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 Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:26 pm
 Ah, if there was anything more beautiful than a full moon Tikoto would have striked it down herself. The night was young with predators much like herself just emerging from their dens for a well awaited meal. She licked her dark lips in anticipation. What was on the menu tonight? Hare? Bird? Maybe even an antelope? Her jaws were already watering.
She moved through the darkness with gleeful stealth. She wasn't near pridal lands, which was a God send in itself, but...she had a smaller chance of finding her real prey out here. They were a tricky lot. Most hid away until their condition was well past, but Tikoto was an experienced huntress. One day she would chase the puppet out of her hidey hole and tear her apart.
Tikoto drooled, a low moan rumbling in her chest. She was so hungry. Where was the damn prey already?
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:52 pm
Paws stepped smoothly and silently across the cold blades of grass as the slim lion crossed the star blanketed savannah. The moon was brilliant tonight, and while it did help his vision, it was also a disastrous fact for any predator. The lighting would make him an easy sight, even with his dull fur, and any prey would be more alert to his presence. All the same, the youth was hungry and now was his only free time alone to catch his own decent meal. After all, one could only survive so long on scraps.
Bent low over the grass, Tap continued his tireless hunt. He hadn't decided yet on what to hunt down. But due to his thin size and far wandering, it'd have to be something small and manageable. Else he'd face attracting a pack of hyenas or worse...his own lion pride.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:09 pm
Tikoto shook her head side to side as she yawned. If she didn't find anything soon she was likely to take a nap right there on the ground! Pawing around was the worst part of the hunt. It was so boring. With the moon a glow above her, the lioness crept along, using local foliage to disguise herself in the shadows.
Thats when she spotted it. Small, but not to small. Lean and fit, obviously out looking for a little something just as she was. Licking her chops, she watched her prey bend over the grass. How cute. He'd be even cuter if he was slathored in blood and in her tummy.
She mimicked him. Rolling her shoulder blades to get down as far as possible, she trained her eyes on the point where his back stripe blended in with his mane. What some would call cannibilism was oppurtunism in her eyes. Food was food and this little bugger was about to become dinner.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:39 pm
Ears pinned back almost the instant the other predator spotted him. Tap knew all too well the sounds and sensations of being stalked. The familiar shift of ground he'd already crushed. The prickling of his spine fur at the feel of eyes training down on him. A usual occurrence for him growing up, being that his guardians weren't the kindest or fairest of role models.
Frowning to himself at his predicament, Tap kept up his pace and faked being oblivious. The area wasn't too bare, there had to be some way he could outmaneuver his own predator. Making a slight tilt in his direction, the lion lurked toward the sparse collection of trees further in the distance. They were few and frail, but they'd prove their use if he'd be allowed to make it so far.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:23 pm
Crimson tipped tail swayed back and forth across the ground. In that instant Tikoto's mind shifted into possible the sanest state it could be. Everything else faded away leaving her and the juv. all alone. Her slowed breathing barely escaped.
Running her tongue along her fangs, the lioness tracked the smaller lion. As her legs were much longer it wasn't terribly difficult. Waiting was. She couldn't wait to pounce on him, but there was a time and place for everything. Time was running out on her, though. Tikoto made note of the area he was leading her too. Growling to make her prescence known, the lioness struck.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:00 pm
They were so close....both the trees and the stalker. The younger lion kept his ears pressed to his scalp as he focused on his destination as well as the following lion. Just how patient would they both last? Who'd make the first move?
It didn't take long to discover, and Tap nearly trembled when he heard the anticipated growl. It was game on now. Taking the signal with all seriousness, the male lion bolted without second urging. Ears picked up the sound of following paws as they slammed and scrapped across the ground behind him. With a swift pace and a light tail, Tap sped towards the trees while scanning the ground around them. Once among the trees, the boy skid a tight circle around one narrow trunk to change his direction to run left.
If there was one benefit to being small, it was that he was light and swift.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:43 pm
Tikoto roared. It wasn't clear whether the emotion backing it was frustration or excitement. She lived for the chase! The lioness dug in for another good leap to give her greater momentum for her run.
Damn that boy! Tikoto slid onto her side with a thud trying to n** at his tail when he'd taken that left turn. Her head collided with the tree. Dazed and more than a little pissed now, the lioness scrambled to her paws in a mad dash to make up lost time. Like hell he was getting away now! She would have him in her jaws even if it killed her.
Using her wits, Tikoto took a right and leapt onto a low branch. One of her favorite dishes was leopard and she'd picked up on a couple habits of theirs. Jumping from her branch to one nearby she waited with both eyes trained on that back stripe.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:15 pm
Gasp! He'd just barely made it with his tail attached! Feeling his heart ready to explode and his lungs flaring, Tap continued his life or death run. Though he did dare to glance back when he heard the thud behind him. Talk about a heavy wipe out. But then his hunter, a dark lioness, did something unexpected. She leaped nearly out of sight and disappeared into the tree branches above.
True, he hadn't expected her to use the very trees he was relying on as well. And truth be told, he best chance now was to mirror her action. Right now, he wsa like a bird with broken wings if he stayed on the ground. Rushing to the nearest tree, the pale boy jumped and clawed his way up to a low branch. Now to see who was capable of what with these twigs and leaves in the way.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 8:38 pm
That little twerp! She hadn't anticipated him taking to the trees and let her frustration out in a irritated growl. Her orchid eyes blazed with warm fury. Cautiously, she prodded the next branch over and leapt, gradually becoming faster with each hop as the distances grew. Limbs smacked her face, leaving scratches in their wake, but the blood only fueled her desire to see that youngling dead.
She bit back a mouthful of leaves. Her paws slipped on a patch of vines, sending her into a premature launch. Tikoto gripped the next branch never the less, roaring once more to the prey who just wouldn't give in!
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:31 pm
Eyes turned back to finally take in details of his hunter. It was a lion as he had thought, though he did have second guesses when the other had jumped into a tree with such ease. But it was no leopard, rather an adult female. And everyone knew the females specialized in hunting.
Taking the time to catch his breath, Tap scanned his surroundings frantically. Time was running short as the lioness was skipping branches to catch up with him. And by her urgency, it seemed she was as hungry as he was. Enough so that she slipped here and there while jumping. Finding his options limited, Tap plotted in his head just what to do. He couldn't do this alone and head on, that was a sour fact. Slowly and carefully, he edged to the end of his own branches and waited...
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:12 pm
Tikoto placed the face of her prey in her memory when first her eyes caught his. Such youth. His eyes almost matched her own. Could he perhaps be one of her spawn? Nay, she would have known.
The chase was drawing to a close. She knew it in her heart, as well as her bones with every breath he took and every pause that she came that much closer to snapping his spine. He plans to fight me! Tikoto roared with laughter inside as pure glee swelled in her spirit. A better chance at snatching his jugular could be made from the front. She continued on with her assault, though with new vigor and made her leap.
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:49 am
She was gaining fast, and Tap couldn't deny the shivers running through his form. All of his legs gave in to nervous twitchings while his tail flickered anxiously from side to side. They'd have to end this soon, and he was certain the other lion knew it too. Else they'd attract unwanted hyenas and jackals with their noise.
Eyes glanced up once more before Tap nodded to himself. It was a relief for him, to have jumped on the correct branch despite his rush and fear. Any confusions now could cost him his life. But the tree shook, and the thin lion jolted on his end of the branch. She was here!
Careful of his footing and keeping his eyes sharp on the other, Tap made his move. "No more of this, miss. I have no intentions of being eaten tonight, as neither do you. But if you persist..." And now he pointed up, where dangling just above his head on the next branch was a sizable bee's nest. It was only through familiarity of these lands that Tap knew where to find them. All it'd take is a good swipe for him to throw it in her direction and bolt for it.
"There will be more a mess than we can handle."
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:50 pm
Tikoto's heart slithered up her throat and settled with booming rhythm in her ears. Time was slowing to a fever pitch. The longer she ran the more intune she became to the demoness within her soul. Clarity became hers for those few brief moments before the strike.
She slammed onto the branch next to him with a feral grin. Only her hind leg slid off the side, scraping skin one the bark. The pain helped her to focus. Tikoto took a breath through her nose without looking away from the boy.
Eagerly she listened to his last words, but was surprised at the content. Slowly she raised her head to look at the bees nest when it all started to click. She snarled. "Do you think you can run me off with that? Hit it. Come on, hit it!" Tikoto slithered closer, licking her lips eagerly. He was so close... "I'm not afraid of bees. The hunger inside of me is burning and you can help me. Be a good little brat, now."
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:34 pm
Jaws clenched as the young male edged further from his rival, nervous to find that the branch was so short. And that the other lion wasn't taking his words seriously, instead walking forward stubbornly. Twitching his ears to the sounds of the bees above, Tapi debated his last minute options. The two were way too near now for him to just attempt dashing away.
Having no other safe choice, Tapi did what he could without getting killed in the process. Or so he hoped. Leaping forward, the pale lion took a swipe at the slumbering hive, aiming carefully in the direction of the lioness. With a crack of the branch, the heavy hive went forward with a furious hissing from the residents inside. The dark covered their swarm as they buzzed through the air, though even Tapi could feel them bumping against his flesh. Now was his only time!
Moving as quietly and swiftly as he could, the boy leapt from the tree and crashed down to the ground. Not wasting any time on aches though, he quickly picked himself up and darted off into the night.
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