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 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:44 pm
 Ataro was still mentally shaking his head and wondering about his fathers sanity when he while he went looking for Ahadi - he knew that she had been hoping father would join them on a hunt, but it just didn't seem like that was going to happen. It rarely did these days.
At least he could make sure she didn't go hungry and had a safe hunt by taking her himself like a responsible male should. He couldn't really blame his father he supposed - clearly mother had done something to his head and he was now broken. Ataro didn't think his father was capable of being 'responsible' anymore.
"Ahadi?!" He called out as he walked off from the den - she couldn't have gone too far, he hadn't been in the den talking to father that long, though with Ahadi even a few minutes was more then enough time for her to get into some sort of trouble.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:53 pm
 Ahadi had for the most part stayed close to the den while Ataro and their father spoke. But in typical fashion she had gotten bored quickly and when boredom stuck her legs started moving looking for something to do. Though lucky for Ataro she had not gotten too far when he called out to her, bringing her paws to a stop. Turning around Ahadi had hoped to see their father coming to join them on a hunt but sadly not it was just Ataro and it made her smile fade just a bit and her ears twitch back.
"Fathers not coming is he?" She asked Ataro once he was closer, the disappointment in her voice was unmistakable. Father needed to keep hunting or his body would start to fail on him much like his mind already was. Well even without him they would hunt and bring father back something to eat, that would at least keep his strength up for now. But they would need to work on getting him out of the den more if only keep keep his muscles strong.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:10 pm
"Of course he's not coming" Ataro snapped at his sister - still in a bit of a mood from his 'talk' with father, though as soon as he said it he realized it wasn't her he ought to be angry with and his voice softened "He's staring off into the distance again" He told her in a far more gentle voice. Not like it was news that she couldn't already guess, it was the same thing he did mot days now.
"We'll jut have to make sure we get in a good hunt, bring him back something that he can't help but want to eat" Cause the gods knew if they returned with just any old thing he'd pick away at it and not eat. Hell his ribs were already showing, if he ate any less he'd likely waste away entirely. "Have any preferences?" He asked his sister, hoping to turn the conversation away from their father and towards the upcoming hunt - he liked hunting, it was good for taking ones mind off their troubles, at least for a little while.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:28 pm
Perhaps she should have been a bit annoyed when Ataro snapped at him, but knowing the situation they were both in it was quite understandable. After all had she not snapped at Ataro a time or two in the past over similar things? It was the stress of being children who looked after a parent, things were bound to turn into fights or nasty words that were not needed.
She gave him a bump on the shoulder and considered his question as they walked away from the den. "Hmmm." Did she have any preferences as to what they caught? Well no not really, usually they just went with whatever they came across first, which more often than not was some type of antelope and Ahadi had to admit she was somewhat tired of eating antelope. "Anything but warhog is good with me." She pointed out, not wanting to get anywhere near those beasts for quite some time. "I wonder if there are any zebra nearby, you think we could take one down just the two of us?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:38 pm
Ataro took the shoulder bump good naturedly,as he pondered her question. A zebra would definitely be a welcome change after the days and days of antelopes they had endured over the last few months as their father deteriorated even further.
"Maybe..." He told his sister, though his voice was still a touch unsure about it - I mean Zebras were big and they weren't the easiest of prey to take down, but it would be somewhat of a challenge which he welcomed. "If we can find an old or really young one maybe" He finally allowed. They could look at least - there was no harm in that and changing course he headed towards a nearby watering hole willing to bet that if there were any in the area they would likely wind up at the watering hole on such a hot day. "Lets check th watering hole first"
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:27 pm
Ahadi nodded and followed along heading towards the watering hole. They looped about so that they could find a good hiding spot in some tall grass where the wind favored them. There she crouched down beside Ataro and gazed out at the water. Well there was some various antelope there, that would suffice if nothing else came along. But nothing else. Darn. Just as she was about to say they should go for one of the antelope Ahadi heard a braying in the distance. Swiveling her head about she spotted a small herd of zebra headed towards the pond. "Look over there."
She sat silently as the zebra made their way towards the water, surveying their options. Most of them were large healthy adults which would likely be hard for just the two of them to catch and the last thing they needed was to get hurt while hunting. Ah but there near the back was an older one with a limp. "That one." She motioned with her nose towards the easy choice. "He should be easy enough to catch."
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:38 pm
Ataro was somewhat disappointed when they got to the watering hole and there was nothing in sight but a bunch of rotten antelope - precisely what neither of them actually wanted to eat again and surely nothing that would help to perk their fathers appetite up. Ataro might be annoyed with his father and his issues but he didn't want to watch him waste away into nothing right before his very eyes and just when he too was about to suggest they go ahead and nab one of the Antelopes his ears swiveled and he followed Ahadi's gaze as she found the Zebra's.
"Excellent" He whispered to her, watching as they approached, the older limping on was indeed a fine target and by the looks of him he wouldn't be much of a challenge for the two of them "Wait until they get closer" He suggested knowing Ahadi would likely be the first one of them them to spring, she was quicker then he was, but even an old limping zebra could get away if they moved too quickly.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:44 pm
"Yes, yes I know that." She told him though her eyes remained on the old zebra as it made its way to the waters edge. The silly old beast even stood a bit off from the others, clearly not wanting to have to complete for a place to drink. Ahadi motioned for Ataro to follow her as she crept along the grass trying to get as close as possible before springing into action. When they reached the spot there the grass ended there was only a short distance between them and the zebra. "I'll grab him, you knock him down." She whispered to Ataro and then after a moment of hesitation burst forth from the grasses.
The herd instantly took off leaving the old male limping off as fast as he could. Ahadi took a bit of a wide berth while chasing him knowing that zebra had that nasty habit of kicking when a predator got too close. And when she was between him and his escape route, she had used the water to narrow his directions to run, she leapt towards him. Front legs wrapped around the neck to try to stay with the beast while her teeth aimed at it's throat trying to find purchase.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:58 pm
Ataro rolled his eyes slightly as Ahadi admonished him for daring to give her hunting instructions, it not like he'd been telling her exactly what to do - more like thinking outloud, but he didn't figure this was a good time to point that out - they were in the middle of a hunt here after all. He merely nodded when she turned around and gave him instructions. "Yeah, yeah, got it" He told his sibling before creeping forward as she moved further into position
When she took off Ataro angled to follow her a touch to the side, anticipating the way he figured the ageing zebra would run, while his sister leapt towards his neck Ataro launched himself at the creatures haunches attempting to cripple him even further and bring the old zebra to the ground, he had to let go once when the canny old beat aimed a hoof in his direction but she went only a few paces before Ataro was leaping on him again. the zebra stumbled and encouraged he hung on.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:43 pm
Ahadi kept her focus on the zebra but did take a moment to glance towards Ataro as he came up behind the beast. When it kicked out towards him she worried that it would connect but Ataro moved out of the way. The zebra stumbled once, twice and then finally fell to the ground. Grabbing hold of it's throat in her jaws Ahadi clamped down suffocating the beast. The zebra fought for a few moments trying to get up but it was already tired and found only fight for so long before death took hold. She kept her grip for a short while after the beast had gone still just to ensure it was indeed dead. When she finally released her hold on its throat Ahadi sat down panting hard. "See...nothing to it." She told her brother with a smile. But not they had a real challenge on their hands, dragging the zebra back to the den for their father...perhaps they could just take part of it.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:51 pm
Ataro released his grip and danced away as the zebra fell, making sure to move well away from its thrashing legs - even a zebra in it death throes could land a devastating kick if one wasn't careful and it wouldn't do any of them any good if someone got crippled in a silly hunting accident, it would be even worse if such an accident happened after the prey had technically been brought down. That...that would just be embarrassing.
Laying down beside the beast he tried to catch his breath and gave his sister a small smile "Never doubted it for a minute" He told her before turning hi head to study the zebra with a thoughtful expression. "Course now we have to get it home....though really I doubt dad will eat more then a leg ..I say we eat what we can, keep a leg for dad and bury the rest" It seemed like a pretty good plan to him.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:02 pm
She sat panting for a few minutes before replying to her brother. "Yeah, sounds good to me." After the earlier effort of running away from that angry warthog and now this Ahadi was more than ready to eat. So she tore into the carcass allowing Ataro to eat whatever he wished. When he belly was full Ahadi took a long drink from the watering hole before her and Ataro dragged what remained of the beast a short distance away. There they worked together to rip off a leg for their father before burying as best they could. If it was still here tomorrow they would be able to eat this instead of another antelope.
Once they were satisfied that the zebra was buried so that so other predator would stumble upon it without a lot of effort they headed back. Ahadi let Ataro carry the zebra's leg and she could only hope that the change in eating options would prompt their father to eat more than a few bites. And if he didn't, well then they would just have to keep trying each day until they found something he would eat.
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