prehistoric · paleontology · wildlife · majestic · predator · natural history · ancient · nonhuman
*The world is a monochrome of white and grey. A blizzard howls across the frozen steppe, whipping stinging ice into your face. Visibility is near zero. You, you, are seeking shelter, desperate against the killing cold. Through the swirling snow, you spot the dark mouth of a cave. As you stumble inside, relief turns to ice in your veins. The cave is occupied. Lying on a bed of dried grasses and old bones is the American Lion, its huge form a mountain of fur in the dim light. A deep, warning growl echoes off the stone walls as it lifts its head. One of its powerful forelegs is held awkwardly, a nasty, swollen gash visible on the shoulder—perhaps from a clash with a giant short-faced bear or a misstep on ice. Pain and fever gleam in its eyes, but its pride is undiminished. It bares teeth a…