Food is getting scarce and the tiger tribe is now on the brink of war with the wolf tribe.

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At first it might not have been quite so obvious, but tensions within the tiger tribe were steadily growing. For the first time in what had been decades, portions of food had to be reduced. What had been a golden age of prosperity for the forest dwellers seemed to have come to an end. On top of that, the boundaries the separated them from the neighboring wolf tribe were growing thin. Conflict started to occur at greater frequency than either tribe would have preferred.

This situation hit home for Darren in particular as he was out on a hunt, stalking a buck when it passed into wolf territory. Despite how hard he and his two companions tried to turn it away from the boundary, it was no use and it escaped. But that wasn't enough for the youngest among their group.

“Why have we stopped?” Mian asked, a male that had just progressed into adulthood.

“We can't infringe on wolf territory. We have to turn back and search for another quarry,” Darren explained. The female at his side, named Tama, nodded in agreement and they turned in unison to make their way from the boarder.

“Like hell we do!” Mian snapped and refused to leave from where he was perched on the trunk of a fallen tree. “It was our chase, that means it's our kill!”

“That's not how things work here,” Darren said back, his voice tinted with an irritated growl. The day had been long and their hunt hadn't been as fruitful as he had hoped, which seemed to be the ongoing trend as of late. Now when they had their meal practically in their mouths it was gone, and no one was more upset than he.

“Fuck that. No one will know, I'll be quick,” Mian said and leaped down from his perch and rushed towards the buck, who had stopped a ways away to rest but still within sight.

“What? No!” Darren roared and surged after the younger male. While Mian was shorter, more lithe, and arguably more agile than the much older, larger tiger, that didn't mean he was faster. Darren practically cracked the dead tree trunk in half after landing on the spot where Mian once was and vaulting off of it.

He hit the ground in a thunder of footballs and rushed after Mian, who was now far away given his initial lead. He closed the distance fast and just as he was about to spring on the other male, Mian reeled his arm back and sent forward his obsidian tipped spear.

The weapon sailed with magically enhanced accuracy and was imbued with silence. The buck had just lifted its head and turned to see the duo coming after it when its side became skewered. The razor sharp tip cut through its shoulder and struck its heart with such force that it toppled over instantly and struggled for only a second before falling still.

“What the hell are you doing?” Mian snarled as Darren pinned him on his back to the ground.

“You stupid cub, do you know all that you've just done? Do you know what shit you could bring down on all of us if this little stunt of yours gets noticed?” Darren roared back, trying as hard as he could to try and keep his fury under control so that he didn't attract any unneeded attention.

“I know that I had to do what you were too afraid to!” Mian hissed back.

Darren growled deeply in his chest and hauled the smaller male to his feet. The woman had followed them in and was standing nearby. Mian was shoved against her and she reacted by clasping him in a strong hold. He struggled against her grip but as far as strength went, she rivaled Darren.

“Both of you stay here,” Darren huffed and looked up to where their former prey now laid. The spear that stuck out of its side was like a great big flag that told of the illegal act that had just occurred.

They couldn't leave the weapon, it was unique to the tiger tribe and would be easily traced back. So all he had to do was retrieve the spear and be on his way, but what of the kill? It'd be different if some wolves were around, then they would at least be able to claim the food for themselves, but being that it was so close to the boarder likely meant that settlements were far away and patrols wouldn't find it in time. Food was so valuable now that letting this kill go to waste, even for the principle of the matter, was sacrilege.

Darren made up his mind by the time he came up on the dead buck. He yanked the spear from its hide and hauled the heavy carcass onto his opposite shoulder. He then beat a hasty return to the others and once close enough, shoved the spear into Mian's paws. The young male held a smug grin on his face and Darren fought himself to smack it off.

“You'll be getting none of this kill, Mian. None of us will,” Darren snarled. Mian's grin vanished as fast as if he had been smacked, which gave Darren some slight joy.

“Why the hell not?” the young male asked and was let go as the other passed him and Tama on his way back to tiger tribe territory.

“And you'll be silent about it. You've caused more harm than ever today, hope that my mood doesn't stay as sour when we get back home or you'll be reprimanded by more than just me,” Darren continued.

To Mian's credit, he didn't say anything for the remainder of their long hike back to the tribe, and Darren's anger did subside. He'd figure out a proper punishment once he dropped the buck off at the butcher and had a quick word with the tribe elder.

Upon entering their settlement's confines the three went their separate ways. Once Darren was finished with his burden, he strode purposely to their leader's hut where a few members of the high council likely resided. When entering it, the tiger was pleased to find a friendly, familiar face among the group of waiting tigers that were also seeking wisdom.