Asali was hungry. She didn’t stuff herself full everyday like some lions she’d known (though lately she did eat more than usual… the lioness did not yet know she was pregnant however) but nor did she like to go four days as normal then spend a day fruitlessly hunting for food. Two more days and she’d feel weak, she knew, so now was the time to make a kill! While she still felt strong! But she could find nothing in this dratted area but a few skinny hares.
She chewed on a bone and scrap of flesh and fur she’d got left from her last meal. Wild dog. A rogue, no one someone would miss. Bit tough after four days but it was all she had. It made her growl.
*
Kaddy was out on long patrol. His darling girl and their growing puppies were going to stay behind in the pack lands while he spent three days out looking for news and checking the surrounding area. The forewarnings had helped the Mpinzani dog before. He was a border guard of his pack and took it seriously. When he was younger he’d always been a bit of a loner – no fun playing when you’re always gonna loose because you’re the runt – but was fiercely loyal to his home and pack.
And as he sniffed worriedly at some bones and leftovers, after two days out here, he was glad he bothered to long patrol. These were wild dog bones. Not of anyone he knew. But that meant a dog-eater was out here.
*
The honey coloured female picked up her bone in her mouth and started to walk. No good laying about all day…maybe if she walked far enough she’d come to lands of the herdbeasts again. Before that she’d go see if there was any more meat left on her kill to sustain her on her journey. Curse the blasted hares, curse the blasted mountains! Asali hated that she’d come this way and wished she’d tried the other.
But as she smelt wild dog about her – fresh wild dog along with the old meat – she stopped. And crouched. And dropped her bone so that she could sneak up upon the foolish yellow-black creature before her.
*
Kadogo froze when he realised a lioness had approached him from behind. He was not as dumb as she thought and pretended to keep on sniffing at the bones. Distasteful really and he sent up a prayer in his mind for his fellow dog but it made it seem like he wasn’t waiting…he daren’t swivel his ears round or do more than turn his head a fraction. He was waiting, waiting, waiting…
*
With barely a snarl, Asali burst from her hiding place and leapt for the dog. He was dead meat! Or perhaps – not. He’d sprung away as she spring forward, and Asali landed neatly where he’d been a moment before. Her paw was prickled by a bone she’d broken for the marrow just yesterday and that did make her snarl. Stupid creature! At any other time she’d have been pleased and amused to see Kadogo offer such an interesting hunt but today she just wanted to eat.
“Clever move, but not clever enough!” She chased after him with claws at the ready –
*
- pain. While Kaddy fought wolf style, Asali was quick. He dodged in and out, snapping and snarling warnings that this was pack lands. But she’d just landed a bow across his shoulder that sliced his skin. His thick Mpinzani-dog fur had helped fend off her agitated swipes, but that hurt and he leapt away with a yelp.
She should have been able to kill him (runtsmalllonemaledogsmall) easily but instead she sat down and glared. Kadogo stood his ground, his back towards the way that was home, and glared right back.
*
“You’re wasting my time, you worthless scrap of meat!” Asali had never lost her temper since she came to these parts. She’d been sweet, nice, curious and good company to everyone she’d met who wasn’t prey. But she was hungry and this damn dog was lower on the food chain when he had no one to watch his back. It was just…just…RUDE of him to dare attack her back and dodge like that!
*
“I’m not worthless. I’m a member of my pack and I’m warning you, stay away, dog-eater. Or my family and friends will eat you instead.” He barked back with angry eyes. Once upon a time he’d believed that he was worthless. Being as small as a female and being a bit fragile when he was very young. Now though he was strong and quick and not taking any rubbish from a dumb cat who’d lost the herds.
“Why don’t you go pick on a preybeast. Maybe they’d mark you less.”
*
Asali growled and glanced down at the few small cuts his teeth had left on her. Riverlets of blood were turning her golden fur a rusty red on both sides of her shoulders. It was embaressing. He was a small, lanky, overly fluffy DOG. She wasn’t her best she reminded herself, she was hungry and out of sorts and argh! So mad.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be so cocky. You’re bleeding yourself.”
*
“Look. If you head towards my pack I’m not the only one who’ll attack back. No young’uns there are getting eaten on my watch. Do you really want to risk having ten dogs as determined as me after you?”
“There’s a kill a few hours to the west. Walking will be easier on you that killing me, trust me. And from there you can see a gap in the mountains that leads to a trail. Take it and get back to the zebra’s path. Get the hell out of our area.”
*
“…you are lucky you are wise, dog. I’ll do that. But only because I can’t be bothered with you. And if that meat and trail are not there, so help me I’ll hunt you down. Your pack isn’t here with you now.” Asali snarled and stalked off, with the air of a proud house cat whose just been kicked away from a bowl of cream. Not bothered, not flustered for all her cuts, but angry at you all the same. Today was a lucky day for Kaddy. So lucky.
*
Kaddy watched until the lioness was half way to the horizon before he let himself relax a little. To move and let the tension out of his muscles. His hackles lowered, his fur stopped bristling andhe lowered his lip. Asali was gone.
Now. To find water and rest and to clean his wounds. He had a limp somewhat and it hurt more than he’d let on to the cat. Looked like he’d be late home to dear Oak. But at east he’d be coming home proud of himself. He wasn’t worthless.
He was the ‘damn big hero’ border patroller.
