|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:24 pm
 The jungle never had a quiet moment, at least not for those that knew how to listen. The trails for today had shown that this would be a good place to wait for something to come along, most likely something big. It would probably be one of those hunts where Clermeilli-Pie had to pull apart her kill and hide half of it so that she could make two trips back to the pride with it.
This always suited Clermeilli-Pie. One it meant less work for some of the other hunters, and two, it meant she only had to kill once. She hated having to hunt several times in one day because she got something small. The way she went after big creatures on her own like this probably was not the smartest way to hunt according to the pride, but for her, it was the way of things. She had yet to find someone among the other hunters that she trusted enough to hunt beside that was not already paired with someone else.
She was just preparing to pounce on a noisy warthog that came through when she noticed a much bigger concern slithering toward them. A python. The thing couldn't eat her, but she knew better than to tangle with a snake that big. The warthog saw the snake as well and spooked, heading in her direction. Clerm had to move, so she tried to go up, unfortunately, the branch she tried for and got left her on a tree that she couldn't jump to another one from.
Which meant she couldn't easily get away from the python that may or may not decide to try constricting and killing her if it thought she was a threat. This was by no means the way she wanted a hunt to work out. She started trying to calculate if she could pounce right to sink her claws into it's eyes and kill it before it coiled around her. She did not want it to come to that, but better prepared for the fight and not have to use it than otherwise.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:01 am
Koehro lithely stepped along beneath the cover of the great number of plants and fronds along the outskirts of the Na'vi forest, staying eerily quiet despite his large size. It was true he was larger than your average lion in the Iknimaya, though instead of becoming a hunter, he strayed to the Warrior's path...and hadn't looked back since.
It gave him time to be alone, and it meant that most often, he wasn't required to actually be with anyone, which saved him many uncomfortable feelings throughout the day. Of course, he ran into the occasional lion or lioness, but that was largely the extent of his interactions...save when he came back to the hometree. His family and more importantly, his sister was there. In a lot of ways, it made it all worth it for the large lug.
He chuffed softly with laughter and shook his maned head, ears swiveling to catch the sounds of the forest as he paused for a moment. Rustles of prey and calls of birds and other animals hit his ears. He wasn't overly concerned, save for a sudden hush and scrambling sound farther off in the distance.
Chances were it was only something being chased, and perhaps caught. Considering his patrol had grown a bit stale, he decided he would move towards the sounds, and started to carefully pick his way there, skirting under a large fern and beneath other manner of flora. The coal earth walker kept his ears perked, eagerly listening for any more tell-tale signs as to what he was following. A little excitement in the form of a "game" wouldn't hurt him. In fact, it would liven up his day a little...right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:44 am
Clermeilli-Pie watches the python carefully. It would have to be the biggest, most aggressive kind in Africa, would it not? It was just her luck. That aside, she had an agitated African Rock Python below her and no clear shot at its head right now. By the size of the thing that was going to be her only shot was if she took out the eyes and killed it by attacking the head before it could get ahold of her. Of course she needed to be able to strike while its mouth was closed. Might be a nonpoisonous creature, but still had fangs.
The coils were big enough to squish her if she messed up and ended up in them. The smallish huntress kept watching the snake looking for an opening as it approached, and made a bee-line for her tree. Looked like the thing intended to come up after her. Oh wonderful. It could climb as well as she if not better, this was going to be an interesting time. it also could probably drop faster since it was roughly 26 foot long and had some girth to it.
Just about the time she was thinking she might have seen an opening she missed and should have taken, she hears a slight rustling that makes her think someone else might have arrived. Not that she wanted anyone else stuck in this situation, or even a non-lion stuck in this situation really, but she needed any help she could potentially get. Even just another lion to jump on the thing's back while she went for the head would be nice. She took her eyes off the python as it got to the base of the tree.
She only did so long enough to check for what the rustling was. She thought she caught a glimpse of another pride member. She was not certain though. If she was right, it was one of the darker members, but she did not have the time to spare to get a proper look before she put her gaze back on the snake. Up the side of the tree it came, and she watched it. This would give her one advantage at least. She could nail the head without the coils getting as close. If she timed it right. The tail was still going to be on the ground by the time it's head got to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:08 am
'Liven the day up...a little...right..?' The dark male thought, ears folded back flat along his head as he moved to get a better view of what - in Eywa's name - was going on.
A snake. A very, very big snake.
Well that was just perfect, wasn't it? Its attention was thankfully diverted, but that wasn't a good thing, when he saw that it was a lone pride member that...and wasn't that just terribly ironic? A cat up a tree by a snake. Not that he could blame the female for trying to get up high, especially when confronted by the python.
All twenty six feet of it.
Skulking closer with a growl silently building in his chest, Koehro glanced up into the tree to gauge just what the lioness figured she could do. Judging by the way she held herself on the branch, she was preparing to fight. Truth be told, Koehro thought the smaller lioness insane to figure to try...but on the other paw, she didn't really have much of a choice, did she? And at least she had some help, now that he was here...which had the question rising in his head: why was she alone?
There would be enough time to ask later, if they both made it through without any serious injuries.
The more immediate question was: how would he go about making sure the snake stayed on the ground to give her time to attempt striking...without getting tangled in the snakes muscular coils? The tail was large enough, yet small enough, that he could pick it up within his maw and potentially heave the creature back onto the forest floor.
Stalking forwards and keeping low to the ground, he emerged from beneath a plant, just as the snake was nearing the range Clermeilli could strike. The growl that had bubbled and burned in his chest ripped out into the air as he put on a quick, sprinting burst of speed, to...ah, catch the snake by the tail. Clamping his jaws around the end, he waited a few, precious moments before slamming his weight back in hopes of dislodging the snake. Or at the very least, distracting it enough so it turned its focus to the ground and onto him instead of the smaller lioness in the tree. He would have to be quick to escape the coils, however, and his muscles were tense as he prepared to leap away and drop the tail if he needed to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:16 pm
Clermeilli-Pie watched the snake slither up the tree and kept her eyes on the head. One good strike and she could get through the soft eyes and take the thing out, or at least blind it. She was not very hopeful of this situation's outcome, but she would be damned if she gave up completely. She knew most snakes could slither as fast if not faster than she could run anyway, so that rather killed the running away option.
Just as the snake came into range where she had a clear shot at the head, and it looked intent on getting her, it stopped. The head turned back to look down at its tail and Clerm struck. She did not even take the time to see why it was looking back. She needed to strike while it was preoccupied. Her claws went into the head, missing the eye on one side but hitting the mark on the other. She just removed the missed claw and put it in the eye as well, blinding the creature.
Clerm had to dig in her claws hard to keep from getting flung off as the snake started lashing. It managed to fling itself off the tree branch and fall to the ground with a loud thud. She kept things that she landed on top of the head when they went down. Luck probably had a lot to do with that more than skill even. She started chewing on the neck, trying to kill the creature completely. Get the head detached and the body would not be a threat as it lashed in death.
"Hold it if you can... going to try to kill it." She only took a moment to talk to her savior. She might be doing the killing here, but he certainly made the difference in it happening. A few good bites and claw swipes later she had a snake head under her and a lashing body in front. Getting the bones apart had been the hardest part. But having someone holding the end of the tail while she worked helped. The thing had not been able to try to coil on her, and that was what counted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:24 pm
The power of the snake was astounding, in Koehro's opinion. Able to almost drag not one, but two lions about in its relentless thrashing. the lioness landed with a muffled thud on top of the head and the dark male's eyes swerved down to the creature, observing the body that was writhing beneath him. While he didn't have much time for thought, he could appreciate the size and strength it held.
"Hold it if you can... going to try to kill it."
The muffled words just reached him, just registered, and the snake seemed to catch a second wind, its thrashing coming more frequently and with renewed vigor. With a growl, he played tug-of-war between the tail and body for a few moments before managing to pounce higher up onto its body, front claws catching into the muscle beneath the scales before he desperately tried to sink his hind claws lower into the tail. After several long, tense moments, he did.
...but he did not dare to breathe a sigh of relief, not even after the female finished severing the head completely from the body. In fact, he was rather cross, which surprised him. Exhilarated...but cross nevertheless.
Backing off to let the thing lash in its own death spasms, watching the female to make sure she did the same, he finally huffed out a breath and sat, tail lashing behind him. Quickly and quietly, he muttered his thanks for the body - though he had no idea what the pride could do with it, aside from eating the meat - to Eywa and the spirits that could hear. It wasn't within him to squander the food, even if killing it shouldn't have been necessary if things had gone just a little bit differently.
Turning conflicted eyes to the female, he took a moment to sooth his frayed psyche and took one long, slow blink. "Oel ngati kameie, Sister."
And in his opinion, she was lucky he'd been there. The outcome could have been drastically different. Slowly, Koehro tucked his tail around his front paws, watching her as his eyes gradually calmed to a more contemplative look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:16 am
Clermeilli-Pie stepped away from the snake as it was finishing it's dying and huffed a nervous sigh. She was very relieved that had turned out well. She hoped she would never run into another situation like that again. First time she had ever run into an African Rock Python, which were more common to where she had come from than here, and she certainly was glad it was now a past encounter. She took the time, while still panting, to say a proper prayer over the snake.
She would take it back to the pride and hope they used it. She did not need that on her conscious yet, that she killed something that her people would not use. Once the proper prayer was done, she looked over at the lion that had shown up to help. Clermeilli-Pie's relief in seeing the rather nice, if a shy warrior Koehro was great. She knew him only a little from a few encounters here and there, but she liked to think they were on good terms. His sister was another huntress.
"Oel ngati kameie, Brother." She noted the look in his eyes and refrained from another sigh. She was likely in for an interesting explanation. This whole situation did look pretty bad the more she thought about it. She was out hunting alone, when traditionally the pride hunted in pairs. She had gotten pinned in a tree by a large snake, and by the time the other lion came in, she had been preparing to fight said snake. Where did she begin on this explanation?
Clermeilli-Pie took a few moments to gather her thoughts. She cleaned off the blood from her fur and paws before looking back up at the male again. "Thank you for your help, Koehro. You helped to save my life. I am grateful for this." What would have happened if she had lost that fight? Her poor cubs would have been alone. At least they would have had a pride to care for them, but it still was not a pleasant thought for her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:02 pm
The large male watched as Cler--Clermeilli-Pie...turned her gaze from him to clean up and just be. He appreciated she didn't turn into a blubbering mess, because there was no way he could handle that. dutifully, even though he could care less, he cleaned his own paw and muzzle off. It would give his companion some extra time for herself, and he did not blame her for needing it.
While he expected a thank you from her, it still touched him that she did, and seemed genuine with her gratitude. He vaguely recalled that she had a pair of cubs back at Hometree, and flicked his ears. That made this situation all the worse, didn't it? Despite the fact the pride could - and would! - raise her cubs should anything happen to them, it did not mean she was in the right to be hunting alone.
He decided to be blunt. He simply nodded his head at her thanks, and stood up, eyes hardening somewhat. He'd never lectured another pride member before, much less a lioness whose job was to feed everyone within the pride, while his was to make sure the boarders and forest were as safe as it could be. In a sense, they'd both done their duty. Yet, even so, he was not pleased. The adrenaline had worn off, and the irritation was back.
"Clermeilli." He intoned, her name clipped and rough upon his tongue. "Did you even stop to think? You have two young ones at Hometree, and yet you put yourself in danger, not only by hunting alone, but by deciding to face off with a snake that could have easily killed you, had I not been here to lend my paw? One coil around your chest, and it could have crushed you as easily as we run along the high path."
His eyes narrowed a moment, and his tail once again lashed at his side. He stood and paced; steps agitated and quick. all the while, he glanced at her, expression shifting from frustration, to anger, to relief. What would he have thought had it been his sister that was hunting alone and was caught by this - or any other - African Rock Python? He would have exploded.
In that regards, Clermeilli was most likely very lucky he often felt socially awkward, and didn't have the confidence to completely lose his head as he would have with his sister.
Still...
"You should know better. You should think better. Had it been any other time, I wouldn't have been here, wouldn't have moved towards the noises. Chances are quite likely you'd be dead, right where you're sitting, and nobody would know a thing about it. You think that's a good way to leave your cubs? You don't look like you have a death-wish, so why hunt alone? Why even think to fight the snake alone?" There. He'd said it. He wanted to know why above all else. He personally could not fathom making such a choice, knowing what it would do to his own family, his own sister.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:41 pm
Clermeilli-Pie took a deep breath, and let the male rant a bit. She deserved it really. She did know she was not supposed to hunt alone. She knew the risks of doing so, though she had at one time not had much of a choice on it. She had even once hunted with a hyena in order to make something easier, why did it bother her so much to hunt with another now that she had a pride full of hunters?
Most of it was probably habit, and feeling slightly awkward and ill at ease with a spiritual people that her parents had come from when she herself was not really spiritual at all. "I do stop to think, quite a lot, yes. I am quite aware of the two cubs I have at Hometree and their two siblings that their ill-begotten father took from me before I came here. I am aware of many things that the People say are dangerous or do not approve of, but were once a part of my everyday life that I had to deal with." She was nearing getting upset and she could not afford to get angry at him over things in her past just because she was rattled.
She took another deep breath so she could keep her calm and not go off on the warrior when he was justified in his point of view. "Hunting alone is a choice I made because I have found interaction with most of the other pride members a little awkward in situations like this and I am already quite good at hunting alone... the snake is another matter. Unfortunately for me, I did not have a choice in dealing with the snake. It was face or try to run and be caught by it. They can move as fast if not faster than we."
"I am quite glad that this time you chose to move toward the noises... and when one is faced with an aggressive python there are few choices. I was watching a warthog that happened along the path I was watching. The snake came through, looking as if it was already quite agitated, and when the warthog ran to get away from it, it came right at me. My choice was get run over, or go up the tree. I went up the tree, but that drew the attention of the snake, and for some reason he was in the mood to fight and came after me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:54 am
Her words put him neatly in his place, and he could feel his ruff bristle. He hadn't meant literally, of course. He didn't figure the lioness was that daft, even if she was hunting alone. Folding his ears back, he let a growl rumble in his chest as he eyed the pale lioness, sitting down but keeping his tail swaying back and forth behind him. He was upset, but she did have her reasons.
But her words caught his attention. Ill-begotten father? Took two cubs? While he wasn't sure entirely of the situation she had been in, he felt his ruff bristle still more. He could have no respect for a male that was probably unfit to care for cubs take them, seemingly without a qualm.
Finally, he nodded, even if the motion was slightly clipped. "Be that as it may, I do not feel you should hunt alone anymore."
Truth be told, it had scared him. The life of one of the Iknimaya, of any of them, was precious. This female was smaller than most, and it - indeed - roused his protective instincts. Twitching his tail and then letting it thump against the ground and rest there, he reached a decision. His sister could use a hunting partner. Clermeilli could use one, too. Seemed to be a pretty good fit, in his mind.
"...I don't think it would be a very wise idea for you to hunt alone any longer, Clermeilli-Pie. In fact, I'm insisting on it." He gave her a steady look; he would not take an argument on the matter, and if it came to it, he would go and make sure she would have one, himself, even if it meant speaking with Eytucan or Mahon.
"I believe my sister could use a hunting partner, though...and I'm sure you'd find her to be enjoyable company once you get to know her. ...I can talk with her about it, if you'd like. I'm sure she's going to be anxious to get back to hunting. ...I don't relish the thought of something like this happening to you again." He had softened, even his eyes took on a more understanding light.
Koehro knew what it was like, the things she had just said. So he could sympathize with her and her situation. But at the same time, hunting alone had to stop. Every member of the pride was precious and needed. Losing one was like losing part of their own bodies, or their own soul, even if the departed was with Eywa.
So, he allowed a small smile to touch his muzzle, hoping to seem a bit more amicable. He did not want to offend her, in any case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:47 pm
Clermeilli-Pie watched the effect her words had on the lion and felt more than a little ashamed at having taken out her hurt on him even the little bit that she had. She might not have let much slip, but even that little bit had not been fair to Koehro. The worst part of her outburst was the fact that the male had no idea about her past because she chose not to tell others.
Clerm winced at the tone he used. She had struck a few of his nerves with her outburst as well, it would seem. Ruffling fur was not going to do either of them any good. "You are insisting on it and giving me an idea of where to start on finding a hunting partner... that is practical and reasonable. If your sister is anything like you are, then there should be no problem with this idea."
"I would be grateful if you can help me get this situation sorted out... I am sure the leaders will not be happy about my encounter with the python..." She was pretty sure that anything the king had to say would pale compared to lecture her own father would have given her out of worry had he been here to see this. Old warriors were like that at times. The thought brought a smile to her muzzle and she stepped closer to Koehro.
"I should let you get back to your duties... thank you again, my friend." Clerm gave him a nuzzle and a lick on the cheek. He was sweet, strong, and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Definitely a good friend to have about. He was handsome too, but that she would keep to herself. There were times she really did feel young and silly. "I should take this snake back to Hometree so it does not go to waste."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:46 pm
With her agreement, Koehro felt himself relax slightly. She would no longer be hunting along. And now he would just have to talk with his sister. He believed they would be suitable, of course...but whether his sister agreed would be another matter entirely.
And, if there was a way to rouse his protective instincts - despite the fact she would deserve the lecture she'd receive from the leaders for her apparent...recklessness - it was to ask for his help. The large male's ears twitched, tail thumping against the ground once. He frowned, but it wasn't at her this time. Curious eyes flicked up to the smaller lioness as she moved forwards, questioning silently even as he spotted the smile.
The lick, the slight nuzzle, did everything to soften him further, and a slight sigh passed through his lips, gently rubbing his cheek against hers, despite the awkward twinge.
Duties? ...yes, right. Duties. He still had to patrol, but--she would take the snake back? While he didn't doubt she was plenty strong despite her size, he knew the moment she was spotted with the heavy beast, she would be in trouble. Her earlier statement - not quite a plea for his help, but close enough - came to mind, and he moved to stand on his feet.
"My patrol can wait for the amount of time it will take to escort and help you take the snake back to Hometree, Clerm." There was room for debate on it, but he seemed fairly firm with the idea. "If you happen to be caught up with the snake and something else happens..."
Koehro was clearly worried at the thought, angling his head down and crouching somewhat, bringing his eyes level with her own.
"I must admit, considering what just happened, I don't like the idea of that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:11 pm
Clermelli-Pie chuckled at the insistence of helping her further. "Well, I could go ahead with the snake and you could come along after your patrol is done to make sure I am still fine. I doubt I will find anything between here and home tree as dangerous as this thing. I will be slow traveling, and careful to use the high path to avoid any further trouble. I would hate for you to be lectured about abandoning your patrol just to help me carry back a snake."
She really would hate for him to get that kind of lecture because of her. She was going to be in for a lecture no matter what. Clerm started shouldering the snake up onto her back so she could carry it back to Hometree. "The closer I get to Hometree the more others there will be to help should something go wrong. If I get hung up, I can always leave the snake, go get someone else from Hometree and return for it." She probably would stubbornly take the thing back herself, but eh, such was life.
"I just... when you do get back from your patrol, I would appreciate it if you speak with your sister..." She looked at the snake again and then back at him. "With as heavy as this is, and as often as I plan to rest so I do not strain anything and avoid trouble, we may very well make it back to Hometree about the same time." Clerm gave him another nuzzle in thanks. "It is very kind of you to offer, though. I will keep that escort offer in mind should I need it in the future." Okay so perhaps she was flirting a little, maybe. She would never admit to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 3:03 pm
The large male immediately started helping the much smaller female as she started to move the snake onto her shoulders. He still didn't like the idea of leaving her be, but if something happened in the zone he was patrolling, if something got in, got close to HomeTree...
Well, forgiveness from the King would be the least of his worries.
He smothered a slight growl, eyeing her critically as they finished. She seemed too small, almost, to bear that weight by herself.
"Clermelli...if you do encounter any sort of trouble, you shake the snake and get somewhere safe. I'll help you later if you need it."
His tail twitched behind him, but finally a sigh was drawn from his muzzle. Upon returning, he would talk with his sister, find out if she was amicable to the idea of Clermelli being her hunting partner. And then, if all went well, he would introduce the two, see for himself whether the match would be suitable.
With her last words, he was slightly taken aback. Feeling a quick jolt of embarrassment, he nodded his head to cover it up.
"I will speak with her immediately upon my return, of course." And then, quieter, more serious a moment: "...you have only to ask, Sister, and I will be happy to accompany you."
With a brief, rare smile, he straightened back and away.
"Safe journey, Clermelli. I will see you when I return."
He waited to see her start out, and then turned and dove almost silently back into the foliage to continue his rounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
