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 Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:44 am
With a huff, young Micah had left, trotted off into the barren wasteland. On patrol, that's what she kept telling herself she was doing. She was on patrol. On the look out for any of those slimy lions that dared step on their lands. If she saw one, she was intent with the mind set that she'd tear them all to pieces. It would please the alpha, afterall. Micah would work hard, even though she knew right well she didn't have to. She was basically set for life, being related to the alpha and all. The dark creature let out a dull sigh. Nothing was happening! With a low growl, she pounced on a bone in frustration, gnawing at it furiously, not having anything better to do.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:59 am
The night had been dry, and little Cigende had quite happily slept in the open, too absorbed in her own thoughts to worry about detection. She'd dreamt of her mother again. As she woke, sneezing in the dust, she wondered just where her mother had gone to, anyway. After all, she surely hadn't strayed that far. Just over the hill, and across the grass, and across that river, and a few days' walk until she came across this strange, desolate land of bones. Well, if she kept moving, surely they'd run into each other eventually. And in the meantime, she'd satisfy the curiosity she was always being reprimanded for.
She stretched briefly, then set out on what was becoming a new ritual, of hunting for her breakfast. Beetles and worms, and once, a half dead mouse, weren't exactly mother's milk, but they were enough for the moment. Though as the days wore on, she was getting a longing for something more substantial.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:44 am
Micah had been absorbed in her attacking of the bone, her sharp little teeth cracking away at it efficiently. After having completely shattered the old remains, she looked up, a slight frown on her brow. This little hyena always needed something to do, she just got too jittery if there was nothing around for her to keep herself occupied with. And right now, she had some frustrations she wanted to get out. Like the frustration with her brothers, and how they weren't even up. Having grown up with them, Micah had developed quite a rough and tumble personality. She didn't take crap from anyone. Not even her own bored mind. However, something was able to snap Micah out of her musings. A cool, fresh breeze floated through, bringing with it a new scent.
Stranger
Micah bristled immediately, not knowing what to expect. Her sense of smell wasn't so keen as to identify just what was out there just yet. A mischevious grin appeared on the hyena's maw as she cocked a brow. Well, now there was something to do. Slowly, she slid into the shadows, her dark coat allowing her to blend in perfectly with the dusty darkness. Quietly, she prowled through the dark, circling this stranger, letting out a high pitched, very characteristic hyena cackle as she did.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:07 am
Cigende had found a nice long line of ants and was about to slurp them down when the loud cry sent her instinctively dashing for cover, right into a wall of rock. She yelped as she bounced off it and stumbled over her feet, landing on her back.
She lay there, annoyed with herself for the stupid action. No great hunter of the tall grass was she! She distracted herself so thoroughly, replaying the event and trying to retrain her instincts, that she forgot for a moment about the sound entirely. But her memory kicked in and reminded her where she had heard such a sound before, and she eagerly scrambled upright, ambling back to where she had been, peering about for signs of what she was certain must be a hyena.
"Mama?" She called. "Mama, that you? You shouldn't wander off like that, mama, I nearly lost you." She sniffed, then blinked in surprise, for the scent she noticed definately wasn't her mother.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:32 am
THUD! Micah couldn't help but snicker as her 'prey' was startled by her cackle and ran straight into the side of a boulder. Oh boy, she was good at these scare tactics! The young hyena was rather beside herself; she couldn't wait to get back and tell Baal all about this. Grinning wider, she prowled forward, trying to catch sight of just what she was stalking. Peeking out from the shadows, her blueberry colored eyes scanned over a familiar form. It was a hyena, one not all that much younger than herself. From the size and build, she could tell it was another female. The coloring was not familiar to her. This other female didn't look like any of the others in the pack that she'd seen. Where had she come from? Well, it wasn't a lion, which was good. Well, it was an interesting find either way. Micah was going to prowl about, scare the other pup a little bit more, but then the other spoke.
"No."
Micah's tone was firm, his brown wrinkling in a bit of concern. Why would this other pup think she was it's mom? Slowly, her black spotted form emerged from the shadows. Micah was a rather large youngster, her genetic line being rather muscular as it was. But as she stood there, before the brown colored pup, she didn't project a threatening presense.
"I'm not your mom. I don't think she's here."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:52 am
Cigende nearly wriggled with excitement as the newcomer came out from hiding. It was a hyena! Oh good. Mother was always going on about how large, strange carnivores were dangerous, but this was a small strange hyena. Completely different thing.
She opened her jaw to say hello, but her always-wandering mind took control and what came out was "You're really good at hiding! I thought you were a shadow. You look just like one. I've never seen a black hyena before." She wandered forward and inspected the larger canine. "I bet it helps when you're hunting! I bet it does. Is it hard to see yourself? I'm not very good at hunting. I caught a dragonfly yesterday, though. Mama's a good hunter. Have you seen my mother? She's big and brown?" Finally she caught up to herself, served up a mental slap for getting off topic. "I'm Cigende. Hello."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:22 pm
Micah had tenatively opened her mouth to say something else, but quickly, she was cut off by the other hyena. Her jaws snapped shut, brow furrowing, not much liking to be interrupted. However, as soon as words began spilling out of the splotchy female's mouth, Micah's negative thoughts were silenced. A big, arrogant smile was plastered on her mouth, chest puffing out in pride. The female tossed her head, clearing a tuft of fur from her eyes.
"Ya'h well, I've lear'ed a 'ot livin' 'ere. Ya gotta know how ta 'ide if ya wanna get by."
Micah smirked, tilting her chin upward proudly. Boy, if only this other hyena had known what she was getting herself into, pumping Micah's ego up. Micah always had quite a big head, thinking herself better than both of her brothers, and of course all the other pups she'd seen about, but now, finally, someone was acknowledging it! With a light sigh, she waved around a paw,
"Yah, 'elps wif huntin'. Caugh' a mouse tha other day."
The youngster smiled, baring her pearly teeth. It had been quite a catch. Micah's eyes wandered upward, thinking about her catch the other day, her mother hadn't even helped her out. As the other mentioned catching a dragonfly, Micah rolled her eyes back down, furrowing her brow at the comment. Eating bugs? Gross. They were carnivores, they were supposed to eat meat, not mush!
"Nah, 'aven't seen yer Ma, I tol' ya. I'm Micah. I live 'ere."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:40 pm
Cigende sized up her new acquaintance, listening attentively to the odd speech with ears perked. Well, she seemed pretty confidant and capable. Not hostile or angry. But her mind kept going back to the hyena's dark coloring. It was so strange, but it seemed to fit here, in this new place of bones. She glanced down at her own paws, streaked with mud but still glaringly white against the gray rocks. She must stand out like a a zebra in the grass.
She couldn't understand half of what was coming out of the other's mouth, but she recognized 'mouse' and immediately took notice. "I caught a mouse! Well, no. I think someone else caught it first. It was just laying there. Are there mice here?" The idea of some real, solid meat, even just that of a rodent, had her teeth clicking together in anticipation, and she scanned the surrounding area with renewed interest, but saw nothing moving besides the bugs.
"Nice to meet you Micah. I haven't seen my mother either. I think she misplaced me. She couldn't have gone too far, though."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:59 pm
Micah, too, stood there inspecting Cigende, this newcomer. She couldn't peg the coloring for any other hyena she'd ever seen. Obviously, the pup wasn't from around here. The hyena had never taken much mind to her own pelt colors, though they did help her with her sneaking around. Micah had been born and raised here, third generation as it was. She liked it that way; she'd never leave. As for her strange drawl, that had been carried down to her just as her pelt coloring had. Thankfully, her speech was much easier to understand than both her father and grandfather's.
"Nah, tha's not catchin'! Ya gotta do it yerself, dummy."
Micah crinkled her nose, shaking her head, tone a little playful. Boy, what a clueless puppy. Well, good thing she was here to help this pup out with he obviously endless skill. The juvenile took a small hop to the left, gesturing for Cigende to follow her,
"Cig, yer Ma's not 'ere. I've been on pat'ol all mornin', an' I ain't seen 'er. But c'mon, I'll sho' ya 'ow ya catch stuff. I know 'ow."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:19 pm
Biting her lip, Cigende pouted. "I am not a dum- food?" All other thoughts driven from her mind, she eagerly trailed her new companion. She didn't know what a pat'ol was, but if it involved catching things, preferably mice, it was something she was most eager to try her paws at. Her stomach clenched and whimpered at her, and she snorted, annoyed. Stupid body wasn't supposed to talk, that's what mouths were for. And it just wouldn't shut up, even when she told it to.
That was the way with bodies, it seemed. They did all sorts of stupid things, like falling over their own feet or sneezing when supposed to be quiet. Someday she'd figure out how to make it listen to her. Somehow.
Though at the moment, she agreed with it. Some meat would be wonderful right now. She stayed right in Micah's shadow, urging her on.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:39 pm
Leading the way, Micah smirked the whole way, rather proud of herself. She could never get her brothers to follow her lead, but now it seemed she had found someone to do just that. This was proving to be a great day!. Behind her, she heard the stomach of the pup growl in hunger. Micah felt a little bit of pity. The other had lost her mother, and obviously hadn't learned how to fend for her self just yet. Schatz, Micah's mother still brought back food, but Micah's search for independence had lead her to follow the lead of others to learn on her own. Now she'd be the mentor. Yeah, mentor. She liked the sound of that. Suddenly, Micah wound to a halt, her whispy tail lashing out, flicking her follower on the nose, telling her to stop.
"Hushhhh!"
There was a rustle of bones in a broken down antelope skull they had just walked right past. Mm, she knew just what was lurking in there. With a snap, her head turned to look at Cigende over her shoulder, quietly gesturing to the skull. She pointed at it with a paw, indicating her to watch. The rustling continued, and Micah started moving again, stalking her slow way closer. As she stood a few feet away, she lunged, pouncing on the skull and landing on it. She pinned the skull to the ground, covering up the eye sockets with her paws, leaving the small rodent within trapped.
"Ahha! Got 'im!"
With a grin, she looked to the skull, the mouse inside rattling in panic. Micah's blueberry gaze rose to her new companion, grin remaining.
"Now ya gotta kill 'im. I'll le' 'im go, an' ya gotta snapsnap wif yer teeth, bite 'im in 'alf!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:16 pm
Cigende trotted along, watching Micah and trying to mimic her every move. It was difficult; the size difference meant she had to take more steps on her smaller legs, and she'd find herself skipping forward, miscalculating the distance, and having to stop short before she barreled into her companion. She tried concentrating on combining moving just like Micah, but with longer, quicker steps, but that just distracted her and she'd have to stop again.
As Micah went for the skull, she startled, and stood motionless, waiting to see what she did. It took her a moment to realize that there was prey inside the skull, but once she got it, she started trembling with excitement, shifting on her feet back and forth, muscles tensed. She thought back to the few times her mother had shown her hunting, and crouched low, eyes fixed on the skull.
"I'm ready I'm ready..." her teeth clattered as she nearly vibrated from the adrenaline. "Let it gohohoh!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:06 pm
Micah sat patiently, their meaty prize sealed by her small paws in the sun bleached skull. There was a devilish grin plastered over her maw. Her deep blue eyes held a gaze of both excitement and pride. She'd teach her new companion to be a good killer, as their hyena kind should be. It rather excited Micah, giving, the pup wouldn't find her mother and stick around the graveyard. Micah had never had any friends around here, save for her twin. This was a new and interesting venture for the young animal.
"Rip 'is 'ead off!"
Micah jeered on, getting both herself and Cigende more and more excited by the minute. Right then, she felt the moment the right one, and she lifted up the skull, allowing the gray hued mouse to come dashing out. It was fast, hopefully, Cigende would be up to the task. Micah stayed put, watching her new aprentice with careful eyes.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:41 pm
The skull lifted and the little fuzzy critter came scurrying into view. Cigende yipped with glee and bolted for it. It was a short distance between them, but it was enough time for the mouse to realize just what it was up against, and flee for the nearest bramble of bones. Cigende chased after as fast as her body would move, lunging and snapping whenever she got close enough.
Not finding a hole to hide in, the mouse veered to the side just before a bare ribcage. Cigende smashed into it, but was too wrapped up in the hunt to care, and launched herself back off the bones and back into the chase. The predator and prey weaved a tangled maze in the open area, dodging and circling, both squeeling at high pitches.
Finally the mouse spotted a cranny in a bone pile and dove for it. Cigende dove after, cramming her jaw in after it and snapping furiously. The pile shifted all around her as she pushed her weight in. Finally she managed to snag the mouse's leg between her teeth. Overjoyed, she attempted to pull it back out... and didn't move.
"Mrruh...'m shtruck," she whimpered, tossing her weight about but still unable to get free.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:01 pm
And the chase was off. In the blink of an eye, the dusty little mouse and it's formidable predator were in a stirr of motion. Micah stood back, her careful blue eyes darting to and fro, monitoring closely the action going on before her. Oh, there, almost had it! No, now it was getting away! The young hyena leaned forward, toward the stirr. She took a few steps forward, as the predator and prey scurried toward a hollow bone carcass. The black hyena stopped, her chin tilted up, eyes narrowed in expectance, watching over Cigende like a hawk.
Then came a crash, a shuffle, more rustling. Micah's blueberry eyes widened. A cloud of dust billowed up from the dry landscape, clogging the still air. Squinting through the dust, Micah trotted forward as all was still. Peering in closer, all she saw was a brown hyena rear sticking out from a pile of bones. She sighed, rolling her eyes. Smooth moves. Huffing, she trotted over to the pup, nudging at the bones with her nose, attempting to help the little hyena get free, pawing at Cigende's head, trying to jiggle it out from where it was stuck.
"Did ya ge' it a' leas'?!"
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