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 Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:45 am
 The evening before the battle found Njaa sitting alone near the outskirts of the pack's territory. Unused elephant bones and skulls loomed large around him. He had left the inhabited skulls to find some peace, some space to think. Njaa loved battle, but he always liked to clear his head before fighting. Njaa wasn't happy about the actions taken by some of the more hot-headed pack members. This war was foolish. A waste of life. The hyena had little sympathy for the lions (who would surely come off the worst in the war), but he didn't think this was the way to face them. Sneak attacks, raids ... pick them off one by one or in small bands, that would be the best way. Ah, well. There was no helping it. If this was the way they must fight, Njaa would do his part to see that they won. He had been a guard for several seasons now, and he considered himself skilled at battling lions. The brutes were powerful foes, but he was swift and his jaws could shatter bone. And on the subject of bone ... who was that hyena, picking amongst the bones? Njaa squinted slightly. He couldn't remember her name, but he had seen the shy little bone collector wandering around before. "Good evening," he said, not wanting her to stumble into him in the dark and take a fright. Lots of the softer pack members were spooking at shadows, thinking lions were hiding around every corner.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:06 am
 Sauti loved her duties within the pack. They enabled her to spend much of her time alone, lingering along the outer edges of the pack while still providing the hyenas with bones that could be used for trade or a number of other various things. It was hard for Sauti to interact like a normal hyena would -- the shy female wasn't comfortable speaking loudly or giving a strong opinion on things. She much preferred to watch from a distance, just like she had when the talks of war had erupted. Sauti did not think the war would solve anything. She thought it silly and foolish, dangerous to the lives of so many in the pack. Sauti'laini had not voiced these opinions, though, keeping them to herself because she didn't feel they were important enough to give voice to. When a voice called out, Sauti shrank back just the slightest in fear. One could never be too careful in these dangerous times, but she took a closer look at the male. Njaa.Sauti had yearned for the male as long as she could remember. He was strong, fierce and fearless. Everything that Sauti was not. She fought the butterflies that flickered in her stomach, clearing her throat gently as she spoke out. He'd think her weird if she didn't say anything and just continued staring, and that was the last thing that she wanted. "G-good evening, Njaa," she stuttered softly, blinking in the dim light. He probably didn't even remember her name. That's just how forgettable she was.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:17 am
Njaa was slightly surprised that the female knew his name. He couldn't remember speaking to her before. He was almost certain that she wasn't one of the new hyenas, but he couldn't be sure. Well, either way he wasn't going to be rude to her. He nodded, giving her a small smile. "I'm afraid I don't recall your name..." He thought back to the introduction ceremony, wondering if she was one of the new hyenas presented after all. Had she been there? "Is it Kisukuku?" That was the only name he couldn't firmly attach to the face of one of the new recruits.
Njaa took a step closer to the female. He was listening to her, but his gaze was trained on the dark jumble of elephant bones. He didn't know her, but now that there was someone else out here he felt he should be on his guard against lions and other such riff-raff.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:23 am
Sauti's shoulder's drooped when he asked if her name was Kisukuku. She'd yet to interact with the pup, but she knew who Kisukuku was just as she knew who almost everyone in the pack was, at least by sight if not personally. Then again, she was certain that Njaa had many more important things to think about, and remembering names of those that were in the pack ... forever... well, that was probably not high on his list of priorities.
Offering him a hesitant smile, Sauti shook her head. She couldn't blame him for not remembering her name. "Sauti'laini. Sauti." Sauti watched him take a step closer and her eyes widened. What was he doing? Oh, oh dear. He was coming closer. Sauti tried to squelch the way her heart had started thumping madly in her chest.
"W-what ah .. a-are you doing out t-this late?" She stuttered. A stupid question, really. She couldn't help it.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:32 am
Njaa nodded as she spoke, still looking out into the darkness. Sauti'laini. Yes, he thought he remembered that name. It sounded vaguely familiar, at least, although Njaa was still pretty sure he hadn't spoken to Sauti before. Or heard her speak. He would have remembered all that stuttering. Poor girl, maybe that was why she kept quiet.
"I was thinking," he said. "Tomorrow we go to war. I wanted to clear my head, prepare myself." Some warriors liked to work themselves into a frenzy before fighting, but Njaa thought a cool head was important. The warriors that liked to charge into battle with their blood heated might find Njaa's ways foolish, but he had little fear that Sauti would judge him harshly. "What are you doing out?" He turned his head to look at her for the first time. "It could be dangerous."
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:38 am
He was so smart, so smart and brave. Strong of heart and character. Sauti sighed softly, staring at him for a long, long time in silence before realizing that he'd actually asked her a question.
"Oh, ah... I was j-just picking t-through the bones," she stammered, gesturing with a paw. "It helps c-calm me down." And here she was, stuttering like a damned fool. She frowned slightly at herself. Njaa was certainly going to think there was something wrong with her. Of course he would.
Sauti could never be good enough to be his mate, or to even be thought of as a passing fancy.
"I wasn't scared," she said timidly, watching him closely, "besides, i-ignoring my d-duties out of fear seems k-k-kind of silly."
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:49 am
Njaa was indeed wondering if something was the matter with her. He eyed her uncertainly while she looked at him, waiting for her to speak. Maybe she was having some kind of spell. He was just starting to become concerned when Sauti finally replied. And there was that stutter again ... maybe he shouldn't ask her any more questions. Talking seemed a bit uncomfortable for her.
Sauti seemed so, well, dull that Njaa surprised himself by nodding in agreement with her words. He wouldn't have expected such a timid little hyena to speak about her duties so. He looked at her with slightly more interest. "That's very bold, Sauti." She was still a meek, mousy little hyena, but he supposed she wasn't entirely hopeless. "Still, there may be lions prowling tonight. I don't want to see any pack member snatched up by them." He frowned. "If they tortured a pup, they could do anything."
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:02 pm
Sauti couldn't help but flush with excitement at his meager praise. This was the first time they'd ever really had a conversation (or that he'd given her the time of day, to be honest) and she was on cloud nine. Dream a little dream, Sauti. Dream a little dream. Atta girl.
"You're so brave," she blurted, looking horrified at herself after saying as much. She lifted a paw to smash against her mouth, eyes wide as she slowly moved her paw away only to say, "I-I mean that.. i-it takes a l-lot of c-courage t-to g-g-go into w-w-w-w-war."
W-w-w-w-w-w-war. She inwardly cringed, berating herself for her stupid nervousness and the stupid stutter that came as a result of it.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:27 pm
Njaa watched as the hyena waved her paw in front of her face and began to stammer again. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on in Sauti's head, but he wasn't interested enough to puzzle it out. She was an oddball, leave it at that. Still, she was a pack member (and apparently had been for quite a while), so he wasn't about to blow her off or say anything nasty to her. If Njaa treated her badly, it would be out of carelessness instead of spite.
He took the flattery as his due. Of course he was brave. The pack needed brave guards like him to defend itself! It was only natural that the more ... quiet ... members be respectful. "It does take courage to fight," he agreed. Less courage for lions, of course, the big stinking bullies that they were. A smart bite to a tender ear or paw should send a lion packing in a hurry. "But it takes courage to keep on doing your job during wartime too." He smiled at Sauti kindly.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:39 pm
Sauti nearly swooned when he complimented her yet again. After years of attempting to muster up the courage to start even a simple conversation with Njaa, here she was. Talking with him (if one could even call it that) out of the blue! Even if he had initiated it. Maybe that meant something? She could only hope.
"It's nothing," she offered him another of her trademark shy smiles.
"Y-you go off to war tomorrow, then?" The prospect frightened her. What if he never came back home? What if he was killed by a ruthless, dishonorable lion?
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:29 pm
The female might be head over heels for him, but Njaa was oblivious to it. He was usually attracted to bold, straightforward females that were unafraid to show their interest. Shy little Sauti was hardly the kind of girl he spent time with, and he couldn't read her. He could tell that she was frightened though. Frightened by the idea of fighting lions, probably.
"We'll beat them back, don't worry," Njaa said reassuringly. "You'll never have to see one of those mangy cats." He took a few steps towards the skulls where most of the pack made their dens, hoping Sauti would follow him. He didn't want to embarrass her by scolding her (she wasn't a pup, after all) but he didn't much like such a timid hyena out on her own when lions might be prowling the borders.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:49 pm
Sauti fell mindlessly into step slightly behind him with a quick swish of her tail. Head dipped and a smile tilted up the corners of her muzzle. His words reassured her only the tiniest bit. Sauti wouldn't be able to rest well until this whole stupid war was over and Njaa was back home.
She wanted to tell him to be careful, to come back to her alive so that she could have time to tell him all of the things she wanted to. So that they could spend forever together in their pack. Silly dreams, she thought to herself, and the smile that decorated her lips slowly faded.
Silly dreams of the wallflower hyena. She'd never have Njaa as her mate.
"Thank you for l-looking out for me," she said softly. They were drawing closer to her den, one that sat a short distance away from the rest.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:39 pm
Njaa, of course, did not have even the faintest inkling that Sauti cared for him at all beyond the care any hyena should have for a fellow pack member. If he had, he would likely have been shocked. He had never crossed paths with the wallflower before ... not that he would have remembered if he had. Poor Sauti was very forgettable.
He was pleased that she was coming back to the pack with him. Njaa didn't know Sauti very well, but it was his job to defend all the members of the pack from those dastardly lions. He would have defended even a hyena he couldn't stand ... not that he disliked Sauti. He didn't really have any feeling towards her at all.
It was probably time for him to turn in for the night himself. He wanted to face the new day well-rested. Njaa smiled at Sauti as they approached the dens. "It's my job," Njaa said. "I'd look out for you any day, Sauti." Of course, he was just being kind to a pack member that was a bit odd and obviously very shy.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:52 pm
Sauti's eyes widened, her silvery ears tinging the slightest blush of pink that would likely go unseen thanks to the dark of night. Maybe he was a little shy like her and he'd been yearning for her just as she had been for him? If Njaa came back from the war, Sauti would try to find the courage to tell him how she felt.
That is, if he didn't tell her first.
"This is my d-den," she almost-whispered as they drew up alongside of it. She toed the dirt. She didn't want this magical night to end.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:59 pm
Even if he had noticed Sauti's blush, he wouldn't have known what it meant. Njaa was happily oblivious.
He was a bit surprised that her den was away from the others, but he knew how picky females were about their dens. This one probably had the light coming in just so to set off a pile of artfully arranged bones, or something.
"Well, goodnight Sauti'laini," Njaa said. He was actually starting to look forward to the battle tomorrow. Sauti had interrupted his meditations, but she had also reminded him of why he was fighting. To protect the weak and helpless, like Sauti! "I hope I see you again tomorrow night." Yes, hopefully he would be alive to see all of his pack members again! He gave her a lopsided grin and turned to leave.
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The evening before the battle found Njaa sitting alone near the outskirts of the pack's territory. Unused elephant bones and skulls loomed large around him. He had left the inhabited skulls to find some peace, some space to think. Njaa loved battle, but he always liked to clear his head before fighting.
