Her morning comes long before sunrise. The lioness was curled between the roots of a tree, nestled closely against the plant. It was only during the nights did the lioness realize how alone she was. As families curled together, the female was alone. No mother. Or brother. Or some other blood relative. She was alone. The longings to have her own family had been astir for quite awhile. But the lioness had been hesitant to pick one of the males in the pride. Always putting it off for one reason or another.
But talk began to circle around. Talk of many a things. The pride was changing in many different directions. One change in particular really caught her attention. The ability for the females to leave the pride to find a partner. That was a welcomed change and it was only when she received the option did she realize how much she wanted a choice. A choice between more than just a pawful of males. Yejide knew she could pick a worthy specimen. There were a few fine males in the pride but Yejide always thought that if females could be allowed into the pride from rogue blood… so could males. Fighting or not.
Pulling herself up from the nook she was slumbering in, the lioness shook the dew from her fur. Idly licking at the patches of wetness she could reach with her tongue. Moisture was a rarity these days. The dry season wasn’t letting up. And this one was particularly long. It didn’t seem to end, in all actuality! Dual green hued eyes panned side to side at the barren lands surrounding her. Patchy outcroppings sprung up here and there. Mostly where the bodies were clustered together. No doubt mothers and sisters piled against one another. Yejide wanted that too. To have her own cubs and make it a reality.
It would take awhile for the sun to rise. Yejide used the early morning hours to prowl around for a meal. Hunting for small game while her pride members slept. She didn’t do this to be sneaky. Yejide just knew that it was be more resourceful to get her hunting done while blanketed in darkness rather than expel more energy by racing around during the hot days. If she wasn’t so fond of the daylight, the lioness had contemplated turning into a nocturnal feline. Doing late night prowls around the pride. It was certainly easier than burning up during the day.
Her ear flickered when she heard a noise to her left. Swiftly the female swiveled her head to the side, stern eyes glancing around for the source. A small thatch of grass swayed as some small critter scurried into its contents. The lioness didn’t move for awhile, flexing her muscles as she decided her next move. It was only a few yards away… should she pounce on it and possibly crush whatever was hiding there? Or should she make a run for it and have the creature race along out in the open?
She made her decision.
Barreling in the direction of the bush, the lioness’ large paws signaled her arrival. The desperate mouse trapped in the bush promptly shot out and scurried along. In about two minutes she was upon the little thing. A single paw enclosed around it, looking similar to a cage of sorts. Lowering her torso down, Yejide peered at her prize. A malnourished and boney little field mouse. The tawny colored rodent seemed to have already given up. A sullen expression painted to his features… the dry season had been tough on everyone. Grimacing, Yejide hoisted her paw up, clenching on the slender tail of the mouse to dangle him upside down. Trying to get a better look at him, the lioness inspected the little mouse. With a few crunches he might do a better job giving her mouth a burst of liquid than a satisfactory meal. Mice were never much of a meal even when they were plump… at most they were snacks. Even for cubs.
“Well, something is better than nothing.” Her head fell back and the lioness gobbled up the boney mouse with one gulp. Her hypothesis had been right. The mouse did little more than add some moisture to her maw. The lioness didn’t think much more of her mini meal.
Rising up to her paws, she trekked forward. “This dry season better end soon…” She muttered bitterly. Both ears folded back against her skull as the lioness stalked forward with a broody expression. She could already see that the sun was coming up! With a groan, the female rolled her eyes. Yejide must have woken up late… normally she was allotted atleast enough time to find two or three critters to crunch on before daybreak. The lioness was already at desperate measures, having chewed on a fat grub she came across in moist soil.
To be put bluntly… she wasn’t an insect eater. And wasn’t about to try it again anytime soon.
The lioness grumbled to herself, pondering what she might do for today. Try to survive another day in the barren lands of her pride…? Or head to the rouge lands alone. With her pride members at least there was protection. But it also meant the food was spread thinner among the multiple mouths to feed. If she headed out to the rouge lands under the guise to find a partner… Yejide knew she would be better off finding a meal as well. Or even… some water! The lioness turned without a second thought. Departing without notice. It wasn’t as if anyone WOULD notice. There was enough things going on as it was… one missing lioness would hardly go noticed. A few days away from the pride might even prove fruitful. Despite her affection towards her pride, the lioness’ self preservation won out. Food comes before good feelings. With the heat of the sun to her back, the lioness trekked out of her pride’s lands under the guise of finding a mate.
