Timestamp: 16th of Summer, 509 A.V.
Nustril's sleek black form was huddled down into an uncomfortable nook in the stone and dirt beneath him. It had taken him over an hour to follow the tracks of the goats to a suitable water source, and still longer to locate a hiding place which would mask his scent while simultaneously allowing him swift access to the stream. Little more than a flowing brook, water was trickling down the rocky face of the cliff to his back and across the flat shelf upon which his hiding place was located.
Deep down in the valley below, perhaps a two or three hour hike distant, Cypress laid in wait next to a small lake which was fed by this brook. The stream widened at the base of the peak, where it was fed by several other small streams which had followed the path of least resistance to the bottom. Together the combined water flow was enough to form a feeble river which ended at the mouth of the lake.
The two had scouted this area extensively in the passed few days to determine where they would find the best hunting. Though Nustril had selected both spots, he had done so in human form while bouncing questions and answers back and forth with his mate. He was the more experienced of the two when it came to hunting and killing, even if it was not by much. In spite of his choosing the general locations, Cypress would choose her own hiding place and her own prey when the time came.
Nustril was frozen to the spot. Occasionally, after listening hard and watching for any sign of his prey, the great cat would shift his weight on his paws and wiggle away some energy. He was reasonably sure that the goats of this region came here to water. Unfortunately their hoof prints were difficult to follow. He had examined their delicate cloven-hoofed shape, but lost them occasionally among the rocks.
Mountain goats could travel places that were difficult for a tiger to traverse. Add that to the fact that the dirt in the mountains was often hard packed, or filled with rock altogether. Even worse, the goats did not weigh very much. There was only one solid set of tracks he had been able to follow here. The trails could just as easily have been the same animal circling through the area at different times. Worst case scenario: there was only goat up here.