|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:41 pm
Lani had tried her hardest not to think of the elephant and the fiasco with the firekin. She’d said her prayers to the stars when they’d dispersed, hoping his soul would make it up there and find his dear, poor calf. Hoping that death would bring him peace. It hurt her heart just to remember.
So she didn’t, tried not to, especially now when she was in the company of a friend and eager to fill her belly with fresh meat.
Lani was drawn back to the present by Ndege’s nudge. She glanced in indicated direction and perked her ears. Oh yes, absolutely perfect. A young antelope with unsteady legs. Small enough for two female dogs to take down, and slow enough that they ought to keep up with him.
Lani wagged her tail furiously and nodded her understanding. No space for speech now, they were much too close to the herd.
Pausing to ready herself, Lani crouched as low as she could, straining her muscles and gripping the ground. Her tongue slurped out of her mouth to wet her nose, strengthening the scents around her. She cast Ndege a quick glance, grinning toothily, and cocked her head. Ready?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 11:42 am
Ndege answered Lani's grin with one of her own. Ready!
She crouched low to the ground, claws planted in the earth, before lunging forward, trusting Lani would follow her motion. She ran, swift and eerily silent. There was no need to bark - the herd already saw her and startled, starting to run themselves. Ndege only had eyes for the calf, the bleating panicked calf. And the mother, trying to stay near. Ndege growled, trying to get in-between the mother and calf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 1:46 pm
Lani went off like a dart, following closely at Ndege’s heels. Straight for the calf, no time to waste. Good plan! Seeing the older cow maneuver herself between dogs and calf, Lani ducked down, swift as a bird. She dodged to the right, swerving around Ndege, and raced sideways, snapping her jaws on empty air before the mother’s feet. In retaliation the cow rose up, striking out her hooves.
But Lani was fast. She dipped to the left, bounding backwards one step, then two, out of the mother’s range. Lani had the cow’s attention now, though, leaving the calf huddled behind, unwatched. Probably not for long.
Lani barked and snapped, faking another lunge at the cow herself. Keep her attention fixed, away from her baby.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:30 am
Ndege's heart nearly stopped when the cow lashed out with her hooves, but Lani was nowhere near. Focus! she reminded herself. Lani was much smaller and agile than she was, there was no need to worry. And the calf was left undefended...
Ndege turned with a quick lunge and closed her jaws around the baby's throat, squeezing tight and using her weight to pin the squealing calf to the ground. Now all she had to do was maintain her grip until the calf died... and hope the mother didn't brain her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:14 pm
Lani caught sight of Ndege pinning the calf, and her focus momentarily slipped. The antelope rose up and crashed her hooves down. Lani barely had time to react, ducking out of the way – but not fast enough. She received a sharp hit to the side of her muzzle, and let out a high-pitched whimper of pain. But she couldn’t stop. Already the cow was turning toward her struggling calf.
Lani leapt forward and snapped at the animal’s heel. It snorted in anger and turned again, slashing its head to and fro at her. Lani barked and snapped, ducking in and out until the beast was enraged… then she turned heel and ran with the antelope hot on her heels. The calf was there’s now, Lani just had to lead the mother off long enough for Ndege to complete the kill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:39 pm
Since she was keeping an eye on the cow, Ndege saw the mother gazelle strike Lani. She winced in sympathy, but maintained her grip. The only thing she could do to help Lani right now was kill the calf. It was just a matter of time - yes, it had stopped struggling.
Ndege jumped to her feet and trotted back up the hill, dragging the calf's limp body. She wasn't sure if it was full blown dead yet, but it was at least unconscious and would die soon. The top of the hill would provide a good place to eat, well away from the mother and with a good view of any approaching predators.
Well... maybe only most of the way up the hill. Ndege might be strong, but she was still badly out of shape. That damn calf was heavy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:46 pm
Lani was not having quite as much fun as her friend. The cow was close on her butt, kicking and braying at her with all the fury of… well, a mother going to lose her baby. Lani pushed on, her sides heaving with exertion. It was quite the chase – Lani darting to and fro, never being given a moment’s pause, with an antelope butting her rear end when she slowed. What a silly sight they must have made – prey chashing predator. Eventually the cow was happy with how far she’d driven Lani and stopped. She held her ground, let out one last mighty bray, and turned to trot back to her calf.
A calf that simply wouldn’t be there.
Lani collapsed in the grass, panting heavily. She’d never run so hard in her life! But all for a good cause. She gave herself only a moment’s rest before struggling back to wobbly legs. She scented the air – smelling blood that nearly masked Ndege’s own familiarity – and started toward the hill, her pace slow and plodding.
It took Lani some minutes to catch up with her friend, and she flopped into the grass with a laugh and a small when she caught sight of them. Her muzzle stung, the skin puffed up with bruising, but she’d heal.
“She was a tough old lady, that antelope,” said Lani, between puffs of breath.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:56 pm
"I never saw a dog get chased by an antelope before," Lani agreed, laughing with relief. She gave her friend a concerned look. "Is your face okay? Just bruising, right? There are healers in my pack if you're badly injured." She felt rather guilty, all things considered. Killing the calf had been a much safer job than distracting the mother.
Ndege could never stay unhappy for very long though. "Look at our fine kill!" she said, wagging her tail. "You should have the first bite since you did more running."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:24 pm
“I bet it was a sight!” Lani pushed herself back to her feet and trotted the last few steps toward the carcass. She rubbed her muzzle with a paw, but there was nothing to be done about it,” Just bruising. I think even if she broke my muzzle, I’d still eat! I’m starving!” Especially after all that running. Lani felt no sort of jealousy toward Ndege for taking on the ‘easier’ job. Lani was meant for speed, and Ndege was clearly built much more for strength. Lani would never have been able to take down the calf on her own.
Dodging hooves was a much easier job.
“It’s lovely, Ndege,” Lani wagged back, grinning from ear to ear,” Thank-you!” She dropped her maw to the carcass and dug in with relish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:10 am
Ndege smiled with relief. She'd have felt terrible if Lani had been seriously injured. A broken jaw was a serious matter, even with the help of her pack's healers. A bruise would heal and shouldn't provide a significant burden for her rogue land friend.
"Thank you as well! We killed it together." She sat beside the kill and waited patiently, keeping an eye out for any rival predators. She rather hoped Lani would forget politeness in favor of filling her belly; Ndege always had the food her pack's hunters provided to fall back upon. Ici Chiot Sorry, lost my muse for a while!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
