.alayna.

.the female cougar sauntered slowly into the marsh lands, her green eyes narrowing to cold slits as she gazed over the water, watching for any gators that wished to tangle with her. moving on, silent, she came to the place where she had killed that human. she silently chuckled and moved on. she finally flopped down beneath on the larger trees, panting slightly, watching the lands in silence...

*Yellow-Headed Blackbird*

A strikingly colored bird flutters to the ground, very near the cougar. Most of his body is pitch-black, but his entire head and down to the start of his wings and chest are a brilliant yellow. His small chest heaves rapily up and down with his quickened breath. There is no tangy smell of blood about him, nor any other scent besides his own dusty smell.

.alayna.

.at the flutter of wings the feline's eyes opened slowly, for she had been resting. she lifted her head, her green eyes casting their gaze about for the maker of the sounds. they fell upon the striking bird, and she narrowed her eyes. she tilted her head slightly...there was no blood, and no scent of trouble. what was it's problem? she silently stood, and moved towards it, slow, watching it carefully...

*Yellow-Headed Blackbird*

The bird turned its head sharply towards the feline and gave voice to shrill cries as it tried to flutter away. But the striken bird was grounded and its energy seemed to be nearly spent. It's freakishly contracted pupils made the golden-yellow eyes seem almost devoid of any black at all. The blackbird slumped to its side, loosing strength very quickly. Try as it might, he simply could move away from the feline anymore.

.alayna.

.the tawny feline pulled back her lips in a sneer as the bird cried out, but she continued to advance, moving closer, black-tipped tail flicking about. once she reached the bird, she reached out with a large paw and gently touched it, then drew back her paw. something wasn't right...she tipped her head slightly, eyes narrowing as they watched the bird. her pink tongue brushed over her lips as she felt her hunger, but she still wasn't sure about this...

*Yellow-Headed Blackbird*

The touch brought about more shrill cries of fear from the bird, and he was renewed with a new sense of urgency to preserve his life. His deep-black wings beat against the ground and he managed to move a few inches and nearly got back up on his ebony feet. After this last burst of struggles, the bird seemed very lax suddenly. His eyes flittered a bit, looking bleakly at the cougar mug so near to him. The eyes seemed a bit glossy now, and quite abruptly, the bird ceased to move at all. His heart had given out under to strange strain that had caused it to beat like a jackhammer even while he had been at rest.

.alayna.

.the feline stepped back at the bird's last outburst, but she again stepped forward, and nosed the dying bird. once it died, she gently picked it up in her jaws and carried it into the brush, setting down on a bare patch of earth. she sat back on her haunches and stared at it, then sniffed it. finally hunger overcame caution, and she ate it, feeling slightly better for a moment...

*Symptoms*

Whatever had caused the bird's symptoms now entered the cougar's body, although the effects would be very faint since the bird was so small and Alayana was so large. Her breathing and heartrate will increase, but only slightly. The pupils of her eyes will contract and make it very hard to see at night. These symptoms will not last long at all, and will perhaps be gone by the next day.