(AIM log between Kim and Andranis)
Marakl.
That was the name of this young hyena currently trotting along the savannah, head up, ears alert and eyes bright. He had black fur, purple eyes and a speckle of purple patchs on his shoulders. Still young, still impressionable, he was seemingly eager to get somewhere.
One glance at the sky would have told you exactly where he was heading.
Vultures circled overhead, just beyond a thicket that clearly hid some sort of treat. Bones full of marrow, maybe even some meat if he was lucky! By the excited squawks of the vultures he guessed it must have been a pretty good find. So, with a yip of excitement he quickened his pace, diving into the undergrowth in an attempt to find the food before anyone else.
The hyena wasn't the only one to spot the vultures. Tziporah wasn't above being a scavanger, and even had a thing for buzzard chasing. Crouching low, she smiled as her shoulders wiggled. The dark brown mask marking scrunched, as the stripe down her back distorted with her stalking.
An explosion of power, and the lioness chased the bald birds. When they'd flown away, she went over to the dead beast. It wasn't just ANY dead beast, but a dead elephant. An old bull, he'd died when his opponent had defeated him. Now... Now it was a matter of getting in the tough hyde. With a growl of furstration, Tziporah tried to slice it with her claws.
Marakl entered the scene just as the cloud of vultures took flight. Caught up in the shrill excitement he leapt up at them, his teeth snapping in futile effort at their clapping wings. He leapt again, twisting mid-air and then, when he landed he paused to catch his breath.
That was when he saw the lioness.
He was young, still a juvenile, still very much an innocent - though a rather loud-mouthed one. He paused, curled a lip and then stalked forwards as if he were as big as the elephant lying dead on the ground.
"Oi, you there, miss lady lion." This was his first encounter with the species - other than Atreyu of course. Then again, he wasn't much of a lion.
"That's my elephant. I saw it first."
Tziporah stopped, looking at the hyena. She gave him a bored look, frowning. "And you can eat this WHOLE thing?" She jumped off the carcass, walking over to the hyena. "Come on, now, you're half my size..." She leaned down, prodding him with a paw. "Just what are you going to do, to make me give this whole thing up?" Tail curling, she began to circle him.
His ears drooped a little. He didn't like this. He was being stalked! Atreyu was many things but he had never done this to him. Hell, he was NOT prey! He growled a puppy growl and leapt backwards in an attempt to pull away from that intimidating circle she was treading around him.
"I saw it first!" He whined. "That's the rule." He dropped his head lower and did his best 'puppy-eyed look' he could conjure. That coupled with a pitiful little whimper, he was sure would do its job.
"I'm so hungry and weak." He continued. "And my mama and papa and brothers and sisters. They need me to bring them back lots of food else they'll...they'll die!!"
A little pup, out hunting for his family... She placed a paw on his tail, keeping him in one spot. "Kid, I'm not eating you. I don't eat hyenas. Too gamey." She tilted her head, then looked at the elephant. "Just look at that thing. The head alone is bigger than I am. I'm not eating the whole thing." She leaned down, looking him in the eye. "How about this? We share. There's more than enough to both eat our fill, and get your family here to eat."
He paused a moment, seeming thoughtful. Then, with a yip and a wag of his tail he bounded across the to carcass and leapt up onto its side. There, he turned back to face her and gave her a warning glance.
"Alright, but no funny stuff, kay? I know what you lions are like. Lot of mope-faces who have weird habits." He lowered his muzzle and began to tear at the carcass, seemingly ravenous. He wasn't that hungry, he just liked to eat in a rather...messy fashion.
He paused to catch his breath and then walked further along to glance at the creature's face. His eyes fell to the tusks and they widened considerably. "He's got bones in his face!!"
Going over, Tziporah couldn't help but smile. "Elephants have tusks, kid. That's one of the ways they keep us, the predators, from eating their babies. That and I've seen them... Males will try and shove each other with them..." They were impressive, that was for sure. One tusk on the bull was broken, the other long and starting to curl. Walking up the trunk, she moved the eyelid. "Ew, maggot eye..."
Marakl gave a low, impressed "oooooh." His eyes never left the tusks, and after the explanation he jumped down to peer into the creature's face. He'd also never seen an elephant before and hehad to admit it was a little scary. Massive and...and...
"He sure is oogly." The hyena jibbered. "I wish I had face-tusks. They'd be good for carrying things on." He lifted a paw and patted the one that was still in one piece.
"Imma gonna try and steal it." And with a growl he leapt up, jaws clamping around the tusk. He hung there for a moment, comically, dangling from the tusk. His teeth held on desperately as he writhed and wriggled, growling as he tried furiously to wrench it free.
The lioness couldn't help but smile, sitting and watching the pup. "You can't steal it... Not easily." Climbing down, she perched on the tusk. "It won't come off just by you chewing on it..." Then again, she'd heard how powerful hyena jaws were... But he was still a pup, not big enough to actually do anything.
After a moment he was willing to accept that this female was right and, with a whine, released the tusk. He dropped to the ground on all fours and shook his head to rid it of the ache.
"But I want it!" He replied. "No fair!"
He glanced at her expectantly. "You get it for me right..." He didn't know her name. "Oh, I'm Marakl, by the way. You can call me Mar, everyone mostly calls me that."
Patting the tusk with a paw, Tziporah shook her head. I'm sorry, I can't remove it. It's not something a lion can do." Jumping down, she gave him a pat on the head. Her tail curled as she smiled. "Well, Mar, I'm Tziporah. There's... Just no way to shortan that..."
"Weird name. Real weird name." He replied with a whine. "Well then, I best go eat. I didn't tell Mar that I was out - other Mar that is. She'll be a worried about me if I don't get back soon."
He been out for pretty much the whole day.
With another leap he was back on his feet and tugging at the carcass again, intent on tearing a hunk of meat from its body. He'd carry this back then come for more later.
"Hey...Po-Po." He glanced across at her. "Where's yer pack?"
Climbing back up to lay on the elephant's head, Tziporah raised an eyebrow. Po-po... Cute... She stretched her paws out, claws pricking into the dead animal's skin. "They're... Around...." She'd wandered away from the traveling group for a bit... Well, the soon-to-be-traveling group. She needed to get away from Huan Ju for a bit.. That cub was just so bubbly and cute and full of energy! Too much would drive her mad!
"Reallys? I gots mine too. It's only small but it's pretty good. Much better than being alone, right?" He continued tugging and finally the meat came free. He tumbled backwards, head over heels, the meat clenched in his jaws.
"Ouch." He shook the stars from his vision and blinked up sheepishly. "Big drop. Very big." He leapt up, shook himself over and then heaved the meat up in his jaws. "Are you...uh...gonna be alright by yourself? I gotta take this back to Mar and bring her back to help get more. Can't let it go to the vultures!"
Looking down, Tziporah nodded. "Yeah... You be careful, okay, Mar? It's not safe to be out alone when you're smaller than everything on the savannah..." She got up, going over to the gaping hole in the carcass. Carefully, she stepped down to level with it.
"No probs. There ain't nothing I can't handle." He paused, cast her another glance, then bounded away, his tail wagging and his eyes wild with excitement.
And soon he'd lead the little troupe back to the elephant where they could eat until they burst. He rather liked the thought of that. Being hungry was awful!
And with the thought of food on his mind, he dissapeared amongst the undergrowth.
Letting out a chuckle, the lioness ate her fill. When she'd finished, she ripped out some meat, intending to take it back. Hopefully the buzzards wouldn't come. She knew Rajua needed to eat, at least... Head high, she started walking, meat dangling from her maw.
