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 Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:34 pm
 "No, I guess not."
Ufunuo couldn't help but laugh, it really had been a silly thing to say. Crocodile versus lion, that fight was going to the crocodile. But he had made her smile right? At least a little, that was what really mattered. Not that he wouldn't take on a crocodile if it was to protect someone special, something Daga was already making mental notes to prevent ever happening.
He had settled on his haunches, head titled curiously as if he was trying to understand what she was saying and why she was saying it. If she asked him, she was being too hard on herself.
"But you still enjoy hunting right? You just do it differently now, that doesn't mean you're not good at what you do."
At least that was what he thought anyways.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:02 am
A small part of her was actually relieved that Ufunuo realized that he couldn't take on a crocodile - which also meant that a small part of her had believed that he would. He seemed like the sort of lion that would charge into dangerous situations first, and then think about the consequences later. Elea was rather the opposite. She liked to analyze the situation before diving into it. It saved energy, that way.
"Of course, I enjoy it still. I wouldn't be hunting if I didn't enjoy it. I love the thrill of it, the effort of mind and body that you have to put in it to be successful." Hunting was so much more complex than just catching and killing an animal. When her leg had been injured, it took on more level of complexities. She had to think around it, had to adapt everything. It was a new challenge, and Elea was not comfortable with backing down in the face of it.
"Well, comparatively, I'm far less valuable as a hunter now. Anyone can do what I do, but I only can do it that way. My range of abilities has been cut in half." Elea was trying to become better at hunting, but it still was a long and trying practice. Nadra and herself failed far more than they succeeded, which was the nature of hunting, but now it seemed daunting.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:22 pm
"So long as you enjoy it, isn't that what really matters?"
That simple sincere smile had returned to his maw. He still thought she was being hard on herself. A change, no matter how big or small did not mean one was any less strong or 'valuable'. Old Hifadhi, was different, older, but that did not stop him from being the powerful force he still was, at least in Ufunuo's mind.
But he did not want to force the issue, he had learned long ago that trying to hard to get someone to see as he did only led to hurt feelings and anger. Hurting her feelings, that was the last thing he wanted to do. So far as he was concerned, she was among the strongest members of the pride, she never gave up. He liked that, he liked her.
"Maybe we could...go hunting together sometime."
For the first time, Daga may have felt a touch out of place at his bonded's side, or at least that it was a good time for a quick scouting flight. Aww, that was so cute, little Ufunuo was all grown up and learning about girls.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:43 pm
"I guess you're right," she conceded. It was true, if she didn't enjoy hunting, she wouldn't be doing it. Whether she liked hunting or not heavily mattered when it came to whether she hunted or not. She would give Ufunuo a little credit - he was not as much of a blockhead as she had first taken him to be. Elea could be considered judgmental, in that she usually did make decisions about a lion's character when she first met them. At least Ufunuo was turning out to make a rather good impression.
"Of course, I would like that," she agreed with a slender smile. "Maybe I can show you some things you haven't learned yet. I may not be good at practice with them, but I know plenty of hunting techniques by memory." Nadra seemed more affected by the lion's suggestion than Elea did herself, but maybe that was because Elea's mind wasn't quite on the same track as her bonded's. Nadra was practically sniggering behind her wing, and was personally delighted with how things were going. At this rate, Elea would be able to branch out a little more, take on a few more friends other than just the vulture. And if things turned out well, Elea could find herself another more permanent companion.
Really, all Nadra wanted was what she believed to be the best for Elea, and right now Ufunuo was good for her.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:22 pm
"I'd like that."
The smile never faded, his words sincere. Though this time his thoughts had begun to change, to mature. At another time he would have jumped at the chance of a lesson from the huntress, eager to learn all that he could, to grow as stronger at the paw of a great teacher.
But now, that was not what he thought, not what he felt. Now a hunt meant time spent together, doing something they both enjoyed; and if she wanted, they could both grow stronger together. He liked that idea very much.
And then he couldn't help himself, a paw raised, playfully batting at her. Why he couldn't say, it was all new to him. Whether it was because he could no longer contain his energy, whether he wanted to show some sign that he liked her, that he didn't know what else to say, or whether he just thought she would like it, it just seemed right.
"We could go tonight, if you like."
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:36 pm
At first she did not know how to take being batted at. It was a playful gesture, one she hadn't taken part of since she was a juvenile. At some point in her younger life she had stuck with the belief that such things made her childish, and she wanted to be taken seriously. So, for a few moments, she eyed Ufunuo curiously. Really, Elea had no clue how to respond to it. She didn't dislike the gesture, or she would have scowled at the other lion. Elea hardly understood the meanings of these little things... but she supposed that now was the time to try.
After considering how to respond, she leaned up on her back legs, using her good paw to bat at Ufunuo's mane. Ah, that didn't feel so bad to do, and a brief look of triumph crossed her face. She had done something that she hadn't in a long while, and was letting down her tough facade long enough to indulge Ufunuo and herself in a little play.
Of course, she wasn't very good at it, and she thought before she acted. But, it was a step in the right direction that Nadra would approve of.
"Tonight may in fact be a good night for a hunt," she agreed.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:22 am
Like Nadra, Daga was quietly grinning to himself, perhaps even passing that knowing glance to the vulture while Ufunuo remained completely oblivious. How much the lion had grown, matured; Daga had to admit he liked where this was going.
Ufunuo's smile had grown broader, his tail giving a happy twitch. Was that a sense of relief? Had he been nervous of how she would react? If he was, it was all forgotten now, his head lowered to lean into her batting paw, almost as if he were thinking of a headbutt, though that was not his intention.
"Great!"
Ufunuo could not have been happier, the brightness echoing in his voice, he had never known anything quite like he did at that moment. A beautiful sunny day, the promise of a nighttime hunt with a pretty lioness, maybe the chance of something more. What could have possibly made for a better day?
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:03 am
"How about we meet up right here when it starts to get dark?" Elea suggested. She truly had nothing to do in these next few hours of daylight, but for some reason she didn't want to give Ufunuo the impression of a lioness who spent her hours idle. She hunted, and she enjoyed chatting with Nadra and other members of the pride, but beyond that she had no sort of special obligation. It was an easy, enjoyable life, really. She made her contribution to her pride, and after that had free reign over what to do with all the time she had left over.
"I'll see you, then," she concluded, and after a few seconds of contemplation, playfully pushed on the forehead that was leaning against her paw. Slowly, but surely she was dragging herself out of her shell. Nadra was going to consider this a vast improvement, and the vulture did not mind that Elea was parting from the conversation then. It'd give her a few hours to tease Elea lightly over that handsome lion she talked to today. Elea's ears would turn pink from her embarrassment, but at least Nadra was certain that it might make her bonded think of Ufunuo in a different way.
Nadra always had the careful wing to prod Elea in the proper direction.
[END]
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