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 Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:51 pm
Dark paws spread and scratched lightly into the ground, chiseling thin lines for each of his claws. Ohhh, he was so close, he could smell the meat and almost taste the flavor! Eyes narrowed and the young male crouched down even more, his body tense like a tightly wound spring. No! He had to control his energy and wait for the perfect moment! Purple eyes sharpened upon the prey, a meager meerkat that had lost its tribe. The lion's pale tail swayed side to side from behind him.
Just a little longer......
And there it was, just as the meerkat turned his head away, and Li'a let his legs free. Like a poised snake, the lion lept from the shrubs and began his chase against the fleeing rodent.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:09 pm
Ears back, he trotted through the pride grounds, before he noticed the snake-like markings of his brother. His dark pelt was more easy to catch on sight than Beben’s pelt was, but even Bebenya was envious. He was the only pure yellow cub in the litter and he wondered if he even looked like his father at all, wherever he was. Trotting over, he noticed Li’annam was stalking something, and Beben slowed down before watching the other take off. Looking ahead, he watched a praire dog run off. Smiling, Beben jumped on a rock to watch. He was neither a good hunter nor a fighter and he didn’t want to get in the way. Instead, he silently cheered his brother on.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:43 pm
One more step, one more step, one more step! It was a quiet and heaving mantra in Lia's mind as he paced himself after the living meal. Where before it had been difficult for him to run, he had now practiced well enough to maneuver his bulky paws. Each step to the ground was even and timed to let the next leg move forward. His tail was a great help also, heavier and longer than before to control his balance.
Aha! A careful but urgent swipe forward had him knocking the critter off its legs, sending it in a crazy tumble. Quick to respond, Li'a skid his paws to the ground to slow and follow the change of course. Muzzle opened wide as he leaped down to snatch the thing, while a harsh chomp put an end to the rodents struggles.
It was only then that the lion perked his ears up, blinking before turning to the other scent in the area. Why, if it wasn't his pale brother! Grinning as best he could with his jaws full, the male trotted towards his kin with an almost proud trot. When he was close enough, he swung the limp meal towards the watching lion.
"Want some to eat?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:53 pm
Out of his brothers, Li’a was very impressive. He managed balance and attack well. Bebenya was still learning, and was rather awkward in his pounces. It was both a lesson and great entertainment to watch his brother attack. When he was noticed, he felt guilty for staring, but Li’a trotted over and offered his hunt.
“No. It’s yours. You hunted it. You should eat it. I should really catch my own lunch. ” He actually needed the practice. His fighting was below average at best, and hunting wasn’t any better. The motivation needed for both was hard to find in Bebenya, but as a member of the pride, he knew he would also need to learn how to defend others, and fight off enemies. It was something that all members would grow up knowing. In short, in was their duty. He wanted to be able to protect his mother and siblings, but he also didn’t want to get attacked by rouge lions either.
“You were really amazing, brother, and really fast. ”
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:56 pm
Li'a lifted a brow and couldn't help a light chuckle. "Well yeah, everyone should manage their own food. But we're kin, and besides that.....ya almost look bored." The male grinned as he swagged his tail. But he wouldn't hesitate on his brother's suggestion, as the chase had made him hungry. And so he nibbled gingerly on the meat, much more softer than he had been when snatching the thing. Always made the taste better, in his opinion.
"Pft, hardly, but I appreciate the praising." The youth grinned toothily, happy to be of entertainment at least. Compared to the adults of the pride, he might as well have been a crippled runner. No way was he at the top of his speed, though when that time came....oh boy he couldn't wait! Li'a trotted over to his sibling then, harmlessly pawing at his fringy mane. "But it really does take practice you know. Something you need more of, if I should be so honest. How about some fun runs right now? Hmmm?" It would do the bright youth some good. Afterall, Li'a did feel guilt from time to time with how his lighter brother always got the short stick of games. Maybe this time Li'a could play the bad lion?
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:00 pm
“I’m not bored. I like watching, and you were hunting. I didn’t want to bother you.” He wondered if he was bothering his sibling now, but Li’a looked like he took things easily, a contrast to Beben who usually worried about a lot of things. He envied that ability, among many others, that his siblings had.
As his sibling ate, Beben shyly flexed his claws, looking down at them and wondered about hunting. He had done a few successful hunts, but there had been a lot of failed ones. After a while, he found it hard to bring himself out to practice. It was a fact that was apparently obvious, as his brother pointed it out. Ears back, he gave a sheepish nod. “I know. I should try more.”
“I would like to run with you.” Beben said, ears perking at being included. Being added on was something he always liked, which was why he was always playing with the other cubs and didn’t complain when he was given his different roles in the game.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:17 am
Li'a smirked and tilted his head. His pale brother sure had an amusing logic. "C'mon Benya! Throw me a challenge every now and then, join the hunts and try to beat me." Sure he got some of that from his other siblings, but from Bebenya? That's be a thrilling surprise! But the male grinned, and went to ruffle his brother's hair some more. He knew he took things too hard, so tried to show the lightness of the mood. So it was no surprise that Li'a was stunned by Benya's acceptance. Though it was hesitant, it was still a yes! "Great!" The lion stood and licked at his lips for any lasting flavor from lunch. Hm, would it be a one-sided game since he had a meal in his belly for energy? He'd keep that in mind. "Alright, any places you'd like to race to?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:24 pm
Bebenya frowned as his hair was ruffled, but it was all for show. He liked the affection his siblings gave him that wasn't harsh ear pulling or nipping, and he righted himself up on all fours, wondering how much a challenge he would be in the end. This instantly made him worry that he wouldn't be a worthwhile challenge at all. It wasn't loosing that he was concerned with. He was pretty sure he'd manage that. It was being seen as something that wasn't worth his brother's time and later no longer included in a rare that got to him.
Doubt flushed through his system and he thought of how far he could run at a good pace and looked about. "Uh.......that tree over there." It was far, but not TOO far. He wondered if his brother would scoff at such a distance. "You can pick someplace else if you want." He never liked being the final say.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:23 pm
"The tree will do fine." Li'a nodded in agreement as he stood and stretched. This would be a good exercise, especially with company to talk with. Smiling, Li'a walked passed his brother while casually flicking his tail at his nose. "Whenever you're ready!" Then he eyed the ground for something, before spotting a patch of soft, loose soil. Extending a claw, he drew a starting line for their race. "Tadaa!" It seemed a good distance to the tree base. Oh boy, he could already feel his legs quivering with excitement. Was his brother feeling the same? Well....knowing him he was probably feeling nervous. Like some jittery bird or something. "Okay, I'll let you say when."
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:50 pm
Ready? As if. He didn’t think that once he was a full lion that he would be lion. Easing up to the drawn line, he flexed his small claws, getting into a position he felt would make for a good sprint. A image of him falling on his face flashed through his mind and he swallowed.
“Ready….” He kept the tree in sight, and felt his heart race. He wished he was a cheetah right now, or better yet, that it would suddenly rain to call of the race entirely. The only running he did was away from the other lions or when he heard something in the bush he didn’t want to investigate.
“Steady….” He had to keep himself from leaping off prematurely. His legs felt as if they were being shaken, and he felt his mouth go dry. What he wouldn’t do for a nice nap in the shade. There were never competitions for napping. That again, it was a good thing. If that was made into a race, he would never sleep out of nervousness.
He didn’t want to say it. But he set a pace, and he glanced to his brother who was all but waiting on his last word. Should he just let him go first? No. If he was too slow, he would be a disappointment and his brother would not want to race with him again. Even if it made him nervous, it was still company.
“Ge-Go!” He croaked the last word, and jolted forward as his brother took off, and then caught his pace and took off.
Tree. Tree. Tree. Tree. Tree. He tried not to think of his brother, how close they were, or the face he felt his heart might burst. He tried not to think about catching a root and tumbling, and how much that would hurt his body and pride. He tried not to think about going too fast and hitting the tree. He tried not to think about not making it in time, and then being all the way back when his brother made it to the tree to be laughed at. He tried not to think of anything but one thing. Tree.
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:58 am
Lia could almost taste the anxiety vibrating off of Beben's form as he prepared for the race. Maybe it was asking too much of his brother? ......Naw, if anything it was a good exercise for him. And every good lion needed a challenge every now and then.
Legs twitched as his bright brother spoke the count down. So, they really were going to do it?! Grinning despite his concern, Lia stood and stretched his legs a final time for the run. What was they're finish line again? Oh yeah, that tree over there. "Ready." The boy nodded as he replied to bis brother's words.
But the main question was if Beben was ready and steady! They'd both soon find out. And that moment was now, as the Go was stuttered out.
Making sure not to loose control in his excitement, Lia bounded forward with a grin on his face. A race, a race! How he enjoyed testing his abilities like this. And the lion tilted his head to glance at his side, perplexed with joy at how well his brother was keeping up! "Way to go Beben! Just relax and enjoy the game!" Who knew if the other heard him, since he seemed so focused and the wind might have caught Lia's words. Turning his attention forward, Lia grit his teeth as he pushed onward, determined to reach the tree first.
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:22 pm
Relaxing was a large endeavor for Bebenya, who took matters too seriously and worried more than he enjoyed. His jittery legs, often shaky, were beating under him as he ran, and he wondered what would do him in first. His legs who would surely at some point make a mistake, or the sun in his eyes that would probably trip him. When his brother called to relax, he tried for a full 2 seconds before his brain reminded itself that he was Bebenya, and in turn, could not relax. He remembered their mother. Hush now. Be calm. Soothing his hair as he often slept by her, wide-awake and ears turning to all the noises that kept him up at night. Her voice was always soft and soothing, and it was only her tender care that he could manage to relax in the end. Awake, his habit of being on edge was as stubborn as anything else.
He ran instead, because he knew the sooner the race was over, the sooner, he could rest. Nearing the tree, he hit the brakes, not wanting to collide, but stretched out his paw to touch it as he neared. When he finally stopped, he didn’t bother to look to see who won, consenting that it was his older brother’s win, and instead went to pant and catch his breath. He wanted to flop down in the shade of the tree now and rest for the rest of the day. Adventure was in every other cub but Bebenya, who was timid and docile enough to like the little territory they lived in.
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:12 pm
Lia sighed tiredly as he continued his run and peeking over at his brother. Still thinking too hard, as normal. Oh well, seemed a game with his dear brother Lia wasn't the key to calming the yellow lion. Perhaps that would come later in life. Or maybe Lia should have a talk with their mother, and the adult female could encourage Benya somehow with her wise ways? It'd be an interesting change, that's for sure.
Gasping as he was nearing the end of the race, the dark cub made a leap to close the final distance between himself and the tree. His body flopped to the ground in a cloud of dirt and he found himself coughing and gasping for air in his lungs. Woah, that had been a heavy run! Staying on his tummy and gasping some more, Lia peered over at his brother. Though any words of congrats were choked in his throat. As fast as he could be, he was still just a cub with energy burning too rapidly. The most he was able to manage through his raw lungs was a wide yawn, before resting his head on his front arm. Why was everything so dusty all of a sudden? Oh, or was it night already? Small body feeling heavy and strained, Lia closed his eyes to rest, if only for just a moment. Though his little race of entertainment was too overwhelming and before long, Lia found himself succumbing to a much needed nap.
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