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 Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:50 pm
 The fluffy lion's amber eyes peered through his mane at the sparse number of zebra gathering around the nearest water source. There were only three visible ones today, it seemed. Far better than none at all.
"This is where they usually come to rest and graze, now days." He informed his friend, looking to her with his never ending silly grin. After going so long without the orange lioness, Erufu could finally enjoy his best friend's company again. What better way to do that than show off his amazing battle skills through a hunt?
The lion crouched behind a sizable boulder, flicking his tail to signal Etain to follow. "Are there any more than three?" He whispered, squinting as if it would help him see through his thick, curly mane. "That's all I can see. Which should we target?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:14 pm
 Etain stared unbelieving at the small number of zebra that greeted her. Why, this place use to swarm with the beasts. Now there wasn't more than a paw full. Was she just being pessimistic and this might be the very forerunners or stragglers of a herd?
"How is.." She choked a moment, then forced herself to continue. Her friend would answer her truthfully. "How is the pride surviving with such small prey numbers? There use to be thousands here." Etain crept up beside her friend and looked intently over the landscape.
"Not zebra. I think I see some impala far down, but we wouldn't be able to catch them." She watched to take down some big game for the pride. It would have to be zebra. "Look't that closest one. I think he's coming this way."
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:33 pm
It was time again to tip-toe around the delicate subject of the pride's survival. It was might be too much to bare for Erufu to explain that the pride's numbers have dropped so much that even a herd this tiny could provide enough sustenance. So... He told her the other truth. "Usually... there are a quite few more than this." Erufu explained quietly, as he lifted his head subtly to get a better view of the impala in the distance. "The herds are getting progressively larger every day... We have more water than we used to, too..."
The lion silently crept closer, his pale mane sweeping against the earth as he quickly dove to take cover behind a different boulder. The zebra heading in their direction had stopped to dip its' head and take a nibble of the foliage. Erufu glanced at Etain with a teasing smirk. "You as tough as you used to be?" Of course he had no doubt she was - and maybe even tougher. "I'll sneak around, run in and grab it, then you come in and take it down. Does that sound good?" Erufu had plenty of confidence in his speed, it was his favorite technique in battle. But his weight alone was not enough to take down any prey animal. Even in his childhood, Erufu was never the meatiest of lions.
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:31 pm
"Eh," the orange lioness uttered non-committed. She knew from experience that small herds supported very small prides. That told her that either the members were very, very lean or there was a sharp decrease in numbers. Either way it didn't look good for them. Her determination firmed. She would help make a difference.
Etain had managed to keep herself fairly well fed while she had been out on her own. She'd gained great skill in hunting smaller animals. If needed she'd hunt them down one by one and bring each kill back to her friends and family. Perhaps she could teach Erufu what she knew and that would double the hunting power.
She gave him a toothy grin. Still expecting her to do the grunt work. "Of course." Etain looked at the terrain options. She knew where Erufu would be coming from. Sooo.... she spotted the ideal spot from which to launch her attack. Now all she needed to do was get there.
Her body crouched as low as she could possibly get it. Step by careful step the lioness worked her way over to a pair of concealing rocks. She was absolutely careful that the prey remained unaware of her until the last moment when she would strike. They might not get another chance today.
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:52 pm
Erufu grinned and nodded before giving his friend a brief affectionate nuzzle before returning his attention to the beast. Etain would be in her position soon, and he needed to get to his too. With impressive stealth for his size, the lion slid effortlessly from rock to bush... tip-toeing with care over lose gravel and dislodged stones... Finally, he was at the perfect range to strike. He could only hope the beast didn't decide to move before he could act.
Erufu felt the powerful muscles in his hind legs tighten as he crouched against the soil. In a burst of speed and energy, the lightweight lion sprung into the air. Erufu's snarling toothy grin looked to be in mid-roar as he hovered above the zebra.. and then in and instant he was on it's back. His pale claws hooked into the black and white flesh as his jaws inched their way towards the beast's powerful neck.
The zebra was thrashing furiously for it's life. Erufu was almost thrown off, his claws raking against the creature's rump, peeling away flesh and spilling fresh blood. He managed to stay pinned to it, but he wouldn't last long until Etain came and finished it off with her superior strength.
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:29 pm
Boy! She was glad to be back. Nothing like hunting with old friends.
Etain crouched behind her chosen spot. Her eyes never leaving the zebra. Everything could be ruined if it moved. She lost sight of her friend as he moved into position. At least he could do that much right. My instruction must have helped, she thought, whether it was true or not.
The moment came when Erufu sprung his trap. With him holding it on and restraining it from escaping, it was now her turn to come into play. A mighty roar brought the orange lioness from cover. The zebra was facing right at it. When it saw her it turned slightly as though trying to change direction with a very large lion clinging to its rump.
It's shift in angle brought her the perfect opportunity. Etain lunged for the beast. Wrapping her paws around its neck to keep it from getting away. Her fangs sank into its neck as she bit down to suffocate it. Soon it would die and there would be a great feast for the pride.
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:54 pm
Erufu heard Etain's roar, and he grinned... it was going to be over soon. The zebra couldn't carry both of the lion's weight for long, and Etain was bound to suffocate it within seconds of impact. Erufu clung to the zebra as it slowly made its weakening descent... With a thud, the beast finally hit the ground. Dead.
Erufu looked up from the carcass, slurping up flesh and blood that was caught between his fangs. Just an appetizer for what was to come! The lion gave his friend a grin of praise. Impressive. Just like he remembered her to be. Boy, it he was glad to have her back.
"Fantastic." He said, blood sputtering from his mouth as he giggled rather girlishly. "Fabulous! Super!" Erufu would have continued his string of goofy adjectives if it weren't for the leaf that suddenly decided to obstruct his view. The lion frowned. His green accessory had torn a bit during the struggle. With a subtle grunt, he swept a paw through his fluffy mane to put the leaf back in it's place.
"Let's get this piece of yummy back to the rest of the pride." Erufu said, gazing at the corpse with a twinkle in his amber eyes. "It's so much easier to hunt when you're here, Etain!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 1:10 am
It was down!
She pulled her teeth from the tempting flesh. Her tongue ran over her muzzle to lick away the blood. A clean, fast kill. The way it should be, except a herd should be thundering by them in panic. Oh well. One thing at a time.
Etain laughed, "alright! We all get the idea." Her tail twitched in amusement. As she remembered, he was bubbling over over a normal feat. Like before it raised her spirits and she smiled. "Still got those leaves?" she teased the big lion. Ah those old habits.
She snickered. "Course it is ya big green lump. You always go for the wrong end!" Etain left the front end to nuzzle her friend affectionately. "Great hunt! When it bucked I was sure I was about to see you go flying through the air."
Rest of the pride. It meant so much to her. "Yes. You take the heavy end?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:55 pm
"Yes, I still got these leaves!" Erufu displayed a playful face with a mixture of pseudo-offense. He lifted an earthy paw, stroking one of them with an exaggerated protective posture. Blood and dirt from the kill smeared against it, and the tear began to grow in length.. but it didn't seem to bother the lion. In mid-stroke, Erufu paused and rolled his eyes skyward to rethink the phrase. "Well, actually... I have to replace them every day. So they're not the same leaves but," He laughed, shrugging cheerfully.
"The wrong end? Ah yeah... old habits are hard to get rid of." He smirked, gazing at the nonfatal wound he created in the animal's rump. "Oh well. Let's hurry!" The lion grasped one of the animal's limbs in his maw, clenching his teeth so tight that he heard a snap of cartilage and bone.
Erufu naturally took the lead, heading towards the pride as they dragged the carcass over the earth. The rest of the pride would be so happy to see a fresh kill... and to see Etain. Erufu closed his eyes and envisioned the event with a grin that was half obscured by his mane.
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:03 pm
Etain giggled at his posing. She had always been amused why the lion gathered and stuck leaves to himself. Still they had been fun to play with when she'd been younger. As she'd grown to adult, the lioness had taken to teasing him now and then.
Erufu was about as eager to head back as Etain was. She watched him grab the leg; thankful that he was so strong. Together they should be able to get the whole animal back to the pride. Nothing would be left behind for the scavengers except a few spots of blood.
Her teeth sank into the back of the neck, just behind the skull. She started to pull. With both lions pulling hard the zebra carcass began to move.
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