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 Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:23 am
The hunt was something that Senka always adored. She was made for the hunt and had thrown herself into it when she had been given her position. She dreamed of one day being a huntsleader but for now she was happy to adore her position. The hunt was something that allowed her to be free and she knew that her parents would be proud of her as she was of them.
She had spent most of the morning tracking a herd, waiting for the opportunity to try and take one. The herd seemed to be a rather difficult one, they kept so close together and it annoyed her. Though her being annoyed was far from unusual.
She laid herself low on the ground watching the herd move. They had to slip at some point. If she were hunting with someone else she wouldn't mind so much how close the herd were keeping but it would be far from clever to run straight into the middle of that on her own. One of the youngsters would wander off at some point, they were all so curious. She just had to wait....
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:54 am
Someone else is waiting for the herd to divide, for a likely candidate to split off. On another solitary hunt after another frustrating morning, Sakata's large form is concealed behind a natural rise, allowing him to watch the herd's movements without revealing his position. But his view is restricted here, and the terrain between himself and the herd is too uncertain - if he is offered the opportunity he is watching for, it's unlikely he'll be able to take it before the herd re-solidifies and protects their own.
So he rises to his feet, carefully, and begins to circle about the herd. While he is a warrior first and foremost Sakata has always made a point of being a competent hunter. He stays downwind, behind natural barriers that will keep the herd from noticing him, and takes care not to snap twigs with his heavy feet. As he searches for a new vantage point, he approaches the already-hidden lioness.
Given his sheer size and the fact that he is entirely focused on making sure the herd does not become aware of his presence, Senka should be able to hear and scent the large lion before they can see each other.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:26 am
Senka was getting frustrated now and as the scent of another lion hit her, it just aggitated her some more. If there was another about she could hope that the other would make a mistake or something. She recognised the scent but she was hunting, she didn't want to know who it was, more that they would make her hunt easier.
She steadily started to creep towards the herd, keeping her body low to the ground. She was also listening, she wanted to know where the other lion was regarding her position. She didn't need them giving her away either. She moved again slowly and looked around for the form of the other lion. Her eyes searched for any dark shapes in the grasses. She could smell them and she was sure they were close by.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:24 pm
"Over here," he grunts quietly, revealed as a dark shape in the tall grasses nearby. Sakata had caught her scent when she moved near enough, and while he didn't recognize the individual he knew two things - female, and a pride member. And those two bits of information are enough for now.
What began as a solitary hunt is now a joint effort, in his mind, and so he attempts to adjust his mindset accordingly. With his size and abilities he wouldn't fear plunging right in, but he'd also risk spooking the entire herd and losing a kill. Adding a lioness to the mix means (he assumes) that she'd have some plan in mind that would use them both and assure a kill.
"Where do you want me?" the dark lion asks, remaining still - clearly waiting for direction, and willing to defer to a lioness in her domain.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:15 am
Her ears flicked at the sound of his voice and she turned to see him. She nodded and turned back to the herd, allowing her mind to flow through various plans. He would be better to bring one down, he was heavier then she was.
"Stay there. I will send one your way." She spoke quickly and quietly before slinking off around the herd, still watching and trying to find one that would be easy to manipulate into moving in the direction she wished it to go. She stopped and laid down again as she found her target. She then moved, first creeping but soon running straight into the middle of the herd.
It had the effect she was hoping for and hoping that the male was where she had told him to stay this hunt should be over rather quickly. She moved her body so to get an older one away from the rest of the herd, blocking it's exit as it tried to turn and so sending straight to where she hoped he had stayed.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:40 am
After a soft grunt of assent the large male falls silent, moving only enough to adjust his footing. He digs at the ground a little with his hind legs, creating a firm base from which to launch himself, and then settles in to wait and watch.
It's funny, he muses to himself, how different it is to hunt with someone else. Solo trips are more his style, that's why he knew he'd never be suited for the role of Hunter. But working like this, following directions from one more experienced than himself... it's refreshing, in a way. So Sakata watches as she spooks the herd, picking out her target and herding it in this direction.
An old male, past his prime. Larger than what she could bring down alone, clearly, larger than what most lionesses would try for in a small group. But when given a big tool... it's smart to bring down big prey.
Well-conditioned muscles bunch and release as the Warleader springs into motion, rushing towards the target and then launching himself in a great bound to land upon its back - safely clear of the lashing hooves. Moving quickly, he lowers his jaws to fasten upon the antelope's neck, keeping his face safe from the horns while his weight bears the hapless preybeast to the ground.
Bones snap beneath his weight, and the antelope crumples.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:06 am
Normally Senka would have rushed to help bring the beast down but it seemed today her help was not needed. The prey seemed like a helpless twig under the males weight and she smiled at how well the hunt had gone. It seemed that her luck had changed running into him during the hunt.
She slowed herself so she was more trotting by the time she reached the two. The animal seemed to not put up as much of a fight as she may have expected one to do, that or the male was just a talented hunter who kept his talent hidden.
"You kill fast." It was a statement, maybe it was because he was stronger then she but she had never been able to kill that quickly. She smiled which looked more like a smirk and waited to get to the kill.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:02 am
"I usually hunt alone," he grunts, after ripping out the beast's throat so that it will die more quickly. Either by luck or by design its neck had been broken upon impact with the ground, twisted unnaturally, but he could see that its eyes were still staring blankly up at the sky, full of fear. It's a personal thing, even if it is a little silly - Sakata doesn't really enjoy being watched by his food while he eats.
After the antelope's life has begun to spill across the ground in a thick red torrent he steps back, lifting his head and licking at his chops. "You hunt well," the Warleader offers, while turning to look directly upon his hunting partner for the first time. Coming up with an effective plan without any prior warning, skillfully herding the target towards the location of her comrade... well done, indeed.
Now if only he could remember her name. "And you are...?" For obvious reasons, Sakata does not offer an introduction.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:44 pm
Senka was able to recognise the male once he moved to look at her. She hadn't really seen him and was glad she hadn't asked who he was for that would have been rather embarassing.
"Thank you." She was glad of a compliment. She had never really expected one. It was her job, her life, it was just what she did. Compliments weren't often heard and she didn't really think she deserved one. She just did what any other hunter would do.
"Senka." She answered the question, not asking who he was for the obvious reasons.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:05 pm
In stark contrast to the Hunter... Sakata hunts for fun, for the thrill, for practice. He rarely eats much of his own kills, preferring to bring them to the Minders so that the cubs (the future strength of the pride!) have a chance to eat something other than the leavings.
"Senka," he repeats, nodding his head. And then he gestures towards the still-warm carcass, indicating that she should eat her fill. "I'll take the rest to the Minders." The antelope is probably a little large for her to drag in on her own - and this way she is free to hunt again, if she wishes, after she has sated herself.
Pleased with the outcome (but not showing any sign of that pleasure upon his blank face) he licks at his chops, cleaning away the blood.
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:58 am
She nodded as he told her to eat and moved towards the kill ripping and tearing and eating. She was hungrier then she originally thought though she didn't eat as much as maybe she would have liked. The rest was to go to the minders and so she made sure there was a decent amount of food left.
"It was nice hunting with you." She knew he would be leaving soon and so she settled down to clean her claws and rest a little before she started hunting again. She would work out one of these days how to spook a close herd but to still kill one of them.
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:39 am
The Warleader observes her for a short while longer than is entirely comfortable, and then he looks away to stare out across the plains. It was a good hunt, and he is pleased with the results, even if hunting with others is not typical for him. "Same here," he replies simply, after having watched her eat.
Before he steps forward to take the kill he pauses, as if just now realizing that it would be proper to offer some form of farewell. "Good hunting," he grunts, but it is unclear whether that is a comment on this hunt, a blessing for future hunts, or a command. It simply is, as much as Sakata simply is.
And with that he gets a firm grip on the antelope's limp neck, and begins to drag it back towards the pride.--fin--
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