The next hour was quiet, almost relaxing - or would have been except for a growing distance between me and the rest of the herd. The hunt had moved into the woods, into a dedicated tiger hunt. A couple of times, there was a flash of orange as the hunters herded one of the tigers out into the open. The zebras for the most part, relaxed on the soft grass and sunned themselves. Being naked apart from the body paint meant we naturally gravitated towards the sun drenched slopes. Except now, the herd stayed a small distance away from me. Where previously, I was just a new girl, now I was seen as dangerous, someone prepared to throw another herd member in front of the hunters to save myself.
It hurt, a physical catch in the throat. I had no doubt that any of them would have done the same thing. It wasn't fair.
I looked across at the line of striped, naked bodies stretched along the slope making quite the spectacle.
Whoops and yells carried across the grass from the woods reminding us that it was just a respite and when the men tired of more experienced and difficult prey, they'd direct their attention back to us.
Stacey the only other new girl apart from me to not be caught, lay on her side next to Kelly and Zoe, the two most experienced zebras remaining. They were chatting and laughing, Stacey occasionally raising her eyes to look in my direction as she said something. My ears burned as I imagined all the things coming out of that bitch's mouth. I swallowed hard and looked away, trying to ignore her.
Meanwhile, the yells grew in intensity and the zebras all tensed, those who'd been lying down raising themselves onto their elbows. Lauren, the blonde trailer trash who'd only played once before, even stood up, ready to run. Stacey, now silent, tensed but remained on the ground trying to copy the old hands.
The leaves shook at the edge of the woods then a blaze of orange and black burst through, blonde hair streaming out behind as the tiger, Natalie, sprinted, her ample breasts bouncing, towards the herd of zebras. Caught by surprise, the zebras lurched to their feet and scattered.