(( Adhabu-Shinda = Manda
H'ray'ii = o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o ))
For once, Adhabu was out hunting alone, having gone off in a different direction than the rest of the hunters this afternoon. He'd also strayed quite close to the pride borders, perhaps even going past them a time or two. One part of that was that he wasn't quite sure where all of them were yet - having just come into the pride fairly recently. But also, he wasn't used to hunting only within the swamps yet, finding it easier to sometimes stray out into the rogue lands to bring down small antelope and the like.
H'ray'ii was very far from anything she knew. She was searching for everything and nothing in particular. In truth, she was on a quest for self, to find out where she wanted to go, to settle...who she wanted to be. Feeling that she was...too simple, too bland, too ignorant, she'd set out to enrich herself. Thus far she'd met some interesting people, but none who had imparted to her any life lessons or anything. With a great sigh, she felt her stomach growl again. It was about time to hunt, and raising her head, she sniffed the winds, ears lying flat against her pale fur.
Not too far away, Adhabu had scented a small herd of antelope and was slowly working his way toward them, stalking just a bit. So he was startled to suddenly look up and see a pale white lioness with black striping standing not too far away. Not sensing that she posed any threat, Adhabu straightened up so he wouldn't scare her and rumbled softly to get her attention.
Blue eyes going wide, she blinked at the other, as he'd startled her. She'd been far too engrossed searching for prey to notice his approach. Well, at least he didn't look hostile. With a faint smile on her maw, she composed herself, dipping head to the other lion. "Greetings..." She began politely, slowly beginning to pad closer. H'ray'ii rather hoped that she hadn't trespassed...she didn't know this area at all, so it was always a valid concern.
Adhabu nodded in return. "Hello ... are you out here alone?" he asked, tone polite. He didn't want to get into the middle of anything, but he was thinking... that it was always better to hunt with a partner. And there was no taboo against it so far as he knew. They could divide up meat evenly...
"Ah...yes, I am. I'm sorry, I haven't trespassed, have I?" Concern flitted into her gaze, "I'm somewhat new to the area, traveling, you see, and if I have I'll be sure to leave...if I'm disturbing. Do pardon me, I am H'ray'ii..." Another bob of her head towards the other. He seemed nice enough, not likely to snap at her if she was on his lands.
"Well, you're close to the Jini-msemi lands, but not on them. I'm actually ... ah. Roaming a bit outside the borders right now, hunting." He smiled at her in a bit of a reassuring fashion - not wanting to drive her off.
"Oh, I see. Well that's good. So you do live around here?" Smiling back at the other, she slowly sat down, her tail flicking to and fro behind her. "I've never been this close to the swamps, is the hunting good?" As her rumbling tummy was reminding her, she was hungry...and hadn't hunted since early yesterday, putting it off in favor of furthering her travels. Perhaps a mistake.
"It's a bit ... different, but I like living there. That's the pride I was talking about, we live inside the swamps." An ear perked at the rumbling, and Adhabu smiled faintly. "In point of fact... I had just come out here to perhaps see if I might catch an antelope. Would you like to join me? I think there's a herd off that way."
The invitation to hunt was one that she hadn't expected, but her eyes lit up and she nodded with some enthusiasm. "Oh yes please...I'm utterly famished!" A grin spread across her maw, and her tail curled about her paws to flutter over them in an excited fashion. Truth of the matter was, there was little she relished like a good meal...she just...er...forgot sometimes.
Adhabu smiled at that and nodded. "Well then ... shall we?" So saying, he got up and set off toward the herd again, crouching low as he came over a small hill. Ah ... and there they were. Not so far away as he had thought... and he was glad they'd been talking in low voices.
Her ears perked when they spotted the herd, and she quite forgot nearly everything else but the hunt. Mmmnnn...but she'd love to sink her teeth into one of those tasty antelope. Her eyes flicked over to the male she still didn't know the name of, looking for his cue versus the impulses of her empty stomach. It seemed the wiser course of action at this juncture, since he was kind of the leader after all.
Adhabu suddenly seemed to realize that he had yet to give the female his name and flushed faintly, ears going back. "I'm sorry... I should have said, my name is Adhabu-Shinda." Then he turned attention back to the herd. "I think ... that perhaps one of us should spook them, and then we can see which ones are slower. And the other can take one down."
"A pleasure to meet you, Adhabu-Shinda!" She chirped, turning to eye him again, as was polite. "And that sounds like a solid plan...which one of us should do which, hmmm?" She inquired, again looking to him for directions in this hunt. He seemed quite the coordinated fellow, and it pleased her.
"Hmm..." Adhabu hummed softly, eyeing her. "Well, I should have an easier time bringing one down, I think... so how about you spook them?" he suggested - hoping that she wouldn't be offended or anything. But she -was- quite a bit smaller. It made sense...
She simply bobbed her head in happy agreement, all too willing to play her part. "So...about now...do you think?" She inquired, the tip of her tail twitching in hungry expectation. Oh those antelope were going to be hers. Dinner would be delightful, and for once she had someone to share it with! Oh happy day!
Adhabu rumbled softly in amusement at her so obvious eagerness and nodded, starting to creep a bit closer. "Head wide around them, then ... and get them running. I'll do the rest."
Another nod, more serious this time, and bunching her hindquarters and then sprinting to do as he had asked, a light in her bright eyes. It was going to be a fine evening indeed, and H'ray'ii was rather looking forward to it, even as her pawsteps pattered across the ground, and the antelope, catching her scent and spying the flurry of motion, panicked and began to run.
Adhabu grinned at that, excited by the hunt... as always. And he watched carefully - quickly spotting an older male that was lagging behind, limping from some wound or age. It was a bit larger than he usually took alone, but he figured that if he had trouble, H'ray'ii would run in to help. And so he waited until almost the last moment...then sprang out of hiding with a roar to startle the beast - jumping to latch onto shoulders.
Ah! He'd got one! With a crow of delight, she pounded towards Adhabu and his catch, hoping to help him in the advent that he needed it. It was unlikely, as he seemed so very strong, but...the antelope was also rather large, and H'ray'ii was keen on eating tonight.
Adhabu growled as the thing started to buck and twist - trying to either get him off or gore him with horns. He was too far back for those, having been careful where he jumped. But at the same time, he was having a little trouble aiming for some vital area while still holding onto the creature.
Frowning as she noted he was having trouble, she snarled at the creature, putting on speed and snapping at it's legs, trying to trip it up whilst avoiding being run over all at once. The pale lioness wasn't a bad hunter, all told, but this was one very big antelope. Mayhap it was a good thing there were two of them.
Adhabu actually approved of her strategy - as it distracted the thing and let him creep up closer to its head, hitching himself up with claws. Good gods, you stupid creature... die already...
She had actually sunken her teeth into one of the creature's legs, when another leg came up quite suddenly...as the antelope stumbled, and the blow caught her upside the head, and with a yelp, she went tumbling, feeling quite dizzy and disoriented for a moment...before collapsing, black on the edges of her vision as the world swam. Oh...oh that couldn't be good...
At first, Adhabu didn't notice that his partner had been knocked flying - that bite into the antelope's leg distracting it just enough that he could finally get far enough up on its back to sink teeth into the preybeast's throat. With a satisfied sort of growling noise, he bit down and felt the antelope sway on its feet ... then go down. But when he looked up and saw H'ray'ii lying still a few feet away, his eyes widened and he bounded toward her. "H'ray'ii!"
She blinked blearily up at him...hee...he looked a little funny like this. "That...hurt..." She stated succinctly, unable to muster much more with her hurting head. Well, at least they'd gotten the antelope down, right. Resting head on her paws, she whuffled....goodness, that was going to leave a rather large lump on her skull.
Adhabu relaxed just slightly ... at least she wasn't dead. Gods... "Are you all right?" he asked, nosing at her carefully. He'd seen lions get kicked in the head before, knew that some had still died of it afterwards, something knocked loose that shouldn't have been.
"Nnn...no...it h-hurts, and everything looks funny out here..." She complained, not wanting to raise her head for the pain that that caused her. "Sorry to be such a bother..." With that, she closed her eyes again, because looking hurt too. Stupid antelope, why couldn't he just have been happy to be dinner?
Adhabu frowned slightly. Oh that wasn't good. But he tried to act as if things were still okay, making a little soothing noise. "You'll be all right... but we should get out of the sun. Wait here a moment." Going back to the antelope, he managed to get a grip on it and drag the thing a little ways away to a small grove of trees. Then he went back and nudged H'ray'ii's shoulder. "Can you walk? Not far, just a bit..."
"I-I can try, at least..." She murmured, forcing herself to her feet, where she wobbled uncertainly. Half-leaning against the larger male, she mumbled more apologies. really...couldn't do anything right sometimes, it was quite frustrating to be handicapped this way. Surely a little rest would make it better, right?
Adhabu moved slowly, letting her lean on him as much as she liked - until they got under those trees. "Here... just lie down and rest," he murmured then, nosing at her neck a bit. He vaguely remembered something then, and rumbed uncertainly. "I don't think you should go to sleep, though... "
"No sleep?" She sighed heavily, "I suppose I can do without...b-but can I eat?" She craned her neck hopefully at that as she lay down on the grasses. No matter that she'd bonked her head a good one, she was still quite famished, thank you just the same.
Adhabu thought about that one for a moment and then nodded. "I ... think that should be all right. I'm not a healer or anything." He sighed as well, but reached around to rip off a chunk of meat and lay it down in front of her. Food might very well help.
Tilting her head just so, she delicately began to tear into the meat, making a happy little sound of relish. Even with the way her head was absolutely throbbing, the food still tasted good. "Thank you..." She murmured, half around a mouth full of antelope. Licking her maw, she smiled weakly. "I think if...I just lie down for a while...it'll be better..."
Adhabu nodded at that, snagging a piece of meat for himself and nibbling on it. "I'll stay here and make sure that no scavengers come along," he offered quietly. It might mean he was away from the pride for a bit longer, but he wasn't the type to leave anyone who was hurt all alone out here.
She smiled brightly, though it wobbled a little. "Thank you, Adhabu, you have indeed been very kind..." It wasn't often that one met so courteous a male. She wondered if more of the males from the other's pride were like that...or if it was just him. Whatever the case, it had been her good fortune to meet him.
