Ninniach was used to hunting. He was used to gathering the food for himself when he had been a groundling, and he was used to gathering food for himself and his mate out in the rogue lands. Being back in the pride they had once grown up in didn't change that norm for him, even if there were hunters around to bring in kills for the pride. A part of his mind still focused on going out and getting enough food for two, possibly more. It was all fairly standard, regardless of location. However, he wasn't used to his companion wanting to join him on a hunt, and nor was he used to being unable to persuade her into staying in the den. He had no idea why she had decided that she simply had to leave the den and come hunting with him. Was it because she was entertaining the idea of having cubs? She had been so quiet about it since that time, he wondered if she hadn't been messing with him when she brought it up. And with the king there! He could have died. Maybe she wanted to make up for things, and that was why she wanted to help him hunt. Either way, she would not be denied, so she had come along with him in to the rogue lands once more, the two lions moving together as they came upon a herd of zebra.
"Are you sure you want to do this," he asked his love softly, tilting his head slightly to one side, "you know you don't need to prove anything to me... I am happy to bring in the food for us." He watched her as she scrunched her nose. Clearly he had said the wrong thing- she had not been thinking about proving herself to him.
Strike one.
"I don't need to prove anything to you," huffed Hathel, "I just felt like coming with you on a hunt. Maybe I want to brush up on my skills- is that so wrong? I haven't hunted in a long time, and normally it's the females who are supposed to be the ones bringing in the meals!"
"Okay, okay," Ninniach replied with a sigh, "I didn't mean to upset you, I was just thinking something else, that's all. I can't read your mind, at least not all the time, so I don't always know what you're thinking about. I just don't see why you would want to brush up on your skills... it seems like it's dangerous and there's really no need. Not only is there me, but there's a pride full of members who do the hunting for the rest of us. I would feel much more comfortable if you went back to the den and let me bring back the food for us..." Hathel moved forward at that, looking over her shoulder with an 'I don't care' sort of expression.
"Maybe you're the one who should go back to the den. I don't know when you got it in your head that I need to be protected, but I don't! And I want to do the hunting today!" With that, she moved away from him, creeping too close to the herd for chatter. Apparently he had walked right into strike two without anyone giving him any kind of warning. Sighing heavily, he followed after the female, though only because he wanted to keep an eye on her. If he thought he could really keep her safe, he might have continued to protest, but he knew she would do what she wanted one way or another. That attitude was something he really loved about her. It was what brought them back to the pride. Even though it wavered from time to time, it was only on her own terms. Nothing he did would be able to sway her. He also had no plans of getting involved in the hunt. Since it did seem like she really wanted to do the hunting on her own, she wasn't going to appreciate him running in and helping with the kill. Strike three would have him sleeping outside the den if he messed it up.
So it was better to watch and wait.
Hathel observed the herd, getting herself into an ideal position before launching herself forward to try and rush in to tackle on of the zebras who had slipped just a little too far from the rest of the herd. They started to scatter and rush about in random directions, but she didn't stop, keeping her eyes focused on the one she had picked out. Though others moved closer to her than the one she had targeted, she knew better than to try and change course in the middle of the hunt. Ninniach watched, though he had lost site of the hunt in favor of watching her body move. She still looked lean and powerful, and he found himself falling in love with her all over again. Or wanting to mount her. One of the two.
While he was getting in the mood, Hathel was still focused on the zebra. one wrong turn gave her the opportunity to leap, her jaws finding their way to his neck without skipping a beat. It was perfectly timed, and worked out well.
She and the zebra toppled to the floor, where she quickly got back to her feet to pin him there. He wiggled and tried to get away, but it was no use. Soon enough, he was limp, and as the last of the herd ran over the distance, it was clear she had managed to take out what she had wanted all along. They would not be going hungry that night, and maybe even some of the other pride members would be able to join in on the fun of a good meal. Sitting down, she licked her mouth, looking over at Ninniach as he moved to join her. "So? Still think I can't handle myself with a little hunt?" She demanded proudly, looking down at her kill. The male sighed and sat down beside her, taking a moment to clean the blood off of her before he replied to her question.
"I still have no idea why you felt like you needed to brush up on your skills, but I'm happy you managed to get that kill so easily. You made it look effortless, and I know how hard it really is. I know you said you weren't out to prove anything to me, but you certainly managed it." He smiled at her. Though she gave him another look, he knew he wasn't in strike three territory.
WC: 1,112
