Moto'nyota - Truth.Be.Told
Nyota'angavu - Kitsune Mistress Nyoko



A good day. That was the kind of day Moto'nyota had. A full stomach, a good distance traveled, and a rather sturdy tree to sleep in. She'd avoided trees lately, due to her size, but this one...it more than supported her weight. Plus it was safer than risking someone attacking her in the middle of the night. Hyenas liked doing that. But she couldn't really sleep yet. Despite all the things the night represented in her mind, it was beautiful...So she was enjoying it before sleep took over.


Nyota had spent a good portion of his waking time making sure his mother was occupied with his siblings before trying to sneak off. They were a handful at best, and with the addition of her toy, things only got more interesting. He'd already pounced the regular lion once, taunting her heritage before waltzing off rather proud of himself. Now was a chance to prove himself... He'd bring home as large a kill as he could take down, and present it to his mother. The very thought caused his maw to widen in a grin.

Granted, a cub was still a cub. So at this point, he was rather clumsily attempting to 'stalk' a small family of antelope; whom, knowing the small cub was no threat, merely ignored him and continued to graze for the moment.



Strange...Moto moved a bit in her tree, curious. She could have sworn something moved in the grass. But the antelope who'd decided she made a good guard during the night didn't seem worried. She dropped to the ground on the other side of the tree and stalked towards where she'd seen the movement. If the antelope weren't worried, what ever it was couldn't be big. Maybe not even a predator. If that was the case, they were quite lucky Moto wasn't the sort for a midnight snack.

Imagine her surprise to find a dark little cub. The little one was almost invisible in the shadows, if not for his lighter back markings and his eyes. Both of which had a haunting familiarity to them. Moto pushed that to the back of her mind. There was no chance of what popped into her head.


If only the lioness knew. Nyota was rather close now, and whether or not he felled the antelope wasn't of much importance. He knew at this distance, he could manage to sink his claws into one of their flanks. But the antelope still seemed indifferent... His cruel grin widened as he sprang into action, tearing across the grass and digging his claws into the supple flesh of a doe's left leg. The doe gave a horrid shriek of fear before tearing off, Nyota still clinging to her leg.

But the cub soon leapt off and gave an unsatisfied snarl, disappointed that he was still too small to take down a fully grown antelope. He huffed and went about cleaning his paws, languidly licking the blood from sharp, perfect claws.



A cub trying to prove itself. And failing miserably. She sighed and made herself visible, trotting over to where the cub had landed. Moto looked down at the little one, that strange sense of familiarity washing over her again. That and the gut feeling to just leave and find another place to sleep. "You know...If you're trying to hunt at your size, a few rabbits are best." She learned that from experience when she was young..."Though you shouldn't be out at night. Hyenas like trying to eat cubs."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the antelope family disappearing into the darkness, probably to warn others like them that there was a crazy cub out tonight.


"I'd like to see some dumb mutt try to eat me," Nyota laughed, grinning maniacally at Moto as he finished cleaning his paws. "I would've been able to kill that antelope. But Mother wouldn't have appreciated hearing about how I clung to it's flank for dear life. No, I want to have a good hunting story to tell her when I go back."



The golden lioness sighed. A prideful little one that seemed a little on the off side. She looked him over, calming the bad feeling she had. Wrong colors, except for the eyes...But it was entirely possible others had the same eyes. "Really? So, your family values hunting prowess?" She was certain it was a loaded question...but it was better than none. And probably one of the few she'd be able to get any information from him.


"Ha! Not quite. Mother wouldn't stand having a son who couldn't kill his enemies, let alone some simple prey animal! Especially the one whose demon blood is the strongest," Nyota laughed darkly, flexing his claws into the soft dirt and turning his molten gaze on Moto.



Demon. That single word brought up memories she would have rather kept buried. The little one thought he was a demon...She shoved her fear to the back of her head, at least long enough to function. It was just like drowning out pain. "A demon...where's your family by chance?" She wanted to know which way to bolt. She should have listened to her instincts before. There was only one lioness she knew who was convinced she was a demon...and likely to bring up any of her children the same way.


"Back at the den, but I imagine we'll be moving soon enough. After all, it won't be long before my siblings are strong enough to start traveling," Nyota said, observing Moto's reaction with a cold little smile. Good... At least this lioness knew to give demons the fear they deserved.



Moto was almost tempted to have this cub take her to the den...just to see if her sister really was there. But...she didn't relish the idea of being under the other lioness' paw again. Especially if she had cubs. She pitied them, especially in their next life. If her sister's teachings held true, they would do much that would gather bad karma. "I shall take my leave now." She made a mock bow. "Goodbye, litle demon." There was no sense in sticking around to find out if the little one was Hakuna's son.


Nyota growled. That was not at all respectful. The foolish lioness should know better if she had encountered demons before. He lunged, claws sweeping across the left flank of the lioness. He was pleased to see blood already pooling in the wound.

"If you've encountered my kind before, you should know better. Be more respectful of your superiors," he hissed.



Moto yelped, the pain hitting her too quickly for her to ignore it. Cub-claws were sharper than the tearing claws of an adult. She turned back to the cub, resisting the urge to retaliate. "Oh yes, I have encountered your insane kind." Her usually soft voice was low and dangerous now. "Because of your kind, my family is dead. Because of your kind, I must live alone..." She narrowed eyes that matched the cub's, making sure to meet his gaze.

"I shall NEVER respect your kind until one of you proves WORTH respecting." Before the cub could lash out at her again, she took off, well aware she wasn't sleeping this night. Not until she was far, far away from the little demon and his family.


Nyota scowled. But he had to admit, at the very least, he managed to get a good swing at that foolish lioness. His expression changed into a smirk at the thought. That would certainly scar. He could at least return to his mother with the story of how he scarred a foolish lioness who didn't give him the respect he deserved.