|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:32 pm
Kule was incredibly proud of herself. It was the first time since she had parted from her parents that she had managed to make a successful catch. She had never imagined how difficult it would be hunting alone, not after she had grown up with five very capable sisters, not to mention her mother. They all knew how to work as a team. It was part of being a family. Her father had hunted alone when her mother had been pregnant, and if he could do it alone then she had to prove that she could. Still, her failure to actually catch anything had almost made her wish she had stayed with them. It was her drive to reach the mystical lands of her father that kept her going. She had to make it there, even if she spent several nights with an empty belly.
But now she had food and the smell was absolutely mouth watering. They say that you have to go without to properly appreciate what you have, and the young lioness knew now exactly what that meant. She gently set down the dead antelope, pausing to lick her lips. Lunch was served!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:57 pm
She's younger than he would have liked.
He's been watching her for a little while now, since the flash of sunlight upon her golden fur had betrayed her presence to his keen predatory gaze. The young lioness was well-hidden, and her hunting style was clean and simple. Although she left herself open... there. That and a missed opportunity tell him enough - she's used to hunting as part of a group, but is now alone for some reason.
Mavunde shrugs, rising from his vantage point and making his way towards the lioness. However young she may be, she's made a successful kill and he's not about to waste this particular opportunity. As he nears, his pace slows and he considers his options. Feigned injury? No, too blatant. Down on his luck? Mmm, that would be a little odd with someone so much younger than he is. Pure flattery? ....perhaps. But then his eyes narrow, and a little grin creases his muzzle.
A sudden flurry of snarls followed by high-pitched yipping and a ruckus in the shrubbery heralds his approach, as the branches part to reveal the handsome lion. He whirls about, growling fiercely behind him. "And if I ever see you skulking ar--"
"--er. Ahem," Mavunde coughs delicately and looks back over his shoulder at her, then edges away from the bushes and lifts a paw to wipe the debris away from his mane, "er, sorry about that. Wild dogs."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:23 pm
The young lioness's head shot up at the sounds, torn between fright and curiousity. Had she been with her family she would have stayed put, knowing that she had many others of her age and size to back her up. But out here, her mother had warned her that not all creatures were friendly. If there was a fight going on in the bushes, perhaps she had better take her kill and move elsewhere. As much as she felt sorry for whatever was being attacked in the bushes, she didn't want to get involved. She would probably cause more harm than good.
She had just reached down pick her kill up and leave when a lion made his presence known. Kule's ears perked, raising her head slowly this time. Was this who was fighting? A lion and… what? His actions confused her, and she frowned. What on earth was going on here?
"Wild dogs? What did this want with you?" He didn't look like a troublemaker, so whatever would have made wild dogs attack him? Perhaps they had taken something from him and he was getting it back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:43 pm
"With me?" He appears startled, tilting his head to the side as if such a thought had never occurred to him. "I... I'm not sure, actually. It was rather sudden." Evidently deep in thought, he casts his gaze across the bush, nodding his head a little as he replays the events in his mind.
Cautiously, he approaches - only to come to a more comfortable distance for speaking. His body language is calm, displaying his lack of aggressive intent, and when he is near enough he sits. One paw gestures against the ground, miming out the events as he speaks. "I was heading through the bush, there, on my way to a hunt. When I passed in a small clearing, there, a small pack of wild dogs was skulking around. Waiting for something? I'm not sure," Mavunde shrugs, "but when they saw me, the tried to drive me off. Yammering about how they saw her first, or some such nons--"
And then his eyes widen, and his gaze darts between her, the bushes, and her kill. "...oh! They must have thought I was... They must have been planning to... oh, dear."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:52 pm
How curious. Kule was really not sure what to think of this strange new male. She had heard the commotion in the bushes, though why there had been such a racket she didn't have the slightest ideas. Wild dogs attacking lions? That sounded very gutsy. But, then again, there could have been a lot of them and maybe, like lions, they felt they had strength in numbers. It all seemed very dreadful though, just wandering through the bushes and being jumped. She would have to be more careful around bushes in the future.
Mavunde's relaxed body language encouraged the young lioness to keep hers the same. He wasn't running at her, nor doing anything that would suggest he was going to attack her – not that she thought he would – so for now she thought she was safe. Her father might have disapproved of her being so close to an adult male lion, but Kule had never been given reason to fear one. They were nice creatures, on the inside. Misunderstood, but nice just the same.
When he trailed off she blinked, tilting her head to the side. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand, sir? What were they planning to do?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:04 pm
"You... you mean you don't know?" At first he seems amused, as if he thinks she must be joking. But when she doesn't start laughing at her own joke his expression slowly changes, from polite amusement to confusion to concern. "I... Mavu, please. Just Mavu, I'm really not 'sir' material." The lion offers a rakish grin, as he settles down to a prone position - making himself as non-threatening as possible.
"And you are...?" His movements are too deliberate to be that of an entirely healthy lion - it looks like he might have suffered a few bumps and scrapes in his altercation with the wild dogs, but the natural mottling of his coat makes it hard to tell the difference between injury and marking.
"I guess you haven't been out on your own for long, huh." He begins, crossing one paw over the other. "Have you ever seen a wild dog up close? Or a hyena, maybe? They're puny little things, really, in comparison to an adult lion. No contest. Filthy scavengers, the lot of'em." And then Mavunde frowns, looking down his flank at the few thin wounds that rake along his thigh (which is, coincidentally, positioned so that it is in plain view).
"Get'em in a big enough group, though, and it's another thing altogether."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:12 am
Kule shook her head. "No sir, I don't." His initial amusement confused her, and for a moment she wondered if he was laughing at her. She was not familiar with the pack structure or usual behaviour of wild dogs, having only been told that they hung around in large groups. The same could be said about lions, generally, and so she had always figured they were quite similar, in theory. But knowing that they were similar didn't change the fact that she didn't know what this male was trying to tell her. She felt a little better when he stopped looking so amused.
"Mavu, then," she replied with a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Atakuwa'kule Mila, but most people call me Kule." Most people being her sisters and her family, but Mavu didn't need to worry about little details like that. Besides, giving out your nicknames to people was supposed to be a sign of friendship. This male certainly seemed like a good guy, having fought off a group of wild dogs from doing who knows what to her from the bushes. It was very gentlemanly of him.
She shook her head several times at each new question, confirming that she had not been on her own for very long and she had never seen a wild dog or a hyena up close. "Only leopards. Oh, and one cheetah. They were pretty small too." Though, judging by the way that Mavu was describing wild dogs, the canines must be even smaller than the two felines she had met. "They don't sound very nice. I guess numbers make everyone feel brave. Did they hurt you?" She nodded with her head towards his wounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:50 am
"The pleasure is all mine," he replies smoothly, dipping his head in a little bow. The smallish male remains sprawled on the ground, stretching his forelegs out a bit to dig at the earth with his claws - the tips are stained with blood. "You must forgive me for not rising to greet you properly, Kule, but I'm a little tired. I will offer all of the appropriate courtesies after a moment's rest."
"Leopards and cheetahs aren't much of a threat, they're smart enough to stay away from lions. And they don't tend to hang out in big groups all that often, either." He nods, then continues. "And no, wild dogs aren't terribly nice when they have the advantage. Of course, neither are lions!" Mavunde laughs quietly, a wry grin upon his muzzle.
"But the dogs and hyenas stay in packs, which makes'em brave, like you said. Makes'em more dangerous too. But unless they're really hungry an adult lion can usually scare them off, and only suffer a few bumps and scrapes like this." Mavunde smiles gamely, ignoring the few wounds on his flank for now. He can deal with them later.
"You need to be careful if you're going to keep hunting alone though, Kule. Dogs and hyenas target lone lions to steal from them. And so do some other lions."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:03 pm
"Oh no, do sit down," she encouraged. "I wouldn't worry too much about courtesy now, especially after having to fight off wild dogs. It would be very rude of me to expect anything out of you. You have already been very polite already." The poor lion. She knew if she had been attacked by wild dogs she wouldn't have handled it nearly as well as Mavunde was. If it had been her, she probably would have been hiding somewhere, shaking and shivering. His bravery was impressive.
She gave a soft chuckle at the mention of lions in groups. "No, I suppose not. Being in groups is good for protection, but being in a group with a purpose can also be dangerous." That must have been why the wild dogs were so dangerous. They were using the group as protection, but they also had a purpose. That was why they felt like they could attack lions in the bushes. It made her wonder how she had been so lucky on her trip, hunting and sleeping alone on the savannah. She truly was lucky to have met this lion, who was informing her about all the dangers out here. Otherwise she would never have known.
"Do they really target lone lions to steal from them?" Her eyes were wide now, focused on Mavunde's words. "I've never heard of lions stealing from other lions, but they do it too?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:17 am
"Thank you," he smiles with relief at her encouragement, closing his eyes and allowing himself to relax a little. Mavunde listens politely while she speaks, nodding and making little noises of assent when appropriate - he's a very attentive listener, and makes it seem as though she is the only thing worth noticing right now.
But at her continued naivety he frowns just a little, crossing his forelegs before him. And when he speaks, his tone is suddenly darker, more grim. "If I wanted your kill right now, Kule, and told you that you had to either give it to me or fight to protect it... what would you do?" Even tired as he is from the fight in the bushes, Mavunde is still an adult male lion. And even if he is a little smaller than average, he still outweighs the adolescent female. He bares one claw and looks at it contemplatively, before looking up at her.
"You see, it's easier to take a kill from someone smaller than you, than it is to hunt for yourself. I could go and take down my own prey, but the herds are already spooked from your successful hunt. And I'm hungry right now. So why should I wait, when I could just take yours?"
Then he smiles, and the dark look on his face vanishes as quickly as the tone lifts from his voice. "You see? It's not so hard to imagine now, is it? Fortunately, I would never do such a thing. I'm not a thief," Mavunde pauses, as if he was going to say more, but then a grumble from his stomach completes his sentence for him. "...although I should go hunt soon, now that I speak of it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:56 am
[ Sorry this took so long. DD: *totally forgot* ]
His tone confused her, and she frowned at him. Why had he suddenly changed his mood? It hardly seemed very nice to be kind and polite one moment and then dark and threatening the next. And he had been especially gentlemanly too! What was with this sudden change? Kule took a cautionary step backwards, one ear pressed back against her head at his words. She’d never been threatened before, nor had any experience fighting any of her own kind. Sure she had played with her sisters as a cub but that had been a game. It is pure instinct that tells her that Mavunde isn’t playing any games.
The second ear swiveled back to join the first as her newest acquaintance continues. He could steal her food from her? It would be easier than hunting his own? The logic behind taking someone else’s things has always been foreign to her. “Isn’t it easier, though, to just share? Give up a little of what you want to make everyone happy?” It had worked just fine in her family. Sometimes she had had to sacrifice the piece of meat she wanted, but in the end it had made her sister happy. But surely Mavunde didn’t intend to take this food from her, not after he had been so nice. What was he doing?
When he smiles she drops her head, adopting a vaguely defensive stance. She’s not entirely sure what that was all about, but his words are somewhat reassuring. Slowly, both of her ears return to their original position. “If you’re hungry… you can have some of this if you want.” Her mother would probably chastise her for feeding someone who had just mock-threatened her, but Kule wants very much to believe in her original assessment of the Mavunde. Besides, he’s hungry too. He can’t possibly attack her when she’s offered to share.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:35 am
"O-oh, oh dear," he stammers, shaking his head sharply when she starts to react as if he'd meant those threats, "no no, no, that's not what I meant. I wouldn't do such a thing myself! But some would, mark my words, some definitely would." Mavunde laughs, a wry grin on his muzzle - the threats in his tone and posture have completely vanished now, and he is back to the genial lion she has been speaking with. "I'm sorry, that was silly of me. Sometimes I get so into play-acting that I can even fool myself! I simply meant to impress the seriousness of the situation upon you, Kule, nothing more."
Her naivety is both pleasant (since it means an easy meal for him) and a little distressing (since it means easy meals for other lions she encounters as well). So he shakes his head grimly at her questions about sharing. "But you're forgetting, Kule, that sharing is something you do with friends and family. Why would a stranger ask to share your meal, when he can just take it and have it all to himself? What would make a stranger care about your happiness?"
Unabashedly, he eyes the kill. "I'd be lying if I said your offer wasn't tempting, Kule, but I feel bad for scaring you just now. I'd hate to take advantage of that. I only share food with those who consider me a friend, you see."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:03 am
She straightened up when he apologized, feeling instantly better. Some lionesses may have continued to be mistrusting of a stranger who could play the part of a villain so well, but Kule was not that kind of girl. She would have very much liked to believe that this Mavunde was a good lion, just trying to help her out and warn her about the dangers of the savannah. If his act had been part of his lesson then she would only have to take it in stride, and remember it for later. The next time someone approached her with that kind of face they might not be joking.
“It’s alright, Mavunde. I’m sure you did not mean to scare me as much as you did.” Kule smiled at him. The smile remained even as she shook her head at his analysis of sharing. “I would do it with anyone who looked like they could use some of what I have. We should look out for others, no matter if they’re a friend or a stranger. If a stranger wishes to take my meal then perhaps he needs it more than I do. I am healthy, so I can always catch something else. Perhaps he is not so fortunate.” She laughed softly at her own words. “Maybe it’s just a lioness thing, wanting to take care of those who need taking care of.”
“Oh but I do consider you a friend, Mavunde.” Kule was quick to comfort the lion. “And you did scare off some wild dogs for me, so it’s only fair, right? I don’t mind, really. It won’t be much, but something is better than nothing.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:54 am
Something tells him that his attempts to cure the young lioness of her naivety are in vain. Perhaps some day she'll realize that there are lions out there who will take what she has for no reason other than the fact that they can. But for now Kule seems to be determined to think the best of others, and Mavunde just doesn't have the heart to completely disavow her of that notion.
The seed has been planted. That is all he can do.
"I hope, Kule, that you do not intend to roam alone for too long," he begins, then realizes that it sounds as if he has no faith in her ability, "as you are obviously well-suited for life in a pride. I'm sure you will do well as part of a group, caring for each other." That way the strength of the pride can shelter the lioness from some of the harsher truths in the world.
He smiles, rising to his feet. His movements are a little less graceful than usual, as Mavunde favours the leg with the scrapes, but he executes a small bow. "In that case, my dear Kule, how could I possibly refuse? It will be an honour to share your kill, thank you."
Mission accomplished.--fin--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
