Paw stretched forward and harshly dusted against the earth as red eyes narrowed to the sight. This land was bone dry....why, not even an intentional swipe could make the ground move. But the deep cracks remained in the earth, crisscrossing across as far as the eye could see. And not a single plant in sight. Giving a light huff with no other options, the blue lioness marched forward stubbornly. Her travels had been long and fruitless thus far with only the terrible sun as her companion. If she didn't hurry and at least find a source of water then she doubted she could last much longer.
Even if it meant her kicking and flailing in her final breaths.
"Mother....mother?"
Small ears pricked sharply to hear for any signs of a reply in the distance. But nothing. Whimpering to herself, Hinei brushed her shoulder with her own paw for comfort. Just how far had she fallen behind? Did...did she unknowingly drift off in the warm and distracting haze of the desert? No, that couldn't be! Surely her mother or brothers would have noticed!
Or....or what if this whole time she was following nothing but a mirage! Or even taunting spirits of the desert, luring her away from her kin! Frantic and terrified at her predicament, the young lioness glanced back for her pawprints. But there was no trace of a trail in the hard ground. What would she do now?!
Dry nose and stiff ears shook to life at the small shifts of activity in the area. And though they were alert, it took some blinks for Kusu to get her eyes moist and sharp. There was something alive in the area, there must be. It smelled fresh and fleshly, not heady like the scent of plants. And besides that......plants didn't have voices to call out for their mothers. But just where was this other individual? Curious and eager to escape the dull pattern of her travels, the adult lioness prowled about with only her senses as her guide. There was no breakage in her surroundings, so the other must be well camouflaged or very small to avoid detection. But Kusu was hungry, and her paws grew swifter as she could nearly taste the other creature in the air. They were near each other....it was only a matter of time.
"Okay now Hinei, calm yourself. No need to panic." The girl took a deep breath only to caught at the fine dust in the air. Ugh, too dry out here. She had to get moving and find some coverage from this wide and unprotecting land. To not even see a single tree for refuge was a bit dis-concerning for the youth. Scanning the horizon with bright eyes, Hinei noted the outlines of the distant mountains. Some slopped so low as to disappear from sight. But the lioness was certain she remembered that one peak to the left, the one that looked like an alligators teeth. Hadn't they been walking towards that range? Well, it was her only remembered clue, best take the opportunity.
And without hesitance, Hinei began her run in that very direction.
There! Just there to the left, a clear blur of motion! Squinting her eyes as Kusu ducked to the ground, she tried to determine what the other creature was. A warthog? No, not with that coat. Why, it was only a young lion cub! Kusu rumbled a growl to herself grumpily. Her own kind or not, all was fair in the game of life. And who was she to turn away such an easy meal? Besides that, there was no smell of water nearby. Had there been any hope of that, the adult may have left the young cub alone. But nutrition was needed to survive, and that very cub was her only option. Mind made up, the blue lioness began slow but steady prowl after the other.
With each and every step taken forward, the cub felt as if she herself were standing still. The scenery remained the same and her energy remained nervous and fatigued. She was still so young, even she could admit that. And at this stage she was still very reliant on a certain misplaced mother that she'd desperately need to find if she wanted to survive the night. It was only by cautious luck that Hinei turned her head to the side, hoping to find other striped lumps in teh distance, that she spotted a different lump. A blue one with a large stride. Her legs nearly locked in her sudden realization. Plants and stones weren't blue. But living creatures were. Though....was this creature predator or friend?
Ah, so she had been spotted? No need to drag this out then and risk befriending or feeling sorry for the other creature. Now was the duty of nature and satiating her hunger.Leaping into action with a powerful thrust of her legs, Kusu dashed forward to the cub. It was still some distance away, but hopefully surprise and fear would slow the youth down.
Hinei gasped as her silent question was soon answered. The blue one rand towards her with intentions as clear as her eyes. This was now a hunt, and by an older lion no less. Kicking her instincts into gear, the cub sent her legs in a mad dash to escape. But where to go?! How could she get away unharmed? Hinei cried out as she ran, struck with terror at this sudden danger. And she was certainly not going to stop to see if this one was a mirage either!
Kusu growled loudly as the other picked up her pace, no doubt knowing what was in store for her if she stayed still. And the blue lioness picked up her own speed while whipping her tail for balance. There was no way she'd let this meal get away, else she'd be damned to have wasted her energy. Closing in on the youth almost all too easily, the lioness leaped high and extended her claws, eyes focused on the way her own shadow loomed above the striped girl.
Lungs ached terribly as the girl raced blindly forward. Where was she to go, and what could she do once she got there! Where was her mother!?! Willing away the tears threatening to fog her vision, Hinei bit her lip as she continued her vain run. Her legs were too short, and she could clearly hear the other paws hitting the floor heavily and near behind her. Goodness she thought her heart would fly out from her lungs she was so frightened! And then it happened. A sudden cloud shaded her form before a heavy weight crashed her to the ground. Tumbling and rolling, Hinei screamed as she kicked and bit anything in reach of her.
"You're mine now!" Kusu dug her paws into the frail and small shoulders of the cub, the force dropping the girl from her paws to the ground. The blue lioness was so wound by adrenaline and hunger that she didn't even hear the cries passed her own pulse. Though she did feel the stings and scratches coming from the cub below. Growling irritably, she swiped her paw out and made contact as her claws cut across the girl and sent her rolling to her side. Stubborn brat. Red eyes turned to glance her own little cuts before huffing to the mess. They were shallow and would heal soon enough. Now to finish this task, as bloody as it may annoyingly become....
"Nrghaaa!" Hinei clenched her teeth and screwed her eyes shut as a stinging burn sliced across her side and down to her hip. And it only hurt all the more as she skid across the ground, harsh crevices cutting and scrapping the injury. Hyperventilating and opening dazed eyes, the cub wobbled to her feet only to tip and fall on her side. The attacker was busy examining her own flesh, and Hinei realized with surprise that she had marked the other in her crazed attempts of defense.
She needed to recover herself, she needed to get out of here! Wincing and stumbling to get her legs working, the girl glanced her surroundings. Think.....think!......
Red eyes scanned the youth up and down. She'd be just enough to keep her hunger at bay for a while. It would have to do. "This is nothing personal, child. Just another drama in life, like a leaf falling from a tree forever." Stepping forward Kusu remained calm and steady as she approached. The youth was clearly too injured to make a fast escape, and too near to get far anyways. Once close enough, the lioness lifted her paw with all intentions to pin the meal and chomp at her vital neck swiftly and humanely.
Hinei's body shook and suddenly felt cold. Was this what it felt like to face death? To be the prey of another? Ears fell back as the cub murmured rapidly to herself. This can't be happening, this can't be happening! Brows pinched together worriedly as she risked a glance to her attacker, only to look away as she saw the other drawing near. "Please....spirits be guiding....." Her words were as dry as the air around her, though quiet with hope. Then, to her right, the ground shivered. Holding her breath, Hinei watched as slowly a tan form shook itself from under a plate of earth. Its pinchers were easily recognized, and the cub thanked the spirits for their aid. Making a quick swipe at the scorpion, the cub gave one final cry as she tossed it with all her might at the looming lioness.
Giving in so easily? Good, at least then the cub wouldn't face too much pain. Or Kusu herself for that matter. Struggling prey always did bug her. Bringing her paw down towards the girl, Kusu halted suddenly as the youth suddenly shifted. What was this now? Distracted by the flimsy movement and the weak scream, the lioness was in complete surprise the the flake of dirt being tossed at her. Growling at the useless move, she went to shake the dirt from her shoulder....only to find that it wasn't dirt. It was too....heavy. Glancing down, Kusu gasped as a flaring pain suddenly struck out at her brow. A scream gurgled from her own lungs as the stinging tail dug deep into her flesh, and her paws moved frantically to remove the insect from her face. But that only earned her paws a fierce pinch from the scorpions own claws. Caught by both ends of the critter, Kusu forgot her hunger all in the wave of pain as she flung herself to the ground and attempted to scrap the pest away.
Now was her chance! Rising to frail legs, Hinei whimpered and struggled to run away. Especially when the blue lions almost crashed into her as she blindly flailed about. Making best to avoid getting knocked over, the cub was soon out of range from the other and forced her legs to comply to her urgency. And with her life miraculously spared and her side scarred painfully, Hinei rushed from the scene of the crime, trying not to be haunted or feel guilt for the anguished screams of the adult she left behind.
They'd both life to see another day, though each would hold their own fleshly reminders of each others failures. Hinei could only hope she'd never meet the blue lioness again in her lifetime.
