"I told yah I'm sorry! "
A hyena whined, wiggling under the weight of another that had its teeth fastened against her neck. She wa sbarely being bitten hard enough to draw blood, truth be told, but the squeeze was enough to bother, and make her jiterry.
"I almost HAD that gazelle! " The male snarled angrily, before letting go, tohugh he roughly shoved the female away, grumbling. It was hard enough to get food when there ere noly two hyenas on the hunt, and she -had- to keep screwing up! Patience, Tibuka. Yes.. she was captive-born. He was supposed to teach her to hunt well. So he could use her.
Fido wheezed slightly, and remained floored a bit longe,r before wriggling to her paws. She knew better than to complain, and instead kept low. "We can.. catch something else? " She offerest, testing slightly. At Tibuka's warning growl, she backed away, sinking back. Tibuka was boss; stay on hs good side. Him being boss had led to the collar being put back on, though slighlty by her idea, and her inability to argue.
"Later. Not in the mood now. " Tibuka grumped, beginning to head for a tree to flop beneath. Once he reached it, he promptly growled at Fido as she moved to join him in the shade, and instead she was left sitting "outside". She grumbled, but accepted it. She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped herself. He was in a badbad mood, best not risk saying anything stupid.
They remained quiet for long enough, until Fido raised her head, alert. Ooh, she saw something. Leaping to her paws, she barked, then raced away from Tibuka, tail wagging furiously. Tibuka stared after her in annoyance, then saw what she did and went afterwards.
He hadn't expected to see two othe rhyenas charging over.. or had he? His kind was the sort to rush over at food. Leith growled slightly; damn! Hard enough to get this as it was and these two were coming to steal it. "Stay back! " Ears against his skull, he dropped his half-eaten gazelle and placed himself infront of it, blocking his recently stolen food.
Fido arrived first, skidding to a halt, and seconds late Tibuka was there, standing closer to the purple hyena than Fido. "Why should I? I'm bigger than you. and we're two. " He argued, ears perked. May seem harsh, and impolite but.. thats how nature works. Leith glanced from Tibuka to Fido, and remained put for a bit longer, before finally, seeming defeated.
"Can we at least share? " He sighed, stepping regretfully away from his kill. He'd rather give up one day of food than a lifetime, he supposed.
Tibuka raised his head proudly and trotted to the kill, picking it up with ease. Gazelle were tiny, and half-eaten.. made them smaller. and lighter. "I'll think of it. " He said, promptly trotting back towards the tree with the dead animal, Fido close behind. Leith followed a bit more hesitantly; but if anyhting wa sleft.. he wanted it.
Tibuka ate a bit, for a while not speaking, but growling whenever fido got close; Leith had the good sense to stay back. After he was done,rather than give the remains to Fido, he launched them at the purple male; a revenge, somewhat, for her making him lose an entire gazelle.
"So, purple-boy. " He said, not hesitating to sit with his paws right by the kil as Leith ate. It seemed to bother te other male, but Tibuka would have none of it. Fido hung around somewhere behind him, ears low. "You're packlesS? "
Leith blinked, did that matter? "Yes. " In fact, Leith was once a slave. Not about to let that bit spill. "Why? " He grumbled, pulling the remains closer towards him instinctively.
Tibuka smirked, good. "Stick with us, then. We're team-hunters. Two isn't enough, especially when one of us sucks. " The las tbit was said in an acid tone as the male glared back at fido, who whined slightly.
Leith's ears perked, and he considered this. It would be a rash decision... He could regret it. But overthinking it oculd be just as bad. And in a world this harsh.. well, it was true. A hyena wasn't suppose dto be alone. "I guess. " He glanced at Fido. "Just as long as you don't treat me like you treat her. I'm not going to be your lackey. "
Tibuka snorted, fine. He'd hold his attitude with purple boy. "Fine. Whats your name? " He asked, though there was a light demand in it. He couldn't control this one like he could the female, Tibuka wa slarger and stornger, but he couldn't simply pin this guy down and scare him. "Leith, whats yours? " Leith replied, though he didn't dare demand.
Fido grumbled, watching the two exchange names and flopping pathetically near Tibuka's paws, nipping slightly at a bit of the bones of the dead gazelle. Leith glared at her, but decided it was fine, and he was done. Triumphant, the female dragged te kill away, fleeing to a distant before settling on the floor and picking at whatever was left.
"I'm going to catch a hare. " Tibuka said, getting to his paws. "Fido! Stay here! " He shouted to the shape of the smallish female in the mud, and as she nodded, he began to trot off, ears against his skull. He wouldn't have to be har ehunting if she hadn't just messed up their kill...
Leith, now "alone", grumbled, flopping under the shade of the tree. He'd take a nap in the meantime. And Fido?
Well, she'd be a good dog. and literally not leave the spot until Tibuka returned.
