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 Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:41 am
The rangy hyena prowled about, always alert, always watching, and always nervous. It kept him on his toes, this constant aura of nervousness, and he wasn't about to let it slip. He'd survived far too long to fall now. Despite the constant pangs of hunger that cramped his belly and the blast of the midday sun oh his back, Bekeli kept his ears perked and his eyes open.
He'd survived, if one could call it that, through many fights and tumbles with other hyenas, wild dogs and even the odd lion; the proof of such conquests was visible in the lacework scars that patterned his bony form.
Approaching a mealy, worming-looking puddle of water, his pink tongue lapped out again and again as he kept his eyes ever watchful and his ears constantly moving.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:04 am
Although Dikeledi considered herself and her sister queens, they were queens without a throne or a homeland. They were wanderers, and when the pickings were slim they moved on. Right now they were moving on, traveling lands unfamiliar to them. The pink-striped hyena held her head high as she led the pair. Her confidence was obvious, although she had only her sister for company in this strange place. They were hungry now, but soon they wouldn't be. Dikeledi didn't know how or where they would find prey, but they would. They were, after all, superior females of superior intellect.
Trailing her sister at a more sedate pace, Bahari was content to follow. They had suffered hardship, true, but they were luckier than other wanderers. Two hyenas could hunt much better than one! Thirst, now, that was a more pressing concern than hunger. Her ears perked immediately as she caught the slightest scent of water. She broke into a lope, catching up with Dikeledi just as the source of the water came into view.
A pathetic, muddy puddle. But that wasn't the interesting part of this scene. A strange male stood over it, lean and dangerous-looking. Bahari was instantly on her guard, moving in front of Dikeledi to protect her. The sisters curled their lips in threatening snarls.
Dikeledi let out a sharp cry of inquiry. "Who are you? What clan's land is this!" Her words were less of a question than a demand, almost an accusation.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:11 am
Bekeli hadn't seen them approach, nor had he heard them; this unsettled the male who let out a loud shriek at the surprising sight of not one, but two females who didn't seem to be interested in letting him be. He backed away, tail tucked in a sign of submission; whether or not it was truthful or merely an act was not apparent.
"I am Bekeli," he whined, ears resting flat against his head, "I belong to no clan!"
Bekeli wasn't stupid. He'd never fought against a female hyena, let alone two female hyenas, and he was nervous, skittish. To rush these two would be a stupid move, but if he could ascertain their motives, perhaps her could walk away from this entanglement still breathing.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:13 pm
No clan? No clan! Dikeledi relaxed slightly, imperceptibly. She and her sister were, of course, superior to any ordinary ragtag band of hyenas, but it was good to know that they wouldn't have to fight a whole group of angry enemies. Now that her nervousness had subsided, she was free to be belligerent. Her eyes narrowed slightly. The male's submissive stance was inoffensive, but why wasn't he running? If he had run, she would have chased him, maybe given him a good n** to hurry him on his way. The thought of being friendly had not yet crossed her mind. Strangers, in Dikeledi's experience, were not friendly towards her. They generally weren't worthy of being her friend, either, so the question was moot!
Bahari would have been content for the male to leave them to the pitiful mouthful of water. She wouldn't have chased him on his way. Although no less ferocious when her ire was roused, the grey female was less aggressive than her sister. This situation didn't seem to call for outright hostility. The male was properly respectful towards them, and although any cornered animal was apt to bite, she was confident that her superior female strength would win out if he snapped. Bowing her head slightly to her irate sister, Bahari took a step forward. "I am Bahari. This is Dikeledi. We are sisters." She left their clan status unspoken. They were nomads, technically, but they considered themselves leaders.
Slightly irritated at being introduced by her sister, Dikeledi shouldered in front of Bahari to stare at the male. Although her stance was far from peacable, she was not snarling, and did not appear to be outright hostile. She had already shown too much interest in this obviously uninteresting ... person, she wouldn't flatter him by asking him more about himself. "We are thirsty," Dikeledi said simply, firmly, eyeballing the stranger in way that made it clear that, although she wouldn't attack him over the water, she was going to have her drink.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 5:45 pm
Bekeli eyed the brightly colored female. She made him nervous, put him on edge, and he didn't like it. The grey female seemed much more approachable, but he wasn't sure if he actually was or if that was just a plan to make him feel more comfortable.
Taking a few more steps backward, Bekeli glanced longingly at the pitiful pool of water. He was outnumbered here and he knew it, and though his thirst was quenched he wasn't happy about having to leave the water just yet, mealy as it was. A very unhappy whine worked its way up his throat, a whimper.
"Fine," he growled, backing away a bit more. Perhaps they would leave a little for him to slurp up. He didn't mind the mud, not at all; what he did mind were these females encroaching on his puddle of water.
He kept his tail tucked in submission and watched them, sullen and resolute. "What clan do you belong to?" Hell, if they were going to drink his water, he might as well try to be friendly. Bekeli licked his lips and paced from left to right, side to side, as he waited for the sisters to finish their drink.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:15 pm
Dikeledi moved forward first. It was mildly annoying that the male hadn't left yet, but the strange hyena wasn't worth much of her time. She supposed she didn't care whether he stayed or left. He was properly polite, so she had grudgingly decided that he wasn't actually offensive. He would be ignored until she finished her drink, as would his annoying questions. The pink-maned hyena lapped at the muddy water, curling her lip slightly in displeasure. Hardly a mouthful worthy of her. She moved aside for Bahari, who had remained waiting patiently behind her, and turned her attention back to the striped male.
"We had a clan when we were young," Dikeledi sniffed. "Now we are our own clan." She narrowed her eyes at him. Perhaps the male was gauging their strength, wondering whether he should attack. "We need no clan to support us!" She snapped her impressive teeth at him for emphasis. It wasn't quite hostile, but if he had any nefarious intentions, she would use those teeth on him in a heartbeat!
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:22 pm
Bekeli whined as the female spoke; it was almost as if he didn't realize that he'd made the sound. He continued pacing back and forth, back and forth, eyes flicking nervously between the pink female and her lighter sister. Every so often his eyes would longingly flick towards the little bit of water that remained, but he made no move to take back possession of the precious stuff.
He yipped as Dikeledi snapped her teeth at him, a worried expression creasing his brow. "I have no clan!" he repeated, whining the slightest. "I have never had a clan. Bekeli is alone, has always been alone!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:37 pm
Although milder than her sister, Bahari had no less ego. The water was definitely not worth much. Their immediate thirst was slaked, there was no sense drinking themselves sick on such poor water. She raised her head, leaving some water in the bottom of the pool. She wouldn't be kind to the stranger unless Dikeledi took the lead, but she did feel rather badly for him. He was hardly a fearsome rogue. Just lonely and pathetic.
Dikeledi felt a twinge of pity for the loner as well. Never a clan, not even as a baby? Likely dumped off by some disgusted mother in a mudhole very like the one he was so worried over. Hmph. She sneered at Bekeli. "Why do you want this water so badly?" The fact that she herself had wanted the water just a moment before did not strike her as ironic. She had just been a touch thirsty, she wasn't whining and crying over the grainy stuff. Dikeledi scraped a paw through the dust, casually kicking more dirt into the puddle. "Faugh! If you had any self-respect, you'd look for something better."
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:43 pm
Bekeli cried out, a pitiful, sorrowful sound that carried into the dry savanna air. She'd ruined it, ruined his water, it was thick with mud now and he was visibly distraught over the loss. His pacing grew more frantic as his agitation rose, his eyes locked on the pathetic, dried up hole where the murky water had once rested.
"I.. I need it!" Oh, this was awful, just awful. The first water he'd had in days and now it was gone, ruined. Whimpering, he dared take a few steps forward, nervousness forgotten for the time being. "The lions, they STEAL all the better water!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:54 pm
The grey hyena beside her tensed slightly as the stranger stepped forward, but Dikeledi was unconcerned. In fact, she was a little pleased at some sign of life from this pathetic specimen. As long as was properly respectful, a little temper was preferrable to the constant whining. Dikeledi snarled, viciously, but her sudden aggression wasn't directed towards the anxious male. "Lions! We hate 'em. Of course they take your water."
Oh, the very thought of it angered her. Bekeli was clearly harmless. But no, lions wouldn't let him be to take his share of water when they were done. They would want to lord it over him, as miserable as he was. Mangy beasts! Unconsciously, Dikeledi had begun to pace. "If we see lions, we kill 'em. Best to get the babies first, 'fore they grow up into those ugly, mangy, noisy, nasty, sneaky-creepy things!" Dikeledi spat.
" 'Course, if there's too many of 'em, we got to be sneaky ourselves," Bahari noted. She cocked her head, eyeing the stranger. "We're not afraid of any ugly old fatcats. Where's the good water 'round here?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:59 pm
Bekeli's attention moved from the water for the first time since he gave up the precious spot. His ears swivelled to face forward, giving the sisters his full attention. "You.. kill lions?" For once he looked hopeful. The news obviously pleased him greatly, and lowering his head our of respect, he decided to investigate before showing the two females where he knew the good, clean and plentiful water was -- where the lions were.
"C-can I come?" He licked his nose, his gaunt form nearly trembling with excitement. "I can help! I promise."
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:08 pm
The male's delight at thoughts of lion-killing pleased Dikeledi. So did his respectful posture. She had no tolerance for foolishness or obnoxiousness. Males should be polite, that was Right.
And females should be kind if it pleased them. She dipped her head briefly, graciously, acknowledging his offer. " 'Course you can come." She and Bahari didn't need help, certainly not, but she would help this somewhat pathetic nomad as a favor.
Besides, he knew where the water was. "Now show us where this water's at. If we can take it now, we will."
Bahari grinned. "If there're too many cats sitting around it, we'll have to come up with a plan. But we should be able to take care of one or two!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:43 am
Although in his current emaciated state Bekeli likely wouldn't be such a great help, the prospect of killing lions pleased him immensely. Even more so, the thought of cool, clean and crisp water was even more persuasive, and he felt lucky that the females thought him worthy enough to tag along. It didn't strike Bekeli that they thought him pathetic or weak, which he oftentimes was.
"Follow me," Bekeli yipped, turning tail and running in the direction of both the lions and the sacred water that they lorded over.
((We can finish here and start up another where they meet Sudaj, and then a third where they find the lions? ;D))
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