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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:52 pm
Stalking through the grasslands, following a herd of water buffalo, he had found himself further inland than he is usually normal to. The large lion found it extremely difficult to hide in the open savanna with his bulk, but it was his speed and power was what got him through life. With his half-sibling gone from the cave and the visits from his half-brother Ger and his nephew, Ezekiel, his time in his cove-home had grown lonely. At least, he could be left alone from wandering eyes.
Luxurious brown mane covered his head and neck, crawling around his shoulders and chest, protecting him like armor. Muscled limbs held firm to the ground as he readied to pounce upon his prey.
Trig was starved and he needed the energy to keep up his daily runs.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:10 pm
Not far off from the herd of buffalo, a pair of amethyst-hued eyes peered through the brush, watching and waiting. Maori, like the male lion who was not far off, was also a long way from her usual territory that day. She had stalked a small herd of antelope out a long ways from the edge of the jungle, and was determined to take one down, despite the danger of running into rogue lions. She made it a point to keep away from them and their territories, as she had had catches stolen before.
The young leopardess was used to being alone, and one of the few she considered a friend happened to be an oddly colored male cheetah, though she rarely saw him, and hadn't for some time.
She valued her independence and dwelled in the jungle, where it was safer(usually) from bigger predators.
Maori waited, biding her time in the grass with the upmost patience, looking for the best moment to strike. With the large male lion some ways away, past the antelopes and the buffalo, she failed to catch his scent, focused only on what she was doing at the time.
One of the little grazers was drawing near, and she took the opportunity. She tore out from her hiding place and after the little one who had crossed her, swiping at it and causing it to stumble and fall. She took it down immediately, jaw wrapping around the delicate throat, her breath coming out in deep, satisfied huffs as she watched the other animals scatter, slightly upsetting the nearby buffalo.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:18 pm
His massive, heavy paws carried him quickly across the grass. Deep imprints of his paws marked the path he made toward the group. Deep teal eyes pierced through the thick mane and targeted the alpha of the group. Though Trig was one for manners, chivalry, being polite and helpful, he was a predator first. He needed his food.
Just as he gathered the determination and motivation to propel himself out into the open and take down his prey, a group of antellope had been startled and in turn startled the water buffalo. The male gave a soft curse and quickly dashed out toward the herd.
Antlers and horns were everywhere. Left. Right. Behind. In front. He could not escape them and just hoped he would be left unscathed. These prey beasts weren't interested in defending themselves, they were more scared than anything.
As his eyes targeted the alpha bull of the group, something from the corner of his eye caught his attention. A young, beautiful female feline. Uncertain what species but one could not deny its beauty. His eyes distracted, he collided right into a buffalo and plowed it over.
Recovering, it seems the force of the collusion must have knocked it out... at least he got his food. But who was that female?
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:26 pm
The leopardess sat there in the grass to make sure it was dead, planning to drag it off to the safety of a small grove of nearby trees once she caught her breath. At least there didn't seem to be anyone else about. Until she realized that the buffalo were still stirring around, as if something were wrong. She squinted a bit, and her fur bristled at what she saw.
A very large male lion, right in the middle of the panicked herd. The leopardess realized she must have startled them into him, perhaps, by frightening off the antelope. This wasn't good at all, and she watched tensely, wondering what would happen. He could easily be killed amongst the large creatures. But, she knew it was a foolish thing to stick around an area with a lion.
She took her kill by the throat, and stood to watch a moment more, wincing when the other cat seemed to bowl right into one of the grazers. He seemed truly massive. Someone who could easily chase her off and steal her food. She felt bad to think in such a way, but it had been an almost common occurence growing up. She'd lost prey to many things, and had a right to be cautious. She began to retreat, easily dragging the dead antelope toward the trees, where she might eat without being threatened.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:35 pm
He quickly gathered his senses and gripped onto the beast with sharpened claws. For once, walking on the dirt all the time paid off for it grind his claws sharp all around. The digits dug deep into flesh as he pulled it toward him with large jaw clamping around its neck. It did not last long until it succumb to the grip of death.
He laid low as best he can with the meal tucked close to his body, waiting for the panicked herds to run off.
With the dust settling and a limp kill in his maw, he raised his head about and took a glance around. Where'd that female go? His curiosity got the best of him as he raised to his paws and dragged the dead meal with him, following the dust cloud from where it began. If he was right, she caused the first herd to startle and thus startled his. If he went to where he saw her, perhaps he can find her.
Large golden paws took him a good distance before he came to a puddle of blood. This was where she just was. With a curious quirk of a brow, he pressed forward.
This may not be a good idea, trespassing onto a territory that wasn't his own. He had no idea what lurked in the jungle, actually, he tried to avoid it. It was just big, dark, and a mess. With his size, he wouldn't get far without being ensnared in vines or something. Still, he carried the kill in his maw to show the female, if she could see him, that his jaws were occupied.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:44 pm
The small copse of trees she had spotted was nowhere near the area of jungle she usually occupied, that was quite far in the distance, a darker, green, far off area. She would not be dragging it all the way back, rather just inhabitting the thicket until she had taken her fill. She did not once turn to look back to see if she would be followed or not.
She did, however, when she reached her hopeful hiding spot, easily scaling one of the trees with her prey in her mouth. What she saw only made her bristle again. She could see the big male in the distance, approaching slowly, and was surprised to see him dragging the large carcass of the buffalo. Why was he trying to follow her when he had a kill of his own?
Disregardless, she made herself comfortable and started to eat, pondering over the male as he drew closer. At least there were higher branches. A creature that large would never be able to climb up so high, if that's what he intended on doing. She waited for him to get closer, wondering if he would speak out to her first, or if she would give into curiosity and ask herself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:53 pm
Coming closer to the female, he soon realized that it was a leopardess. Well, the sure sign of it showed. Her long, tick tail. Her short, sleek body. Her short, powerful legs. And the fact that she climbed up a tree to eat her kill. Soulful, innocent eyes looked up at her as he made his way under where she was, putting his kill down slowly on the ground.
"Hello," he replied in a semi-timid voice, making sure his kill was placed before him. His paws laced before him. Because she was above him, he didn't have to hunch over! What a relief that was. He smiled the best he could, she could not possible find his secret the way he was now so he could relax a little.
"You cause quite a startle back there, almost got me killed if those grazers got me with their antlers," he gave a soft chuckle. "Are you alright?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:15 pm
She watched him carefully, until his tone reached her ears, which put her even more at ease. He was obviously harmless, in demeanor at the very least. She took a moment to observe his huge, powerful form, admiring it somewhat. She couldn't remember seeing a lone male of such a size. It was odd to her, because she didn't think they were near any immediate lion territories. He must be traveling, or far from home, she thought.
"I'm very sorry. I wasn't aware you were out by the buffalo." She replied, licking her slightly blood-stained muzzle. "I wasn't anywhere near them. Are you alright?" se asked, though she could plainly see that he was. It would probably take a lot to get a big thing like him down.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:21 pm
He looked himself over a few times and smiled back. "No, it seems like I am fine except for a few scrapes here and there. But that's to be expected when you are in a middle of a stampede," he chuckled and smiled. This wasn't normally his behavior when there wasn't someone around who needed his help, but he had something to hide behind this time.
"It seems that you startled the antelope and that startled the buffalo. So I guess it's alright, not entirely your fault," he did appreciate that she asked him in return about how he was. Not many really considered his feelings. Most just asked/got what they wanted and went on their way. Life of being a nice guy he guessed.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is your name? I'm Trig."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:00 pm
"I'm glad to see you aren't badly hurt. I should have been more watchful...there haven't been many lions in this area lately, that I have seen." she said, watching the big lion carefully. Usually she could detect a lion's presence quicker but he obviously hadn't been around that long, and one could only see so far across the savanna. She kneaded at the bark of the tree with her claws as he introduced himself, the blackened tip of her tail switching softly, sort of nervously.
"My name is Maori. It's good to meet you, Trig." she replied, her amethyst eyes observing him. He was a rather handsome creature, though inside she did feel a bit tense. She wasn't all that comfortable around lions, but she tried to forgot about that. Treating all lions the same would be a foolish thing to do.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:03 pm
"I can take quite the hit at times, just gotta suffer through the soreness that inevitably follows," he laughed happily. Often times, he would take out a prey easily, tackling it down and suffocate it by closing his jaws around its neck. Either he snaps it to end it quick or have it suffocate like most felines do. He was the one for breaking the neck, rather not have them suffer. But it was sort of Maori's fault that got him to plow into that buffalo. Hopefully... she could not see the slight puncture on his side from where he hit the horn. "At least you were able to get yourself the kill. Mine was a fluke."
"Well, it is indeed the pleasure to meet you, Miss Maori," he wasn't sure if she was mated or not, that was what the Miss title was for. Otherwise, he would use the formal title of Lady. His teal eyes gleamed up at her and smiled. She was a beautiful female that he could actually assume that she was mated. However, the lack of a male presence here made him think otherwise.
Slowly, he fell down onto his side a little, eating the kill he had earned, feeling the grass rub against his wound. A slight wince.
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