Oubu picked his way through the pines; careful to swish his pawsteps into nonexistence with his tail

Oubu picked his way through the pines; careful to swish his paw steps into nonexistence with his tail. Being tracked was not his favorite pastime; certainly when he was trying to hunt.

It was annoying how Hylians would try to trace his tracks. They most likely just wanted to ask him questions. Stupid, unnecessary ones. Most that sought him wanted to ask questions about where they could fine riches from legends, or treasures rumored to exist.

Pestilence.

The giant cat made a soft 'hmph' sound and checked the sent of his prey. The rabbit he'd been closing in on was less than two hundred feet away. He ran his tongue along his sharp teeth at the implication of food. He stalked the mammal further and gained some more ground. It was headed toward the frozen lake that bordered the pine forest.

Oubu fell to a crouch when a startled cardinal sprang out of the tree above the rabbit. It flew off into the sky; chirping and twittering madly as another cardinal chased it away. The birds knocked some snow off of the pine's boughs; causing it to cascade down onto the rabbit below. Terrified and confused by the cold that suddenly hit it from above; the prey raced off to the left.

Without hesitation; Oubu tore after his target. Snow flew as he bounded closer and closer. The rabbit sensed the new danger and ran faster. It dodged trunks and sprang over a bush. Oubu followed it eagerly; tasting the blood already. He was catching up.

The rabbit's stubby tail was only a few feet away. Growling fiercely; the giant feline unsheathed his claws and leapt forward. Suddenly, there was only ice beneath him. The rabbit had run out onto the frozen lake! It scrambled on the slippery ice for a few key seconds; then veered off to the right. Oubu, however, had lost his footing and had slid past his prey. He kept going for a considerable distance. When his claws finally brought him to a stop; the rabbit had disappeared back into the pinewoods.

Oubu spat a growl at the ice; cursing it for making him lose his game. He steadily got back on his paws. Oubu dug his claws into the ice for better traction, and turned back to the pines. He hoped to find some more prey to flush out; but stopped dead.

He was not the only one on the ice.

He rushed to the side of this figure. It was a young boy, of all things to be out in the harsh grip of winter.

Oubu's eyes filled with concern. He leaned closer to the boy's face. "Child," He whispered softly. The boy was shaking uncontrollably, and he stared straight ahead. His breath only made the slightest cloud in the air. Oubu swallowed hard as he listened to the soft rasps. "Child," He cooed again. The boy's wide blue eyes moved to focus on the cat's face. A shaking hand moved to Oubu's forepaw; which curled around the blue fingers. The feline moved closer to share his warmth.

He pulled the boy into a soft embrace to shield more of the bitter cold away. The perpetual shaking nearly broke his heart. "In peace, my child."

The breathing became more laborious, the rasping grew louder. The boy's quaking hands clutched at the open air. His eyes were still locked onto Oubu's. His blue lips silently formed words; but he could make no sound. Slowly, the shaking began to lessen; and his skin began to turn blue. Oubu watched the hypothermia leech the life from this poor child. He was found too late.

The boy grew still.