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 Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 7:43 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 8:41 pm
Fortunately for her, the group came to her. Waimarie nodded her head in greeting as Mai Tai came over and sat beside her. Clearly that meant she’d be part of her hunting group. At least she wouldn’t be hunting alone now. She nodded understanding. Others weren’t waiting much longer either. It wasn’t long before another joined them. She looked over the oddly marked wild dog. “I’m good!” She wanted to comment on the wild dog’s markings, but another came over before she could open her mouth. “Please do!” Wairmarie told the dark lioness before Mai Tai could comment. She was excited now, and highly amused that their group was wholly female.
She would have been contented if it had been just them. As it was there were two additions. A wild dog that she thought she remembered seeing with the healers, and a quiet dark lioness. That was enough for her. “Time’s up. Let’s move out.” Mai Tai rose to her feet. With a group like this there was a mighty fine chance of catching some decent prey. Nothing was guaranteed, but she had high hopes anyhow. The hyena took note of where the other groups were going and struck out in a different direction. Too many hunters spoiled the game. She pushed them to get beyond the pride’s unofficial borders. It wouldn’t do to make game scarce at home. She hoped the others kept that in mind too.
It didn’t surprise her to be accepted into the group. Healers were valuable on an outing; particularly if they were going to be hunting big game if they found it. With luck they wouldn’t need her services. Thais was pleased when they didn’t linger long after a lioness joined them. Others were leaving and she was itching to go. Since she usually stayed within the pride, she wasn’t as familiar where the hunting grounds were and didn’t comment as the brighter hyena pushed them hard. She settled into her dog trot that let her run easily for long periods. This was fun really. She needed to stretch her legs more often.
She smiled as one of the hyenas immediately welcomed her into the group. Usually she ran defense for the pride because of her darker colors. Hunting would be a welcomed change from her routine. She noted the different methods in which they traveled. The hyenas ran differently than the lope of the wild dog, verses her own gait. She realized she could figure out what an animal was by its stride. When she got back she’d ask for the cheetahs and leopards to run with her for a bit since there wasn’t any with them. They traveled for some distance beyond the borders where she ran her patrols. That was fine with her. She kept her eyes open for potential prey.
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magnadearel rolled 4 6-sided dice:
6, 3, 2, 3
Total: 14 (4-24)
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 9:52 am
Waimarie was content to follow Mai Tai’s lead as it appeared the other two were as well. For Mai Tai was the only one officially of the hunter rank among them. They traveled quite far, but everyone kept up beautifully. The hyena spread out from the others as they began to hunt. She wanted to catch something that would make this trip worthwhile. As a teacher in the ways of stealth, Waimarie was excellent at slipping through the brush. Even she wasn’t sure what happened next. A bleat came from almost under her paws and startled her as the bushes started thrashing. It took only a moment to realize a wildebeest was down and terribly injured. The hyena did it quick service and dispatched it. She grinned around at the others with her success.
She got them where she wanted and flicked her tail for them to fan out. They had better chances of locating prey. Almost straight away they had some superb luck. Mai Tai realized Waimarie was downright lucky to almost step on the injured animal. With one in the bag, she turned to focus on her own hunt. As a hunter there was a certain pride in doing her job. She couldn’t let these others outshine her at her own game. The hyena prowled forward, muscles tense and ready. Her nose told her first that there was something worthwhile ahead. A young adult gazelle jumped out of hiding and she gave chase. It ended quickly when the animal tripped and she added it to the pile.
Thais saw the others were having great luck so far. Mai Tai really had picked a good plentiful spot. She loped off with her tongue hanging out of her mouth. Despite the run they’d had to get here, she was still full of energy. By traveling more in the open she hoped to scare something up that she could then run down. It wasn’t long before she encountered a warthog hole. The family was home and out. Thais ran through them with jaws snapping. She missed the first go around and circled back for another grab. The warthogs were diving for their hole as she passed, but one little piggy didn’t make it. She trotted back toward the others with her tiny prize.
Ket-t traveled at the back of the pack until they reached their chosen spot to hunt. The others were doing alright on their own, so she decided to take her chances. It all seemed very quiet after all the noise the others had been making with their kills. Ket-t wondered if there was still anything in the area. As she found out there was. An older gazelle had been standing in the shade, but took off when all the noise started. She simply gave chase as her instincts demanded. The sight of the fleeing prey excited her. She caught up to it and hooked her claws into its back legs to bring it down. Maybe it wouldn’t be as tender as Mai Tai’s, but it should still be tasty.
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magnadearel rolled 4 6-sided dice:
5, 2, 4, 4
Total: 15 (4-24)
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:33 am
She hadn’t really expected to find anything else as she circled out. The noise of her kill had probably alerted the other animals in the area. Still it didn’t hurt to keep on the lookout while the others were proceeding with their hunts. Waimarie ambled along. A couple of rabbits jumped out of hiding and took off. She felt confident enough not to give chase; she had the biggest so far. What good could a couple of rabbits be? Then she spotted it. A fresh zebra kill unguarded. Quickly she headed over to it. Finder keepers! Waimarie grabbed a firm hold and dragged it back to her group.
Mai Tai returned with her prize to the stash. It was nothing compared to the wildebeest Waimarie had claimed. Still it would help with the feast. As she turned, she rolled her eyes to see the other hyena dragging back a zebra. Mai Tai could only wonder how she’d managed that. She had to find something else now! So back off she went in search of more. Despite looking high and low, nothing great fell into her clutches. In the end all she managed to watch was a young gazelle fawn. Mai Tai would gift the succulent meat to the leader for her feast.
She saw the spoils of their hunts slowly growing. For a moment Thais grew concerned about how they’d manage to carry it all back. Well that would be a worry for later. Seeing the hyenas head back out after their first catches she followed suit. Prey seemed to have realized they were hunting and made itself scarce. She headed further out in hopes of less wary prey. She happened to be in luck as she ran across a herd of goats heading toward the watering hole. Thais laid low as they passed with their two legged guardian. Her eyes watched them carefully. As one strayed she made her move in a bite and go. Yelling commenced behind her with bleating from the other goats, but she was already well on her way.
Ket-t was proud of the catch they’d made. They had shown that females knew how to hunt. Idly she wondered how the other groups were doing. If they had had any of the luck they were having now, the pride would be well fed for a week let alone for the great feast! She went back out feeling just a little bit more was in order. Extra wouldn’t hurt, but it wasn’t like it was a complete fail either. The lioness prowled around the tall grasses. Something moved in front of her and she froze to identify it. Scent told her it was gazelle. With the tiniest of movements, she got ready as it got closer. When it was in range she pounced and brought it down.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:50 pm
She was breathing hard by the time she wrestled the dead carcass over to the growing pile. Waimarie let out a low whistle once she’d let her “catch” down. They had done exceedingly well. Najwa would surely be pleased with everyone, if they could get it all home! The hyena sat down to wait for the others to return. It wasn’t long before they came straggling in, each one carrying another kill of some kind. She laughed. “I think we did our job a little too well!” She couldn’t help but be proud of her pride mates none-the-less. They’d work as a team to get it all safely back. “Great hunt everyone!”
When she got back and saw Waimarie sitting there beside a zebra, she opened her mouth to ask how the hyena had managed to pull it off. Her jaw snapped shut instead of asking. Whatever. She set the fawn down and waited for the others to return. It was truly an impressive pile. “Agreed. Well done hunting everyone.” The problem of transport made her wrinkle her brow a moment. She could send one back to the pride to bring reinforcements to help move it, but that wouldn’t be as impressive. “We’ll move it ourselves. One will stand guard here, while three move three pieces forward. One of those three will remain on guard as two return for more until the last three are brought forward. That way none of it remains unguarded.”
Thais returned with her goat. She hoped it was as tasty as it looked. Resting by the pile, she was glad when one of the hyenas also voiced her concern about the amount. Luckily the other hyena had a brilliant idea for how to get it all back safely. “I think we can rotate who stays behind and who stays with the forward pile.” That way no two were always hauling the heaviest loads. “I can stay back this first time.” She’d make sure she helped to move the group forward once everything was gone from this location. Everything was working out so smoothly.
Everything had practically been decided by the others by the time she returned with her gazelle. Not that she minded too much. At least there hadn’t been any fighting. They made quite a handy team. Ket-t reminded herself to come to them if she ever had a problem. She listened to the set up and nodded. Sounded easy enough! They’d probably be back first since they were so successful, or last because they’d been too successful. She would laugh either way. With that they were ready to move. Ket-t grabbed one of carcasses and set off with the other two while Thais waited with the rest.
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