A bite and jerk of her head and it's neck was broken, the gazelle dropping like a stone. Dead. Tuliua growled softly into the meat as she landed hard on the ground, slowly clambering to her feet with a small wince at a new ache that had arisen in her leg. That gazelle was heavy! But she'd managed it - to bring a rather large gazelle down by herself. She hadn't brought down one that big before. Oh, Faiz was going to be so proud of her! At least, she hoped he was. He usually seemed to enjoy the little gifts she brought. Glancing up to survey the grass she was in, the female shuddered slightly.

She felt so open out here - so exposed. Not many females had their Pad's permission to go hunting in the grassfields not contained in the pride borders, but Faiz trusted her. It was a trust she carried proudly, and wasn't going to willingly abuse. Any hunting trips that took her away from the borders were always quick, and she was back as soon as she'd made her kill. She always felt uneasy, though. The pride guards couldn't see her from here - any calls for help wouldn't be heard.

Averting her gaze down once again, Tuliua groaned inwardly. She now had to carry this huge gazelle back to the pride lands, all by herself. But it was for Faiz - and she'd do anything for Faiz.


The blue sky was smeared with white clouds, like white brush strokes on a blank, blue canvas. Kauli smiled up at them, breathing in the fresh African air and thanking the gods for bestowing another good day upon the earth.

Like normally, Kauli was out hunting for his mate. She was tired lately, and he was used to hunting on is own. Unlike normal lions, Kauli had taken the place of head hunter in his family instead of his mate. But he did so gladly. He liked hunting and providing for his family. Whether that made him abnormal or not, he didn't care.

The air was hot, but it was dry. It made hunting easier. Kauli's ears were pressed forward, and his tail hung stiffly behind him as he stalked through the grasslands. His nose was inhaling and exhaling constantly, willing himself to pick up some kind of scent; any scent of food. Sooner or later, he smelled gazelle. But what was the other smell? Blood? Had the gazelle been killed, or was there an injured one nearby?

Curious as always, the male quickened his pace in order to find the answer to his question. Dead or not dead, taken or not taken, the gazelle meant that a herd was nearby. He'd have food for his family. It was a win-win situation. Life was so pleasant and surprising.

Kauli curled around a tall patch of dead grass, peeking out the other side. His green eyes set on a dead gazelle, neck broken and blood spattering the dirt. The lion smiled, licking his chops as hunger itched at his stomach. But as he licked, he tasted something. Another scent.

A lioness?

Kauli's head snapped up. Low and behold, there was a lioness a few feet away by the gazelle, blood marring her white teeth. It was obvious she had made the kill. Kauli was intruding.

"Oh!" he exclaimed with surprise, ears twisting to the sides, though he continued to smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you at first. I take it this is your kill, then?" he asked hesitantly, a grin twitching across his maw.


She'd been thinking. Tuliua liked thinking. She smiled to herself, althouhg that was quick to fade when she heard a voice. A strange voice. A foreign one, from a rogue creature that was right behind her. Feeling the blood turn cold in her body, she froze where she was, just standing still for several moments. And then, slowly, she turned her head, pale eyes wide in fear and her nostrils flared as she looked at the...oh no, it was a lion. Lion, as in male! What did he want?! She'd been told stories of how male lions would just come up and impregnate you, because that was all you, as a female, were good for. Was he going to do that to her? Oh, Faiz was going to be so disappointed! She squeaked a little, hopping backwards away from her kill, and away from the male.

But he was...speaking to her. Like a normal creature might. Swallowing the large lump in her throat, Tuliua remained where she was, ready to turn and flee should she need to. She was small and pretty weak, strength-wise, but she could be a quick little thing. "Y-Yes."


Kauli's brows knitted slightly, an almost peaceful, understanding smile flitting across his face.

"That's what I thought." he remarked softly. The female lioness seemed quite frightened. She was shy, maybe? Or just afraid? Whatever the case, Kauli wasn't a bad sort of lion. He hoped she'd see that and no longer be so startled.

Well, if the kill was hers, he'd just have to go somewhere else for food. A big gazelle like that was too much for a single lioness to eat alone...But then, maybe she had a family, too? Maybe she was out hunting for her family, like he was? That would be a funny coincidence.

"You don't plan on eating that all by yourself, do you?" he asked. Then he laughed loudly at himself, realizing it sounded like he was asking for a bite. "Not that I want any!"


Why was he still talking? Hadn't she made it clear that she didn't want to? But he seemed quite...nice. He didn't seem like he was going to jump her or anything. He just seemed like he wanted a nice conversation. And a nice, intellectual conversation was something Tuliua thrived in. She did love hers with Faiz, but what was it some said? Variety was the spice of life?

She swallowed again, corrected her posture so she was facing Kauli, although her mind was still ready to give the command to her legs to flee if necessary. "No...but it's for my Pad, and the rest of his Harem," she finally spoke in a slightly hushed voice, feeling as if she shouldn't be speaking. But...it'd be rude just to leave.


The green and white lion tilted his head to the side as the unfamiliar words bounced in his ears.

Pad? Like the bottoms of your feet? And what was a Har...em...?

Curiosity tugged at the male's mind and, though he knew he really should get back to hunting, he just had to know what these things meant. The world was a never-ending pool of new things and new experiences, and he enjoyed every moment of it. The more he knew, the better. So hearing foreign things said by someone so casually almost excited the male. No matter how old he got, his level of curiosity was still much like a cub's.

"Your...Family?" he asked, showing confusion and interest.


He looked confused? What was there to be confused ab- oh, right. He wasn't a pride members, so he probably wasn't familiar with the terms. She allowed herelf a small smile, inwardly scolding herself for being so silly. Feeling a little more comfortable all of a sudden, she smiled a little wider, nodding her head at his suggestion.

"Yes...a family," she spoke, quite liking the term. Yes...Faiz was the head, and she and the others were the rest of the family. "A rather big one."


Kauli smiled.

So, she had a family. There were few things in the world more joyful than families...Few, if any. He related to the lioness much better at that point, understanding that she, too, had loved ones to provide for. She seemed almost like a frail lioness, but strong in her own right if she was able to take down a gazelle, surely. To be able to leave her family and come out on her own to provide food for them, she wasn't frail at all.

She was truly strong.

"I have a family, too." Kauli said after a moment, tail swaying in some gesture of quiet enthusiasm. "My mate is waiting for me at home." he explained. "And my cubs have grown now..." The male's voice trailed off, eyes wandering away from the lioness to stare at the distance. It was the only look of its kind; the look a father gave when thinking about his grown children who had left home to start lives of their own. His smile was soft, almost sad, as he looked on.

He missed them.


His smile triggered her own to grow wider - this wasn't too bad. She was quite enjoying this conversation, and listened intently as he began to speak about his own family. She somehow doubted it was exactly like hers - her family was unique. Faiz had often told her about how life was different out of the pridelands. Males only had one female. But she didn't mind - she liked the larger family. They all helped each other out.

"You have cubs?" she asked quitely, not quite wanting the conversation to end yet. This male seemed nice, and she wanted to keep the conversation going a little longer.


Kauli's heart swelled with pride at the thought of his offspring. Any questions asked about them were wholly welcomed. Kauli never tired of speaking of his children. He loved them with every fiber of his being, all their traits, quirks and personalities; their faces and their smiles and frowns. It was hard being a father. You raise your cubs to adolescents, in which time they go off and find their own path in life. They might find love, and have cubs of their own. They might get hurt, they might...Well, it didn't do any good to worry about them. But to raise them and bond with them so closely only to have them leave, yes...it was hard. But he wouldn't trade being a father for anything in the world.

"Yes," he said, white fangs flashing in a grin. "Five. But they've grown now, like all cubs eventually do. They've gone off to start their own lives." he said, eyes twinkling with pride, and something else; loneliness, maybe. It really was hard being a father. It really was.

"I hope you experience the joy of having cubs one day, my friend." he said endearingly, casting his eyes to the lioness once more. "I wish you the best in all you do in your life." he said, genuinely meaning it. His smile was calm and true, eyes relaxed as he looked upon her. A hot breeze swept through them, ruffling the male's white mane as he smiled.


His fangs flashed and for a moment she paniced, only to realize he was grinning. A friendly grin. Five children? Her eyes noticeably widened in surprise, Tuliua's ears flickering back momentairily before she regained her posture, smiling again instead. "That's...that's quite a few. However did you manage?"

She knew Faiz wanted cubs one day - but Tuliua herself wasn't sure. Just she didn't know - didn't know whether she was strong enough to look after them, or to raise them properly. She was terrified she'd do it wrong. And she'd been told it hurt - it hurt far more than anything else. Especially when you had to let them go.

And then something unexpected. He hoped she had cubs? What...w-what was he implying? Suddenly confused and frightened, Tuliua shuffled backwards, nostrils flaring as she hopped from foot to foot, growling softly in an attempt to sound intimidating. "I...I-I...G-Go away!" she stammered, alreayd backing away. It had been her biggest kill! Why did he have to come along and force her to give it up!?

He was smiling and sincere, but she was too paniced to notice, "I-I'll call Faiz!"


The male lost his grin, expression falling into open-mouthed concern. He watched the lioness stammer and back away, threatening and frightened. She was like a cornered prey beast. But why? Had he said something wrong? What had he said? He couldn't think of anything wrong. Yet she seemed offended and afraid. What had he done?

Stomach rolling with guilt at having upset the lioness, Kauli offered an apologetic frown and dipped his head a bit, using body language to show her he meant no harm. His brows knit upwards and he visibly shrank, if only slightly, as he took on a weaker stance than the female. Couldn't she see he meant no harm?

What had happened to her to make her fear males so much?

"I don't mean any harm. I'm..." he said, his voice passive and sincere as he tried to make her understand. "What did I say...?" he asked, confusion clearly plastered on his apologetic face.


"Go away!" she shouted, growling once again in a rather more convincing way. Fear was over-riding her usually shy, quiet, demure nature and forcing her to become what she really was - a predator. It rarely happened, but when it did she could be fairly fierce - like right now, when she even flashed her teeth, lowering her body to the ground as if she was getting ready to leap.

"Have the stupid gazelle if you want!" she snapped, although inside she was distraught. Faiz would be so disappointed, at her coming back with nothing! But...but there was nothing else she could do! He'd mentioned cubs, and wishing them on her - didn't that mean he was going to attack hre? Rape her? Terrified, she growled once more, shuffling backwards before turning and fleeing, back to the pride lands where Faiz was. Faiz always meant safety.


Kauli's ears flattened at the lioness's tone. His jaw dropped at her assumption that he wanted her gazelle. He couldn't believe it. He didn't understand. And then there was a harsher blow as the female raced off, dust flying up behind her quick feet. Before he could even mutter another interjection, she was far away. There was no catching up to her. Even if he could catch up, what could would it do? She obviously no longer wanted to be in contact with him. But that was a shame. They had started off well. He felt they had connected. It was how it felt to make a new friend. Friends were priceless things, and could be created in mere seconds. Why had she run away from that? Maybe it really was something he had said...But no, he hadn't said anything wrong. She had seemed uncomfortable with him from the start of the conversation. Maybe she just...Didn't like him? Maybe...She didn't like anyone except the one closest to her? But what would cause that? Such a scared, closed mind...It really was unfortunate.

Flustered with guilt and confusion, the male lowered his head to stare at the gazelle carcass. It was still warm. He curled his lip sadly at it, eyes narrowing as he frowned. He turned away from it, paws heading for home.

No matter how fresh and warm, that gazelle would never taste good to him now.