The large male looked down at his two youngsters, at least.. the ones who were around for todays lesson. Andunnie was likely sleeping back at the den, something he knew all too well was a favorite past time of his own. He smiled down at them, and had always been amused that they were the exact mirror image of each other. Yeah sure they were different genders, but it was rather amusing having two that looks exactly the same, and yet were so different in personality.
"Whose ready for todays hunt?" He asked, a smile on his maw. If there was one thing that gave him happiness, it was seeing his cubs and family around him. He was quite able to be happy when there was so much love around him.
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Canicus looked at his mother, then at his father, before looking at Llach with a mischevious grin. They were going hunting! Something the two greatly enjoyed, or at least he liked to think he did. He was turning into quite the master, mother had told him so~! He had never caught anything before, but that was just a flaw in his system. He would one day.. He wouldnt have to worry once he was a little bigger.
Momma said it was only because he was still rather small.
The cub knew however that he and his siblings were bigger than the average lion. They took after their father in size, and had been quite large even at birth. But he was still young compared to mother and father, and that in itself made him seem smaller.
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Ellie loved teaching her cubs how to hunt. It was rewarding and it was fun to watch them try their best. They got a little better each and every time. She smiled at the twins. It was always odd, seeing two pairs of identical eyes in two near-identical little faces...the main difference between the two at a glance being the fact Canicus had just a bit more fuzz to him, being male.
"We're going after hares today. Perfect for little hunters, and tasty too!"
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Lhach bounced excitedly. Hunting! She loved learning to hunt almost as much as she loved scrapping and playing with her brother and sister!
"I'm ready, Mommy, Daddy!" She was rather convinced her parents were the greatest hunters and fighters in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Was bound to happen when you didn't really know other adults, except in passing. And hare! She remembered the last time they'd had hare for a meal! They were small and tasty and juicy!
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Betta loved seeing the enthusiasm, and looked at Ellie with a wide grin on his maw.
"Seems like we got two good hunters already."
He mused, looking back at the two youngsters and nodding forward.
"Yes, hares are good prey for two such hunters. Maybe next time we'll go after Giraffes!" He said with his eyebrows raised in mock excitement. Of course he was just pretending right now.. He knew that they were much too young to hunt giraffes.. They were hard even for the most skilled, but the children didnt need to know that.
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He wriggled his butt excitedly and pawed at his sisters face in excitement.
"Hares! We get to hunt good stuff today!" Though he had been just like his father at that age.. He loved bug hunting, and it in turn gave him a taste for the insects he caught. But he was happy with such a fact.
He was a prime hunter already!
"No more bugs for us Llach! We are upgrading!"
He said happily.
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Ellie nodded. "We certainly do." It was fun, seeing her mate's humorous side. It came out more often around the cubs, and it made her happy.
"Mmmm....giraffe is tasty. But definitely something to try at later."
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Lhach giggled, one of the few 'girly' sounds she made. "Yup! Bugs are tasty and crunchy, but hares are definitely better!" She puffed up proudly. "And a tes-a-mint to how good we're gettin'!" Those hares wouldn't know what hit them! She and her brother would catch the biggest and juiciest of them all!
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Betta grinned, and nudged his mate, and nodded.
"Giraffes are quite a feat, but if you feel we can do it, then one day we shall try." He said, encouraging hte cubs though he knew it would be far too long before they would ever be able to think of downing a giraffe. He chuckled, and continued walking, looking for anything to catch. He was specifically looking for a hare, being thats what it seemed the cubs hearts were set on. Hare was good, so he couldnt blame them much.
"Now, we're gonna have to flush em right out of their holes. Think we can do it?" He asked, a bemused grin on his face.
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Canicus's focus went in high gear, and his voice lowered instinctively. They were hunting, so he needed to be quiet.. Though it was hard for the cub when all eh wanted to do was roughhouse and pounce his sister. His sister was big enough to wrestle, whereas most cubs their age he had to worry about hurting.
"Im ready! How about you, Llach?" He grinned, a competitive streak in the male, though it wasnt the bad kind, as he'd never be against his sister.
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Ellie kept a giggle in, wanting to set a good example for the cubs. Quiet was needed. And the two cubs were, indeed, trying their best. The black lioness stalked forward, and proceeded to give them an example with a den she remembered being unconnected to the others.
The rabbit she flushed out died a swift, clean death by her jaws.
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Lhach nodded at her brother, putting on her 'game face'. It was time to get serious! She watched her mother closely, tail twitching behind her as she did her best to be quiet and stealthy.
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Betta motioned to his two youngsters to follow him, and motioned with his paw, another den that had been connected to the first. He knew that there was a warren of hares within the dens, and that one Ellie had caught was not the only one hidden in the dirt mound. He was going to give them teh chance to do it themselves.
He smiled, backing away, watching his two approach the den with stealth. They were his cubs alright, and boy was he proud of them.
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Canicus smiled, and had he forgot what they were doing, he would have begun pouncing around his family with excitement. But he did the best he could to slowly approach the den. He wasnt sure how he would do it, and almost wondered if he and his sister would team up.
He looked at her, and his eyes were asking if she would help by standing at the other side of the den.
Then, he began digging at the hole.
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Ellie sat back and watched the cubs, tail switching back and forth slowly. They were a smart pair, her and Betta's cubs. And apparently quick learners! she set the rabbit's body down, being quiet.
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Lhach stalked up to the den, then looked at her brother. And then grinned. She knew what he was getting at. She moved to the other side of the den and sat. Then raised the forward half of her body a bit so she could come down on any hares that tried come out to escape.
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Betta walked to the side with Ellie, and nuzzled her throat as the two were hunting. He wanted to talk to her, to tell her just as proud he was of the work they were done. They had raised their litter well, and maybe it had been good they had only had there to begin with. Maybe it was better that way.
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Canicus began digging at the earth, his paws still large for any cub. Digging, throwing dirt behind him, he was happy his pelt was dark colored. He wasnt fond of being dirty, but he would be dirty if he had to be.
He could feel the creature thundering through the tunnels through his paws, and his eyes widened. He looked at Llach, warning her to be ready.
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Ellie purred and returned the nuzzle. It was always nice, the small moments they had even during their duties as parents. Though...Ellie had always thought of their 'duties' as more than that. Teaching the cubs, watching after them, helping them grow...it was something she loved doing. She wondered, vaguely, if her own mother felt as happy and proud of her and her brothers as she felt of her own two girls and one boy.
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Lhach didn't mind any dirt that got thrown her way. She'd never been a 'girly girl'. She liked getting rough and dirty. Life was more fun that way! She caught her brother's look, grinning savagely. And then brought herself down on the hare that popped out, grabbing it with her paws and getting her jaws around it's neck. OHGEEZ. It was bigger than she'd thought it might be!
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When the hare was flushed out, Betta stopped, watching with a grin as the two worked together. It was a true lion instinct to work together to bring down the prey. He wanted to cheer them on, but he waited, and watched, his Ellie by his side.
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Canicus squealed when the rabbit emerged, and when Llach grabbed ahold of it he darted to help her. Course he wasnt really that fast, but he did manage to grab hold of the body, holding it down so that she would be able to get ahold of its neck.
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Ellie perked at the cubs' getting a hare, her tail's flopping becoming a steady twitch back and forth. She had to hold herself back from cheering. They were doing it! And working together! Perfect!
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Lhach growled, getting frustrated with the hare. With her twin helping, however, it made things MUCH easier, and she managed to snap its neck with her jaws. As it went limp, so did she (though not the dead sort of limp). "That...was haaaaaaaaaaaaard." But fun. Kinda. They really needed practice.
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Betta chuckled, his voice a deep rumble as he approached the cubs and the dead rabbit. He looked proud as he possibly could be and he used a paw to gently ruffle the tuft of hair on Llachs head.
"You guys did absolutely amazing.. Ready to head back and enjoy your meal?"
He asked, a yawn emitted from his maw.
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Canicus nodded, a bit winded. It had been hard! He had been kicked in the process, and he felt the throbbing feeling in his jaw but he smiled and nodded again.
"Oh yes.. I cant wait to do that again.. Can we do it again soon momma?" He asked, looking at his mother, proud as could be.
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Ellie stood, wide smile on her muzzle. "Of course, Canicus. After all, you'll need plenty of practice so you'll be able to catch bigger creatures when you grow up." She picked up the hare she'd caught, and moved to nudge Lhach up.
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Lhach smiled at her parents, nodding. "Yeah. Back sounds good!" And food. Mmmmmm~ They'd earned their meal! Caught it themselves, just the two of 'em! She got up at her mother's nudging, shaking herself before picking the hare up by its ears. Well...partly picking it up
