New blood; new blood; new blood. Was all the kept running through Ragdoll's mind as she made her way stealthily through the tall grasses; sniffing out an easier to catch prey beast. Even though she'd been sent on a mission by her king to bring in new blood; hunger had penetrated through her thoughts and were now forcing her to think on other things. Food. She smiled as she caught scent of something that seemed promising... another lion. Her stomach growled though and she sighed; hanging her head dejectedly. It seemed her quest for food was going to have to wait; she was; after all on a mission. She smiled sweetly as she made her way through the grass; trying to look slightly lost; maybe even as if she needed some sort of help.
-
The voice had returned, to Nav'hian's absolute disgust, the voice which called him a failure as he sat, still as stone near a tree. He was partially hidden in the shadows and by the long grass which came to the tips of his hips, but allowed the rest of him to be visible. It didn't matter, because the prey animals knew he was not there to hunt. Not hunt them, at least. Nav had learnt that where prey was, there was usually a feline stalking nearby, which was what he was really hunting. A slight snarl crossed his face as his eyes narrowed at the grasses surrounding the prey. There wasn't even a flicker, and the male had not yet scented the lioness creeping closer. He cursed the voice in his head, which was now laughing at his poor attempts at hunting a woman to take as his Banu. He hated failing, but it looked like he was close to doing it once again. Like he had done the day before, and the day before and- he cut himself off, the snarl building on his face again.
-
Rag's ears perked up as she heard the snarling and she decided to move through the grass a bit quicker; calling out to the now obvious male lion; "You don't have any prey to steal~ So why on earth would you feel the need to snarl at me?" She asked becoming fully visible now; yet still a few feet away from him; stopping; and sitting back on her haunches; smiling shyly and tilting her head a bit to look up at him. He was a big boy; she wondered if he was from a pride, and if he was; she wondered what he was doing so far away from it; as far as she knew there was nothing around for miles other than for her own pride. She laughed lightly; trying to seem non threatening; and flopping her tail back and forth playfully.
-
Nav's eyes lit up as the female became visible, though her appearance was a shock. She looked like she was made up of different lionesses, which was a disturbing thought, but that idea was firmly pushed from his mind. She was a female. She was a lioness. She was there. She met all the requirements, not he just had to not scare her off, or, at very least, knock her unconscious so she couldn't run. “ I was thinking of something most unpleasant,” he responded, as he got to his feet. The male was big and bulky, and had been since he was very young, so he grew up knowing he was usually something that was feared, though he had never used his size to his advantage, until he had been out on his own. Most of his size was actually furr, but most did not come close enough to discover that. “Are you hunting on your own?” He asked, his tail flicked back and forth as well, but with less of a playful air. There was something still preditory about his posture, though it appeared relaxed.
-
Rags nodded her head standing up and stretching slightly; trying her best to look appealing and attractive the cocoa brown of her eyes lightening slightly in the sun. "something unpleasant." She repeated as if thinking to herself before trotting up to him to meet him somewhere in the middle; undisturbed by his size. Really wanting nothing more than to reach out one of her paws and fluff his mane playfully. "Well that's unfortunate; though I do find that unpleasant thoughts seem to come when ones alone." She added on; sighing slightly as if she felt his distress; and in a sense she did. Anyone with the ability to withstand pain like her; and with the love and craving of pain that she had, was bound to have a few unpleasant thoughts every now and then. She smiled as she noticed the way he was holding himself; how cute. "I am actually..." She admitted lowering her head slightly; her stomach growled and she winced at the sound. "and as you can plainly hear; I'm not doing a very good job of it either." She laughed lightly.
-
As she moved closer to him, Nav'hian tensed, his muscles bunching and unbunching. He could easily swiped out a paw, cuff her just behind the ears and knock her unconscious, then there was no need to carry on any conversation. He was big enough that he could drag her at least some of the way, and by the time she woke up, she would be disorientated enough to not be able to fight him well enough, but she seemed friendly enough at the moment. Perhaps he would not need to knock her out?
Nav lowered his head, so he was closer to her size and not towering over her in any way. “Ah, I see. Perhaps I might be of use then?” If he caught her some food, she would lower her guard. Yes. That was perfect. She would lower her guard and he could make his move and capture her for himself. “I am an adept hunter,” he said, lying lightly. He was an alright hunter, but he was not the best at it. He would likely be able to fumble through at least one catch. “I would not mind getting something for you.” His tail flicked and he tried to look appealing, but he was not good at flirting, nor was he good at appealing to other people. He was more of a thug, in the end, just like his father.
-
Rags smile widened and her eyes sparkled slightly at the offer; she hadn't been expecting that but it was nice of him. She wondered what his ulterior motive was; not that she hadn't seen him tense slightly. "really??" She asked excitedly; the prospect of a meal hunted for her sounding like a good idea at the moment. "are you sure you wouldn't mind??" She asked nervously; her ears going back against her head slightly. "I would hate for you to go to all that trouble..." She told him and honestly she did. Rags didn't like the feeling that she might owe someone something; maybe she could offer him something in return. "It wouldn't be for nothing of course!" She demanded leaving no room for argument. "I could make you something in exchange for your services." She told him lifting up her head slightly; where a few needles were stuck into a little leather choker the same color as her fur. "I'm a crafter and I'd feel just awful if you didn't let me make you something as a thank you." She told him sincerely. It had been a while since she'd made something for someone else; she liked being able to offer to random strangers; it helped keep her good at her skill.
-
What a pretty picture she made, despite her rather odd appearance. She seemed honestly excited for him to hunt for her, and he felt his chest swell with pride. See? He wanted to scream at the voice in his head, See? He was useful for something! He could do this right! “Of course, it is no problem to me.” He said, sounding confident though he wasn't. He hadn't hunted for a female in...well, ever. What if he messed up and made a fool of himself? The voice returned, snarling that of course he would mess up, he always did, but he pushed it firmly aside.
He looked surprised when she motioned to the needles where stuck, in what appeared to be her neck which made the tough-looking lion shudder slightly, though he hid it well. “A crafter?” He sounded surprised. “Never have I met a crafter, so I wouldn't know what to ask for. I will leave it up to you, yes?” He said, not denying that he would like sometihng in return for hunting for her, but unaware of what he could ask for. What, exactly, did a crafter make? He didn't want patches on his fur like she had, and he didn't like the idea of those needles anywhere near his fur. “Any preference on what you would like to eat?” He asked, giving her the option and rather preying she chose something small.
-
"I'll make you a bag." She told him smiling sweetly; honestly she normally had a bag that hung from her chest; but she'd gotten into the habit of leaving it in her den back in her pride. She didn't need it as much anymore; no; she'd be back eventually why carry it when she could just make another one? all she really needed was her needles anyways. She eyed him appreciatively as he swelled his chest; what a cute little male she'd found; now she wondered if he was part of any pride? Not that she would ask; not now anyways; maybe after he'd caught her something to eat. She trotted past him to where he'd been sitting; rubbing her tail along the underside of his mane as she did; sitting where he'd been sitting underneath the shade. She turned her head to look back at him.
"Well... to be honest; I've been practically living off of rabbits for the past few weeks... and I don't think that something small would be enough for a lioness like me; and a big lion such as yourself to share. So... maybe a gazelle?" She requested; as if he really had a choice. Her ears twitched and she looked up and over to the right. "What luck!" She exclaimed joyfully; "There's a herd of them over there!" How had she missed that? Well; it didn't matter now. She wiggled slightly; one side of her shoulder going up while the other went down and vice versa. Gazelle sounded really good; and it was the best material to make things with... what a lucky night this was turning out to be for her.
-
He was pleasantly surprised at the idea of a bag. What a wonderful idea. He had...no idea what he would carry in it, but it was always useful to have storage, yes? He knew it would be a good idea, for something. “That would be wonderful,” he told her, his eyes sparkling happily. This visit was turning out to be quite enjoyable! Perhaps, when he caught her, she could make craft for the rest of the pride. Then everyone would be envious of him for his wonderful, useful female, he though, already thinking of how the other males would be green with envy.
He shook his head, quickly returning to the problem at hand. She had brushed passed him, seeming completely unphased by his larger sized and quite friendly still. He had firmed himeslf even more now. He would capture her. She would come back with him. She had to.
He cast his gaze towards where she was looking, spotting the gazelle herd as well, his tail flicking behind him eagerly. Gazelle. Perfect! He had, in fact, caught Gazelle's before, so this should not be too much of a strain to do. “Your wish is my command,” he told her, and without a parting glance, he lowered himself as he slipped easily through the grass. For his large size, it was surprisingly easy for him to disappearing into the grass.
He approached the herd with a fast pace, not pausing to hide when they started to stress. He found a tuff of grass to hide, not far from the herd. Now, he just had to find the weakest, or the furthest away gazelle from the herd. Easy pickings.
--
Ragdoll lifted her head to watch him. Her command hmm? Poor boy must have not had any females near him in quite some time. But that was alright; if it made him more compliant then good. She watched the green grass move and then suddenly stop; she guessed he was picking out his prey at this moment. She looked up at the tree branches above her head and agilely jumped onto one of them; making a herself comfortable to watch better. She loved to watch a good hunt. She laid her head on her paws and let her tail hang down; careful of how she laid her head making sure not to stick herself with one of her own porcupine needles. He'd be an excellent edition to the pride she thought; very willing to do things... And with his size; well he could easily be a Kubwa'kali of the pride. She purred content with herself for the day; now all she needed to find out was if he was apart of a pride.
---
Nav'hian's gold eyes took in the gazelle heard, watching a few of the elder ones tossing their heads and stamping the ground nervously. They knew they were being watched, but they hadn't spotted him yet, which was exactly what he wanted them to do. He crept forward, allowing his belly to drag across the ground so he was not seen. His tail flicked behind him eagerly, wondering how long it had been since he had been so eager to hunt. When it was just for himself, well, he really didn't often bother for large prey, content with birds or rabbits when he managed to find them.
He was distracted by his thoughts, so he didn't notice a gazelle creeping towards where he was hidden, until it caught sight of him and let out a warning call to the other herd members. It was a full sized adult who had discovered him, and jerking out of his thoughtful daze, he launched himself at it. He landed just before it, and used his sheer size to take it down as he turned to run. It had given the other herd members time to get away, but as his jaw closed down around it's neck with brutal accuracy, it hadn't given itself enough time to run.
The actually capturing of his prey had been accidental, but he was going to pretend, to the last second, that he had meant to do that. Yes. He had.
---
Ragdoll tittered quietly to herself; she'd seen the gazelle sneaking up on him; what was he doing? he should have grabbed it a while ago. She sighed rolling her eyes; maybe he wasn't as good as she thought. She was about to stand and jump from the tree to go and catch something herself had she not seen the flurry of movement as soon as she'd looked away. It was kind of brilliant the way he'd taken down his prey like that. She nodded her head in a sort of recognition of his skills and waited for him to come back to her.
She'd have to make him a nice sized bag... She started thinking to herself; maybe use the skin covering the gazelles spine as the strap? That could work. Maybe she'd even take the horns back to one of the other many crafters of the pride and have them make him a goblin mask. She smiled at the thought. He was already big and scary; he'd look absolutely terrifying in a horned mask. He'd scare away any intruders before they even thought about being intruders. She lowered her head once more; laying it sideways on her paws so she could watch him coming back towards her. Her tail and one of her legs hanging lazily from the tree branch.
"That was very impressive." She called to him; just in case he hadn't realized that she'd retreated up into the shade of the tree. "That will get you a nice sized bag." She told him as if he'd just earned some sort of reward. "By the way~ my name is Stoffpuppe. But! don't call me that; I never liked the name. You can call me Ragdoll... or Rags for short." She added laughing and jumping down gracefully with a little bit of a thud. "Its more fitting don't you think?" She said motioning her tail towards her body and it's many patches.
--
Nav'hian glanced up after he had killed his prey, spying the female waiting for him and stiffening his shoulders and his stance. He easily lifted the kill, since it was sizably smaller then he was, so it was easy to carry and began to trot back towards the waiting female. She was up a tree, which amused him, since it was such a leopard thing to do for a lioness, but he supposed he shouldn't judge. He dropped the kill by the base of the tree, and stepped back, in case she wanted to return to the ground.
“Thank you,” he said, inclining his head. He was faintly excited to see how she would make the bag for him, and was proud that he had managed to impress her. Tilting his head, he did stiffle a laugh at her name. Stoffpuppe? That sounds...interesting. “Ragdoll? It does suit you,” he said, with a faint chuckle, as he watched her return to the ground. He was not really interested in eating, so the whole gazelle would go to her. “My name is Nav'hian,” he told her, “but you may call me Nav, if you wish.” He didn't really have nicknames, since, well, he didn't spend a lot of time around people usually, so he wasn't usually gifted with a nickname.
---
Ragdoll rubbed along the side of Nav gently before turning and walking back the other way towards the kill; sitting down next to him and reaching out a paw to pull it closer to herself so that she could skin it better. "It's nice to meet you Nav." She told him sincerely; he was an alright enough lion after all. She raked two of her claws along the back of the Gazelles spine making two distinct and clear cuts. She smiled to herself.
"This should be big enough for a strap." She said more to herself than to him. She lowered her head and bit into where she'd started the cut and pulled her head back; a distinct ripping sound could be heard as she separated the skin from the muscle in one clean swipe. She smiled and let the skin drop as she licked around her muzzle trying not to let any blood dry in her fur; it was a good trek to the closest watering hole and she honestly didn't feel like bothering with going to find one to clean herself off.
She jumped over the dead carcass that was bleeding slightly from the cut on its neck and back. She knew it would stop soon since the heart was no longer beating; so soon enough no blood would be coming forth. She placed both her front paws on the underbelly of the gazelle and pushed it over so that it's legs were in the air now and she could make another clean cut. She raked both of her claws over the gazelles belly and tore it up into one big piece. She'd make him a sling; with his size; that seemed to her to be best.
"So are you a part of any prides Nav?" She asked curiously.
--
Nav'hian watched her cut into the fur with interest, mildly amazed at the ease in which she managed to cut and pull away the pelt from the muscle. He would be ripping it with his claws and leaving pieces of muscle on it, he knew, if he had tried. Which he felt no need to try, anyway, he was not a crafty person. He was a little too clumsy for that.
He tensed when she asked him about her pride, knowing that their 'fun' time together was likely to come to an end soon. He would have to take her with him, she was too good a prize to give up. Really, who would give her up anyway? She was a little odd looking, but she would be the perfect addition to any harem. “Yes,” he said quietly, moving closer under the guise of watching her skin the carcass. “I am travelling, out looking for someone to take back to the pride.” He said, his claws tensing on the ground. He knew he could beat her in a fight, if it came to that. His larger size would be his advantage. “And you, Rags? Are you part of a pride?” He hoped not. He would hate to have to steal other pride members, but he would if he had to.
--
"Put those back where they came from." Rags told him a no nonsense sort of a tone; the sort of tone of voice a mother would use. "Why ruin a perfectly good conversation with bearing your claws?" She asked her head had been down the entire time; but she'd practically felt him tense; and out of the corner of her eye. She sighed and looked up at him as if the actions had already hurt her. "I'm a bit of my own pride at the moment." She told him smiling lightly; checking the peices that she'd ripped carefully for any tears. she smiled happy to herself and took it carefully in her mouth jumping up to the lowest limb and hanging them out. She looked down at him and jumped back down. "It only needs to set a few hours. Why don't you tell me about your pride?" She asked some what interested. Just wanting to know how fond of the pride he really was.
--
Nav'hian's claws retreated back into his paws, looking a little uncomfortable that she had noticed them slipping out. He hadn't meant to tense, but, she was perfect for his pride and he wouldn't accept anything less then to take her for his own, not if he could help it. “I appologise,” he said, sounding akward, and tried to relax more, so she wouldn't notice his tenseness. He watched as she checked the pelt, and hang it in the tree, before her comment seemed to sink in. “Your own pride, my that sounds...lonely,” he said, his voice calm and gentle, as if he were sympathetic. Inside, he was gleeful. Yes! She was alone. Easier to take her with him then.
“My pride? My pride is the Ukuucha'Wafalme,” he said, sounding proud. It was a good pride, and was an old one. “It is based off the ideals of brotherhood and of taking care of what is yours, your children and your women.” It was something he had missed, the safety of the pride. He had never had to fear his brothers, the other males in the pride, nor had he had to fear the outside world, until he had been old enough to leave the pride and suddenly, he was on his own.
---
"It's alright; just know better ok? Animals will start a fight over a lot less around here." She informed him. Once ragdoll was on the ground she moved a little closer to the carcass; a little closer to Nav as well trying to seem really interested in what he was saying. She reached down her head and took hold of the leg; placing her paw on a spot over the joint and pulling as hard as she could to separate the leg from the body. She liked tearing the bodies apart; made it easier to eat that way. She laid herself down comfortably next to him and listened to him talk about his pride. This guy probably was a lost cause.
"So like... " She started as she tore a chunk from the carcass. "If you love the pride so much; why are you all the way out here?"
--
Was she being concerned about him? He was amused at the thought, but shook his head, thinking she was probably just being polite or kind, though the idea she was concerned was a night thought. He watched as she dragged the carcass apart with an ease as he spoke about his pride.
He paused at her question and sighed.
“Because as part of the male's 'right of passage', we are forced into the rogue lands as adolescence and must not return until we have a female to call our own. I was...unable to procure a female of my own and did not dare return alone.” In his head, the voice was back, snarling how much of a failure he was, and shook his head firmly, claws clenching into the ground again as he forcably removed that idea from his mind. “I can not return until I find a female of my own, though my journey-mates have likely already returned and had families now, and I am still out here, looking.” He sounded disgusted at himself, and ashamed. He didn't know what had happened within the pride, or what had changed. All he knew was that it was all different and he was stil stuck here, by himself.
--
Well that sucked. She kind of felt bad now about the whole thing. She smiled and stood up scooting a little closer to him; and licking his muzzle affectionately. "Hey cheer up; just think about it this way; you just haven't found the right girl for you. All you have to do is find that one special someone and it suddenly won't matter how long you've been searching for." Or at least; that's what she constantly told herself. She was probably his age after all; and if he was so concerned about not having family; what did that say about her? "Why don't you just join another pride? there are plenty of them out there. I'm sure you'd be just as happy some where else?" She suggested; hoping maybe he'd agree.... then she'd ask him to journey with her; since they both were out here all alone why not? They could pass the time together. Then; little by little; she'd tell him about the goblin pride she'd heard of; try and get him to sound interested. Lead him closer and closer; and finally; when the pride sounded like something too good to pass up; bring him there. And welcome him to his new home... Yeah. That could work.
--
It felt nice, her nuzzled up close to him, the soft licks on his muzzle but he tensed again, at her words. “I'm not looking for 'the one', I don't need to find someone who will love me, or be my mate for life, I just want to go home.” He said, his voice was hoarse and he knew he probably sounded childish, but he didn't care if he ever found his happily ever after ,the girl who made him want to feel in love, he didn't even care if she hated him for the rest of their life, he just wanted the possibility to go home. He just...wanted to not feel alone anymore.
He scowled heavily at her suggestion. Not return home? That was ridiculous! Utterly insane. He would not be out here if he did not want to go home. He would have stopped looking long time ago. “Never,” he said firmly, without a shadow of doubt. “The Ukuucha'Wafalme is my home. I will always want to go back to it, even if I never find a girl to return with. It will always be my home.” He couldn't imagine anywhere else, ever being what the Ukuucha was to him. He was angry at the thought of not returning. How could she not understand that? She would understand. When he took her there, she would understand. She would learn to love it too.
--
"Well there's your problem." Rags told him; not as kind and gentle as a moment ago. "You have to romance a girl stupid. You can't just be rough and straightforward with her. You can be like that later on in the relationship. No; you have to get a female to beleive that you care about her deeply. That she's the reason you get up in the morning. You have to win her over my friend." She said chuckling and shaking her head. "You have to make her believe that she is the one." She looked up at him with a 'it's not that hard' sort of a face. "If you try to get her with brute force; she'll run from you eventually. But if you win her over; and make her feel that you two are true blue lovers; she'll follow you until the end of the world. Until the world falls down in fact." She added laughing a bit at one of the sayings her pride had.
She laid her head on his shoulder. She wanted to go back to her pride as well; but she couldn't until she'd found new blood for the pride. That had been her kings command. His way of picking on her for telling him she didn't want to do something. She sighed and nuzzled into his neck. "And hey; maybe it's becuase you're trying so hard to go back home; that you aren't having much luck?" That was how it always seemed to her anyways. "When you relax and don't worry about it as much; I bet that is when you'll get what you want."
--
Nav'hian scowled lightly at Rags. He knew that! Didn't she know that he knew that? It just...wasn't as easy as she made it seem. Flirting and coercing was not the male's style, he was simply not that kind of man and he had never been raised to be. His father had been very much like Nav, but worse and more physical when something displeased him, whereas Nav was more controlled now, disliking the way his father had raised him to be. “You think that's easy?” Nav scoffed. “I don't feel that way, and I have never done so, so why should I pretend? It will not be for love that I take a Banu as my own.” He said, tilting his jaw determinedly. He knew why he was taking a women back with him, and it would never be for love of her. It would be for love if his pride.
He startled lightly as Rags laid her head on his shoulder and cast her a slightly suspicious glance, but did not push her away, even as she began to nuzzle his neck. It was an odd feeling, and reminded him vaguely of when his mother had used to play with him and fuss over him as a cub.
“So you're saying I should stop trying, and then I'll suceed?” He sounded skeptical, but he was relaxing. He would capture her, he knew, for his own, but at the moment, it was kind of nice to sit and talk with her. That didn't mean he liked her though.
--
"Yes." Rags told him honestly lifting herself to her feet with a groan and shaking her fur out slightly stretching her front limbs and staring at him as if he needed to be taught. "See your problem Nav; is you're trying to hard. You're so worried over the fact that you may not find a female that you're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you get one. And you get so wound up over that I bet; that you either get mad; physical; or loud. And that scares off the females." She shat down and started to lick at her paw; rubbing it against her mouth to clean it off lightly. "And once you start acting like you genuinely care about the female you're trying to get; they'll be harder to scare off. And you'll have an easier time of getting yourself a female."
She tossed her hair slightly and looked up at the sky; it was still pretty bright out; good; they'd have plenty of time. "Here. show me how you normally act when you find a prospective female to bring back with you."
--
Nav'hian was scowling as she spoke, though he was mildly surprise at the tone she was able to speak to him in. Really, she was the first female who hadn't turned tail and run when she had heard his intentions. Perhaps she truly was open to the idea of returning to his pride. “So you want me to lie to them, tell them everythign will be alright and that I love them?” he said, sounding sarcastic. Nav'hian could beat a woman, he could attack her, but he would not lie to her. He had higher moral ideals then that, and lying was a dispicable trait to have.
He was startled when she suggested he act like he normally would, around a prospective female. He barely resisted the urge to smirk. “Show you?” He asked, almost in a pur. “Alright, I'll show you.” He could put up with her hating him, for what he was about to do, but she would be his. He moved closer, as if he was about to rub against her firtatiously, but as he moved towards her, he lifted one heavy paw and hit her across the shoulders, using his larger size and heavier weight to his advantage. He put his whole body into the attack and had, hopefully, used enough force to knock her to the ground. He would deal with her better on the ground, easier to attack her there.
--
Well... that had not been expected. A look of 'what just happened here?' crossed Ragdolls face as she fell to the ground with a thud and bounced a bit as well. In a past life she would have landed awkwardly to make it look as though she'd broken something but in this life... she wasn't that flexible. So as she hit the ground all she could think was 'son of a b***h.' She shook her head; trying to get to her feet and chuckled lightly though she was certain he wasn't expecting that. Pain? there was no pain in a small little shove like that; she'd experienced worse then that. "Ok; I can see why you're having such a hard time of this." She told him gruffly the wind having been knocked from her. And if he came at her or not she would have still said that; would have still turned her head to him and told him that "And how do you know everything won't be alright?" How did he know? There was an extremely good chance that everything WOULD be alright. That the female would be happy; that he could make them happy. But he could only think that everything wouldn't turn out alright in the end. Typical of a personality like his; so depressive and depressing.
--
She hit the ground with a satisfying thud, though it was not nearly strong enough to knock her, Nav noted with a touch of disappointment. It was easier when they were unconscious, that way he did not have to explain why he had just knocked them down and why he was trying to drag her off to a pride she had probably never heard of. Ah well, conscious or not, it was still easy enough to do. The male stepped over, careful not to hurt her but making sure she couldn't wiggle up again without getting passed him first. “The only hard time I have is making sure their unconscious,” he said, a slight purr in his voice. He wasn't Nav'hian, the sweet male anymore. He was going to take a female back with him, one way or another. Of course, he would obviously prefer it if she didn't hate him, but he could work around that.
When she responded to his earlier comment, a scowl worked across his face quickly. “Of course it won't be alright! With myself as a Pad, the Banu will not end up 'alright' but we'll survive.” His father's voice was in his head again, and his claws dug into the ground either side of Rags body on the ground. He unconsciously began to growl a little in frustration.
--
Rags squrimed so that her paws were between him and her and she stared up at him rolling her eyes. "Oh please! Such a downer. Get over yourself. Ok? What's so bad about having you a 'pad?" She turned her head and smiled slightly. "Other than for the fact that you seem to like trying ti knock females unconscious and fail at it. "For the most part you seem like a pretty nice guy. You're just an idiot when it comes to getting yourself a woman. Hell I bet you've never even mated before." She snickered looking back up at him slamming her back leg up and into his gut. If he fell on her; big deal; if he rolled off of her; well she would just get up and sit there to lick her paw as if nothing had happened. "You know what you're problem is Nav? You've got no self worth. And I bet that's your fathers fault. It always seems to be the fault of the father... unless you came from the Amazon pride..." She added on non-chalantly.
-
Nav'hian growled down at her, mindfull of her paws between them now. Get over himself? As if it was that easy? He barely bit back a snarl. “A pad is meant to be stronger than I am,” he snapped, “smarter. More adept at taking care of what is his. I will never be that.” He shifted uncomfortably at the idea of mating. Well, he hadn't but that wasn't the point. He knew the logistics of it, and when it came time to father a son, he knew what he had to do.
As her back leg connected with his gut, he grunted and slumped, crashing into her, though he quickly rolled so he did not squash her completely. His size was something he was always conscious of, even if it didn't seem like it. “Leave my father out of this,” he snarled, getting back to his feet and standing nearby, making sure she could not run away. He was not fast, because of his size, but he would try it. “My self worth is exactly as it should be.” His claws were dug into the ground again, as they always seemed to be when he was irritated.
--
"trying to kidnap me aside; I think you're a pretty nice male. You can hunt; you can fight; you look good. What more could a female ask for?" She asked looking him up and down as if she was appraising him. Rags stood her feet and made her way over to Nav; her tail swaying with the movement of her body. she rubbed her head against his as if she was apologizing for having just hit him in the gut. "Now I think~" She started up again this time pushing on him gently to get him to lay down to lay next to him; tired of the prospect of a fight. "I think that if you acted a bit nicer; and worked on your conversation a bit better; you'd have yourself a female in no time. If all you ever do when you meet a female is try and knock her out; the moment you look away she's going to be gone. But if you can make her feel like she can trust you; it won't be so bad. And you don't have to 'lie'." She told him honestly nuzzling into his mane. "Try and win her over; you have to protect your females don;t you? why don't you protect the female you're interested? Or try and take care of her? Maybe hunt for her? Make sure she's safe? just do small things to win her over. It really isn't as hard as you're making it. Just you know... don't try and hurt her before she even knows you."
--
It was all pretty words, Nav'hian realised, but it was pretty words that were working. As she swayed up to him, he allowed her to press close, nuzzling into his mane and allowing her to push him to the ground, though he resisted at first. “You think it is that easy?” He sneered a bit, but he was starting to relax. His earlier irritation fading. He scoffed slightly at her last suggestions, sounding faintly amused as he said, “like I did with you? Hunt for you?” It was said with a joking air, though he wondered if it was working. If she was contemplating following him, because he had hunted her. Sure, he had also tried to knock her unconscious, but she hadn't seemed to mind overly much. Perhaps he still had a chance with her, even if he was akward at her affectionate touches.
--
Rags licked his cheek and nodded her head. She'd get new blood for the pride one way or another... and he was rather large; why wouldn't he be able to produce large cubs? She smiled at him and laid her head down; careful of the needles in her choker. "Yes. I was rather impressed by the kill. And you seemed nice enough... until you hit me of course. But even that could be forgotten if you worked well enough." She told him as if she really would forgive him if he said a few more nice words. "find a rogue female; that seems as though the world is against her; and be nice to her. That's all it takes." She told him pressing her side into his and looking up at him from the corner of her eye. "You're very masculine; and I know I like to see that in a male... and not many offer to hunt for me." She mumbled that last bit; though it wasn't really true. A lot of others offered to hunt for her in exchange for her crafting services. "And once this bag is made for you; you can collect things; and act as though you had saved it for that female specifically. Again; it's not lying; you were saving it for a female you wanted to bring back with you. And that's all that really matters. But she'll think that it was specifically for her."
--
Nav'hian was rather impressed by this female. No one could call her a fool, nor silly. She was quite devious in her plans, and some of them seemed like they could possibly work. He didn't mind her prescence beside him either, which was an interesting change to his usual awkwardness. He lowered his head, and gifted her with a light nuzzle to her cheek, murmering, “You are quite an ingenious lioness,” he told her, honestly. His golden eyes sparkling with renewed energy to get his banu. This woman was perfect, he knew, but there was something fleeting about her prescence. He didn't know that, even with pretty words and trinkets, that he would be able to keep her. He would try though. He kept his head near hers, and lowered it so he could speak directly into one ear, “so if I brought you a trinket, you would be impressed as well, or is this only for other women who are not wise to this game?” He was curious. She knew what he was after, she knew why he would be doing it, but would she appreciate the gesture anyway?
A strange creature, this ragdoll was.
--
Rags smiled and turned her head so that her nose was flush against his; licking the front of his face sweetly; her eyes half lidded; her ears facing forward slightly and made a sort of action as though she would have kissed him. "Why thank you Nav." She whispered back to him a seductive tone to her voice. She let out one; small chuckle; more of a humored hmph. "No~ I'm afraid you have to work harder with me." She told him straight forward. "I can get those trinkets on my own. All the shiny things; all the little hanging things that some lions wear; that some lions obsess over; I can just trade a bag; or a cape; or a blanket for it." She smiled and purred lightly kneading her paws into the dirt before her; more relaxed than tensed like Nav had been. She lowered her gaze to the floor; a half smile gracing her face. "I'm more into the physical things that a male can offer~" She told him in a suggestive tone. "Than the possessions that they can give to me."
--
Nav'hian was not familiar with flirting, or coercing females, but he was familiar with this. This was neither of the, and was instead, just simple seduction. She was doing it well too! Some females in the pride used the same type of body language on the males, to get them to do what they wished without getting in trouble for it. It had worked on the males in the pride, and Nav had a feeling it was going to work on him too. She was nothing like what he had met before, and Nav was not prepared to let her get away without a fight. She wouldn't respond well to trinkets, or fighting, but perhaps he had something else he could offer.
He lowered his head, nuzzling her muzzle and her cheek, before resting her cheek against his. “And what if I offered you that?” He asked, his voice low and rumbling. “What would you do?” He wasn't prepared to let her go, not without trying. Perhaps, he could sway her, take her into his non-exsistant charms and make her his. He would claim her, she was his.
--
Rags smiled to herself inwardly at how good this day was turning out. "You never know Nav." She purred back to him. "But I have a feeling you will be happy with the results." She told him; standing up and motioning her head to the tall grass; not wanting to be out in the open; even though the sun was beginning to go down now. "Come with me~ and you'll see. But for now. I think I'd like to give you a valentine evening." She smirked at him; disappearing into the grass and waiting for him to do the deed.
--
-insert awkward sexy scene here-
“What?! I thought we were just going to cuddle! D8”
--
Rags woke up a few hours after the two of them had fallen asleep. The whole encounter had been... nice. But she was reminded that the poor boy really wasn't that good with the females. Hopefully this would have helped; she smiled down at him and the scratches she had left on his pelt; nothing deep of course; just love bites; things in the heat of the moment. She checked her pelt to make sure he hadn't disturbed any of her patches; happy that he hadn't she moved away from him slowly; inch by inch; to make sure he didn't wake up before trotting away from the big sleeping lion to the tree. She lifted herself up on her back legs and reached up with her forwards legs to grab the dried out pelts. She was happy to see a full moon. That would help her get her task done. She had; after all; promised him a bag for his hard work... and he had worked hard.
Rags covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing lightly and laid down on top of the leather; she pawed at the needles in the strap around her neck and pulled loose a porcupine needle; and some string that had been wrapped around her neck as well. It took her a few minutes; and multiple tries to get the string worked nicely into and around the needle; and soon she began sewing the bag up; placing it in with her mouth; and pulling it out with her mouth; making sure to hold the fabric tight. It took her a good hour to get it done; the whole time her ears strained to listen for Nav; making sure he didn't wake up and try to stay up. She was not about to join a pride that didn't belong to her king.
Rags stood up and nosed over the fabric of the bag; it all seemed to be alright... no holes; no weak points... she smiled at her work. She was always so proud of it. She looked at the big thing though.. not completely satisfied; as if it was missing something. She turned her head to the Gazzelle and tore a piece of it's skin off; dipping one of her pads into the blood that was just sort of staying there and then pushed it firmly onto the fabric. She was completely satisfied with herself now. She nodded and quietly jumped up onto the tree limb; putting the strap over the limb careful not to disturb the branch and make it crack or moan. She jumped back down; far more quiet than if he'd been awake and padded off in the moonlight; in the direction of her pride. Her tail swaying proudly behind her; and the moon to her back; guiding her way. "good bye Nav. Thanks for the good time." She whispered smugly to herself. This had been a productive outing.
