive bodies shifting in the darkness. Their tusks gleamed under the moonlight, sharp and brutal.
The cub felt his heart quicken.
A fawn had been prey. But a boar?
A boar could fight back.
His mother crouched low, eyes fixed on a younger boar at the edge of the group. It was large, but not yet fully grown. Strong, but not the strongest.
Perfect.
She moved first, silent as a shadow. His siblings followed.
The cub hesitated.
Not out of fear.
Out of anticipation.
Would this be like before? Would the kill come naturally, without thought, without guilt?
Would it be easier this time?
He wanted to know.
So he moved.
The charge came fast.
The boar screamed, hooves tearing into the dirt, tusks slicing the air.
The cub leapt, his claws flashing in the darkness. His siblings flanked the boar, cutting off its escape.
The cub landed on its back, his teeth sinking into flesh. The boar thrashed, muscles rippling beneath him, but he held on, instinct guiding him.
His mother struck next, her fangs finding the creature's throat. A gurgling cry filled the air.
Then—silence.
The boar went limp.
The cub stood over the body, his breath heavy, his muscles trembling. Blood stained his paws. His heartbeat roared in his ears.
But there was no hesitation this time.
No doubt.
Just hunger.
And something else—
Satisfaction.
His mother watched him as he ate.
She saw it.
The way he no longer hesitated. The way he had moved with purpose.
But she said nothing.
Because she knew.
The jungle was claiming him.
And he was finally letting it.