Desde la seguridad de una rama alta podía ver al pecarí correr con todas sus fuerzas. Podía seguirle el rastro por la estela de polvo que levantaba y los arbustos que estremecía a su paso. Tenía muchas ganas de saltar y perseguirlo, un pecarí era una muy buena pieza para llevar a la aldea, pero el jaguar no pondría reparos en atacarlo si lo veía. Tanto él como el animal eran buenas presas que cazar. En su inexperiencia, se le ocurrió que, si atravesaba con su lanza primero al jaguar, tendría el terreno libre para ir tras el pecarí…

Ya se lo habían advertido, un jaguar andaba rondando y era peligroso salir de cacería, su madre lo bendijo, esperando que los dioses hicieran lo suyo, ya las reservas de alimento se habían acabado pero el miedo al jaguar impedía ir de caza, él se ofreció como buen guerrero a enfrentar aquel peligro.

Ahora esperaba, tenía que ser sigiloso y estar pendiente de la dirección del viento, buscar las ramas más seguras, untarse algunas hierbas parar espantar su olor, que el jaguar no percibiera su presencia.

Desde lo alto, vio movimientos rápidos entre los arbustos, era un grupo de pecaríes, se movían nerviosos. Tal vez olían la presencia felina, él afinaba su vista y se encomendó a los dioses, sabía que el animal estaba cerca, apenas respiraba, los pecaríes comenzaron a correr, venían hacia donde él se encontraba, un frío lo recorrió, no podía flaquear, sus músculos tensos, apretó la lanza, ya sentía los pecaríes llegar, fue bajando para armar su ataque, cortó su propia respiración, los animales pasaron bajo su rama, saltó y se puso en guardia.

Ahí viene, se dijo, los arbustos se abrían a su pasó como respetando su fuerza, el jaguar lo percibió, una presa fácil en el camino, sus ojos brillaron y un rugido le abrió paso, cuando saltó sobre aquella presa inesperada, se oyó un grito desgarrador y el rugido se apagó, el hombre se levantó, jadeante, sudoroso y bañado en sangre, pero no era la suya la que corría por su piel, no era la suya, ahora los pecaríes tenían otro enemigo. Su grito estremeció la pradera.

From the safety of a high branch, I could see the peccary running with all his might. I could track him by the trail of dust he kicked up and the bushes he shook in his wake. He wanted very much to jump up and chase it, a peccary was a very good thing to take back to the village, but the jaguar would have no qualms about attacking him if it saw him. Both he and the animal were good prey to hunt. In his inexperience, it occurred to him that if he speared the jaguar first, he would have a clear field to go after the peccary...

He had already been warned, a jaguar was prowling around and it was dangerous to go hunting, his mother blessed him. Waiting for the gods to do their thing, the food reserves had run out but the fear of the jaguar prevented him from going hunting, he offered himself as a good warrior to face that danger.

Now he waited, he had to be stealthy and be aware of the direction of the wind, look for the safest branches, smear himself with some herbs to scare away its scent, so that the jaguar would not perceive his presence.

From above, he saw rapid movements among the bushes, it was a group of peccaries, they were moving nervously. Perhaps they smelled the feline presence, he turned his sight and entrusted himself to the gods, he knew the animal was near, he was barely breathing, the peccaries began to run, they were coming towards where he was, a cold chill ran through him, he could not weaken, his muscles were tense, he tightened his spear, he already felt the peccaries coming, he went down to arm his attack, he cut his own breath, the animals passed under his branch, he jumped to the ground and prepared the attack.

Here it comes, he said to himself, the bushes opened up as if respecting his strength, the jaguar sensed it, an easy prey on the road, his eyes shone and a roar opened his way as he jumped on that unexpected prey, he gave a piercing scream and the roar died down, the man stood up, panting, sweating and bathed in blood, but it was not his own that ran through his skin, it was not his own, now the peccaries had another enemy. His scream shook the meadow.