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The lioness wasn't the only red feline out on the hunt. Tawa had been watching the very same herd but from a greater distance. He had seen them emerge from the edge of the Bonelands territory and he knew better than to get too close. He didn't want to infringe on the lands just yet - he had healed from his bout with one of the Inselelo and was biding his time to challenge the grey male that had routed out the one that had beaten him. Patience was a virtue and he was using his time to hone his skills.

Tawa had crouched down in the long grass as the herd moved slowly towards him, but he lifted his head in surprise as they suddenly started stampeding in his direction. Unsure of what had set them off, he got up from his position and trotted away, out of the charging beasts. He'd wait for them to settle down before trying again. That was when a roar caught his ears and a flash of burnt red fur caught his eyes. A lioness.

He frowned slightly and moved to stand beside a cluster of rocks, watching from a distance. She was certainly from the Bonelands and he didn't wish to frighten her, so it would be best to let her try to get her prey before making his presence known. It would be worse if he tried to slink away and she spotted him - letting her know he was there but wasn't a threat was the only course of action.

Tawa held his ground, hopeful that the rocks would keep the preybeasts away from him. The one that the lioness was chasing did veer towards him, probably thinking the rocks might be a way to escape her pursuit, but the wide-eyed creature spotted him and thought better of it. He watched the female tackle - rather ungracefully, but effectively - the gazelle, bringing it to the ground. It only took a few moments for the struggle to cease, and that was when his presence was noticed.

She was on the defensive already, he realized with a grimace. Tawa wasn't an aggressive male unless it was called for, such as fighting his way into a pride or protecting those he held dear. He was large, yes, but had managed to get through life without stepping on too many toes.

"Here," he called out from his spot by the piled rocks, moving around them so she could see him. He stopped once he was in plain view, a small smile on his muzzle. They were out of the Bonelands for certain, but he knew better than to assume she was alone. Just in case there were any other females around it was best to not approach just yet.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to steal your food or hurt you," he said, hoping to calm her down. "Simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"No, no fighting here," Tawa promised. Well, eventually there would be fighting, at least he hoped so, but not with her. He had a bone to pick with Emrys once the male showed his mug around here again.

He nodded at her question even though he technically wasn't with the pride any longer. He certainly was of Firekin blood, though, born and raised there. He had followed his friend and the love of his life to the Bonelands only to find he couldn't win entrance as easily as he had thought. So here he was, banished to the rogue lands until he could prove himself.

"Oh...just passing through," he said with a weak smile. He didn't want anyone to know his true intentions of hanging out here and thankfully no one had seen him twice. He didn't want them to think he was laying in wait. "But yes, I do hail from the Firekin. I left for greener pastures, though. It's a bit hot and sandy there for my liking when there's all this out here."

He motioned with his head to the grasslands. Truly, he'd rather be alone out here than with hundreds of eager to fight lions in a desert.

He was hungry, but he didn't want to take her hard-earned kill. She had offered once already and he had let it slide by, but with her insisting he finally stepped forward.

"Tawa'shilah," he returned with a little smile. "Ah...formerly of the Firekin. Now...of the rogue lands, I suppose." He stopped a few paces from the kill and nodded for her to start. "You did all the work, it's only fair you get your choice of meat."

He glanced around, agreeing that it wasn't terribly green here. It was more shades of brown and yellow. Still, better than the desert. "It's pretty bad when it's all that there is," he said as he sat down. "Blowing in your eyes and nose, burning your feet when you walk, and then at night it's so cold...it's a very strange place, the desert."

"Mm. I'm glad I don't have to deal with it either," Tawa hummed as Monifa dug into the kill. He waited for her to take a few bites before joining in, keeping to the other end so they didn't butt heads.

He ate in quiet delight and soon not much was left of the small gazelle, just enough for the scavengers to get a good meal out of was well. He cleaned himself up a bit before rising to his paws once more. "Thanks for sharing. I don't think I've had gazelle before," he admitted. "I should press on before it gets much hotter out, though. I've been told the males in this pride don't take kindly to other males hanging around for too long."

"Thanks for sharing," Tawa said with a little bob of his head. Perhaps if he ever did win his way into the Bonelands she'd vouch for him that he wasn't coming in to take over. He had a lot to learn about the pride still, but from what he understood the females really ran the show. Having a friend on the inside could prove useful some day.

He nodded as she turned to go and did the same. He'd head out for a day or so and relocate so he could wait for Emrys to slip up and make a mistake. He'd become an Inselelo soon, he was sure of it.