Amur Leopard Story Chaper-1

Chapter one
Spring
Hunter scrambled down the mountain as the first rays of light shone through the cloud cover overheard. She fluffed out her long fur enjoying the suns warmth. She looked down to the valley in the land below the den. The birds began to chirp with the arrival of early morning.
"Mom wake up its nice outside!" she yelled as she ran back to the den.
Diamond was curled up in her nest with her tail wrapped over her nose. Hunter wiggled under her tail and licked her face.
"You said you would take me hunting today remember?"
Diamond opened her eyes and licked the top of her daughters head.
"Yes little one, we will go hunting."
Hunter ran out of the den while Diamond got up and stretched her legs. Diamond padded out of the den and into the grass clearing. She took in a deep breath of the cool mountain air. It tasted much better than the stuffy air in her den.
"We can start with hunting mice. I'll show you how to stalk, pounce, and kill and then we can try bigger prey," said Diamond.
"Okay!" replied Hunter, a gleam in her eyes.
"First you crouch down like this."
Diamond crouched down placing her paws underneath her with her tail straight out, hovering over the ground.
"Make sure that your tail does not drag on the ground. Your prey will hear you if it drags."
Hunter copied her mother and tried to steady her long tail above the ground.
"Good! Now try stalking. Keep your tail above the ground and shift your paws careful not to step on any leaves or sticks. Shift your weight so you make no sound when you put your paws down."
Diamond demonstrated the stalking technique to her daughter carefully making as little sound as possible.
"Ok now you try," said Diamond.
Hunter tried stalking like her mother. She tried concentrating in being as quiet as she could.
"Great job you learn so fast Hunter" said Diamond.
Hunter let out a long purr and took in the praise.
"Now you keep practicing while I get us some food okay?" said Diamond.
"But what about hunting mice?" Hunter complained.
"I'll find some while I'm hunting and bring them back alive, okay?" replied Diamond.
Hunter nodded and went back to stalking. She watched as her mother disappeared down the mountain and into the valley. Hunter stayed in the small grass clearing to practice her stalking. She practiced for a while but, she got bored. She pounced on some wild flowers that smelled fresh and nice. Then she rolled around in the damp grass. Hunter watched as the clouds drifted through the sky and the grass ripple in the wind.
Hunter laid there for a long time waiting for her mother to return with fresh kill. Her stomach roared and her mouth watered at the thought of warm meat. Suddenly, Hunter heard a loud bang unlike any sound she had heard before. She stood up looked at the valley as a flock of birds flew out from the trees. What was that? She wondered.