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 Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:58 pm
Stalking through the tall grasses, little of Unguzo'damu's crimson pelt was visible. His coat rippled over his muscles as he moved, causing the marking on his shoulder to appear to flicker, almost like a true flame. His eyes were intent, locked onto the spotted hare a short distance away. Herds of the larger beasts might be massacred, but small game made for an admirable snack. Crouching, he prepared to make his leap.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:06 pm
 Unaware of his stalker, Tapelo happily continued to make his way through the tall grass at a slow pace, crouched low to the ground. He and Tukutu had gotten quite bored, just lying around, and had begun to play a game of hide and catch. He just knew he'd win, this time!She'd allowed him a head start, as she always did, but Tukutu was not terribly far behind her rabbit companion. While he was an expert at hiding, she was quite the expert at finding, mostly thanks to her above-average talents, being the goddess she secretly was.
Hmmm, she thought to herself as she eyed the tall grass ahead of her. Knowing his habits, he would be lurking within.
Grinning, she slowly made her way into the tall grass as well, her body lowered as she stealthily searched for a little spotted critter roaming about.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:52 pm
Springing into the air, Unguzo hurtled towards his prey...only to spot a lioness of similar coloration nearby. Distracted at just the wrong moment, he landed in a tangle of limbs, a small puff of dust rising from the spot. Groaning, he got to his feet and shook himself off. It looked like he'd be waiting for the hunters after all. "What in the spirit's name are you doing out here?" he commented, glancing at the lioness.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:15 pm
She heard the rabbit's screech before anything else, and the grass rustled violently as the spotted hare dashed his way out of the scene, leaving behind a hidden red... lion?
Tukutu's claws came out, as well as her fangs in a snarl. If someone was going to attack Tapelo, well, she wasn't about to let that happen!
Her ears perked and her claws retracted quickly as the voice called out. No... it wasn't a lion, but a... leopard?
"I was playing a game with my friend before you interrupted me." She shot back, debating on whether to give this red creature the time of day or not. "And what, pray tell, are you doing, aside from scaring off my friends?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:35 pm
Crap. He'd forgotten himself again...time to backpedal, now. "I was hunting. It's not a safe place around here for...little friends like that," he replied, giving a slight smile of apology. "Large prey is becoming harder to find, so small game like your friend are looking tastier all the time." There, that was safe and neutral enough. One of the newer Mizimu might think he was a fellow sufferer, and one of the newer Dhati...might be moved to introduce oneself as such. Until he knew who this lioness was, he wasn't giving too much away.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:04 pm
One eyebrow rose at the sudden apologetic nature of the leopard. Tukutu was not familiar with the non-lions of the Mizimu'Tungika; their kind served no purpose for her mischievous ways (yet, at least!). At the same time, however, she never recalled seeing any of them this far away from where the Scouts and Hunters normally roamed.
"I am not a member of the Mizimu'Tungika," she stated cautiously, watching for any sort of reaction from the leopard. If he sought to turn her in to the Warleader or Queen... well, she wasn't going to go through that ordeal again. Worst comes to worst, she could kill him right here, on the spot, but Tukutu preferred to keep the bloodshed at a minimum... at least until the War started, of course.
"As that is so," she continued, studying the smaller creature, "I was not aware that games could not be played in this area. I will keep that in mind. And who might you be, sir?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:17 pm
Unguzo quickly went over the possibilities in his mind. Either she was one of the Dhati, she was a rogue, or she was lying. He had little experience with 'great spirits,' having none himself, so that particular possibility never crossed his mind. "That's good, then," he said cautiously, looking over her coat. She had one of the most classic Mizimu'tungika colorations...not that it narrowed the possibilities down any. "Games draw attention, which can be dangerous in these times of unrest. If you're unfamiliar with these parts, it's probably not a good time to be here."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:30 pm
"I can hold my own," she chuckled, amused at the idea of any creature wishing to take her down. Should any try, they'd be in for quite a surprise.
Then, it hit her. Being this far out from the pridal territory must make this creature... one of the rebels? But he was so small!
Nevertheless, Tukutu saw this as a small opportunity to find out more information on the rebellious group she'd heard whispers of, while fishing for information out of the members of the Mizimu'Tungika.
"I hear, though," she started, dropping her voice to a whisper,"That rebels wander around these parts. It would surely show those pompous Mizimu members a thing or two, if those rebels snatched up some of the game you've been waiting on, hmm?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:42 pm
Now this was an opportunity. If he interested this lioness enough that she joined the Dhati, his status would rise even as a spiritless scout. "The royal line is corrupt, and the Mizimu is misguided," he explained, trying to express his honesty in his intent gaze. "If a lion or lioness disagrees, they disappear. Either they come to us...or they're sacrificed before they can 'infect' others with their 'heresy.'" He shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "The Dhati are not unaware of the lack of game. They know it...very well."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:01 pm
"I see." She said solemnly, attempting not to smile and give away her lack of caring. Taking one step forward, she drew closer to the red leopard. "And... what do the Dhati plan to do about it, exactly?"
The goddess then yawned, feigning boredom with the conversation. "I assume the Dhati are behind the lack of game. But starving the Mizimu'Tungika would take quite a while; surely the Dhati would be found out before they'd carry out such a mission!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:29 am
"Whatever we can." Unguzo's tone was serious, and the smirk had faded from his muzzle. Growing uncomfortable with standing, he sat down, curling his thick tail around his paws. "We save those slated for sacrifice. We convince those we can." Pausing, he considered his next words. He'd rationalized the massive slaughters of game to himself, but a rogue could well be horrified. "We hunt for more than food. We hunt to prevent the Mizimu from being fed." Pretty words for 'we kill herds.'
"We will stop the wasteful sacrifices, spoken for by no more than the whims of a corrupt Queen."
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:59 am
"So I am to assume that you are then part of the Dhati, my small red friend?" She inquired, nodding her head in the direction further East, no doubt where the Dhati lay in wait.
Taking a step back, a small grin formed across her face as her claws once again unsheathed themselves. "You are too trusting, friend. What would you do, then, if I told you I was of the Mizimu'Tungika after all?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:17 am
"The Mizimu aren't the only ones with scouts," Unguzo replied stoutly, although it unnerved him slightly that she could so accurately guess the general direction of the Dhati's main encampment. Hackles raising at her next words, he swiftly padded around her to stand between the lioness and the Mizimu lands. "You'd join us. When you saw the waste Jini'chongo has been making of the lives of her pride, you'd even join us willingly." He wasn't a fighter, but if he could get a lucky blow to her head he could bring warriors while she was still out of it. "She is no voice of the spirits."
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:20 am
Her claws returned, and she once again resumed smiling.
"I just had to ask!" She replied coyly, giving him a wink. "And now, I do greatly apologize, but I fear you have startled off my friend, and I must be in search of him."
Without giving the leopard another chance to speak, she took off into the tall grass, her speed abnormal for any feline. Should the leopard attempt to pursue, he'd be sorely disappointed. Tukutu had gotten the information that she needed, and now it was time to retrieve Tapelo and be on her way, for more plotting was definitely on the horizon.
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