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 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:02 pm
 The young leopardess really hadn't planned on following her mother that day. She had wanted to play with her siblings... but as her mother had begun to wander away in order to hunt, Mkia had lost sight of her brother and sister... and that sinking feeling started. The one deep in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't escape when she realized that she might be left alone. Her father had been near the den, but she hadn't been able to see him. She didn't know where her brother and sister were... but she could see her mother. That meant that Mkia had run after her, at top speed, and inisted that she be allowed to follow. At the time, she had barely been able to keep the panic out of her voice.
The truth was, the idea of her parents or siblings finding out how scared it made her feel to be alone was a terrible weight on her mind. As a cub, she loved to play and have fun. When she was with her family, nothing bothered her, and she was perfectly happy. But every time someone got too far away... she couldn't even play hide and seek because the idea was set in her mind that either her siblings would dissapear forever, or that no one would be able to find her and she would be left alone. What would happen to her then? The thought was enough to make her panic.
But now she was with her mother, and not only that, she was going to be able to watch her mother hunt! Now if that wasn't exciting, then what was? She would certainly be able to brag to her brother and sister about the experience later, and that would most certainly be enjoyable! Maybe they could come too, next time, and Mkia could show them what to do! It would be great! Because they would all be together.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:26 pm
Ohenewaa glanced behind her as she trotted through the tall grasses, making sure her young white and red daughter was near. While it hadn't been in Mkia's plans to join her on the hunt, Ohenewaa also hadn't planned on having a cub afoot. It wasn't that she didn't adore her cubs - oh, they were her world and she absolutely, positively adored them! - but it complicated the hunt with one so inexperienced beside her.
On top of it, it was dangerous.
Should something go wrong, who was to say that Mkia wouldn't be put at risk?
Ohenewaa had argued with the young cub, briefly, about her joining. But to hear that panic, to see that fear on the girl, the young mother just didn't have the heart to object. No, it hurt to see her beautiful daughter so upset - better to let her join and use this time as glue to strengthen their bond and teach. The cubs would have to learn the rules of the game at some point. . .
Ohenewaa merely hadn't thought that now would be the time.
Thus far, the trail was empty. She had yet to pick up on any scents that would provide them with a meal. A few antelope had passed earlier, and some hyena's the night before, but for the most part the land was quiet. An opportunistic hunter, there wasn't much that Ohenewaa would over look. . . but for now, there were no trails to follow, nothing fresh.
But such was the art of the hunt. . . patience.
"So tell me, Mkia," she began softly, not afraid to frighten away any beasts as the lands were seemingly empty. "what do you think we might find tonight? And I'm going to need to your help tracking down a good meal, remember, so keep your nose alert!"
Grinning lightly, she reached down to nose at the small white and red splotched lady beside her, amazed at how quickly they were growing. What had started out as small balls of fluff could now walk, run, stalk and talk! They were growing so very fast. . . . Ohenewaa could only hope that she'd stay close to all of them as they aged.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:16 am
Mkia grinned, positively giddy that her mother had asked for her help. As Ohenewaa loved the girl, she simply adored her mother back, especially since she was able to get away with things like this... coming on a possibly dangerous hunt. Still, for Mkia it seemed far, far more terrifying to stay at home where she might be left alone at any moment. As long as she was sure to stay with someone, then she wouldn't be afraid, and as long as she wasn't afraid, everything would be alright.
As to the hunt, Mkia nodded enthusiasticly and kept his nose to the ground, trying to pick up any scents her mother might have missed. Which was unlikely, but as far as Mkia was concerned, there was every possibility that she could do it!
"Um... we could find... an antelope... or... maybe a hare!" Mkia smiled up at her mother, trotting along beside her, "Or... Um... A bug!" A bug seemed perfectly logical... after all, it was about all Mkia could catch at her size.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:34 am
The young leopard mother gave a smile, eyes gleaming brightly at her daughters words. They would be lucky to capture an antelope, something large enough to feed both Kiganja and herself, as well as her beloved cubs. But antelope grazed in herds, and thus far she saw no sign of any near their vicinity. A hare would make a good snack, or at least a meal for the cubs, but Ohenewaa was not so desperate as to waste energy on one of them . . . not yet at least. But it was Mkia's last statement that caused the mother to pause and glance at her daughter, eyes gleaming bright with good humor. Chuckling in her throat, she paused to bat fondly at her daughter before resuming their walk.
"To feed your father and I, as well as the family, don't you think it would have to be one mighty large bug? They may be good for treats, but I think today we shall go all out and find ourselves a true feast." Ohenewaa didn't think she'd want to try to take down an insect of gargantuan proportions - even the idea, ridiculous as it was, came off as frightening to the leopardess. Termites and cockroaches the size of Kiganja and herself? Nope. Let the insects stay small for the sake of all the animals in Africa.
Tail swishing lightly behind her, Ohenewaa kept her nose working, hoping to pick up the trail of something worth investigating. A baboon, though dangerous to Mkia, could be worth stalking; gazelle, or perhaps a wildebeest or jackal. She wasn't particularly pick, but she was hunting for five; the larger the better. "Now, soon as we find a prospective meal, we're going to have to be very quiet. You'll need to follow me very carefully and be as secretive as possible. If I tell you to wait, wait . . . but should something go wrong, baby, or an animal that isn't me draws near I'll need you to run and hide. Even if I'm not close enough to tell you to."
Too many things could go wrong on a hunt; there was no way Mkia would be able to keep up should she get dragged or pulled away from her daughter. And she did not want her youngling to get near a thrashing beast anyway. Still, with the openess of the savanna a plethora of creatures could be out and about. . . baboons and chimpanzees, or other predators wouldn't hesitate to kill her daughter if given an opportunity.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:00 pm
Mkia nodded as she heard her mother talk. The idea of a giant bug actually seemed pretty funny to her... but then, nothing really seemed to scare Mkia, save the idea of being alone. With that single exception, she could be rather fearless. "I think it would be cool! We could find a giant ant abd bring it back! Or maybe... a giant butterfly would be pretty, don't you think?" She giggled, thrilled by that idea. She had always found that butterflies were pretty neat...
...Still, while Mkia was fearless (most of the time) she was not stupid. She knew that there were serious dangers that came along with hunting. The idea of being someone's lunch wasn't something that she thought would be very thrilling... But still, she was sure she could help with something, even if it was just helping her mother drag back whatever it was they managed to kill.
"Don't worry mom, I'll do whatever you say." And if her mother told her to wait while she went ahead... then Mkia would just sneak after her. Safely out of sight, of course, but she would certainly keep track of her mother. No way she would let herself be left behind... alone. Not a chance.
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