Walking in the dark was often found relaxing to some, but for Lalika it put her on edge. Over the years, the leopardess had learned that though the dark was nice and calm and sometimes quiet – evil could lurk within. She hated walking alone under a dark sky. Especially with the moon covered like it was tonight. All that was missing was a certain leopardess who used to scare her when they were growing up.
“Boo.”
Letting out a shriek of alarm the normally quiet leopardess hissed. “Nia!” Sure enough the familiar golden gleam of her gaze gave her away. Laughing the dark form of a leopardess joined the pale lilac one. “What are you doing here?”
“I was hunting and then I found your scent. You’re not that sneaky you know, Lika.” She shook her head, “Anything could find you out here in the dark. Me included.”
“Of course.” Lalika shivered before looking around. From what she could tell, Nia must have been the only thing lurking nearby. Hopefully.
“So what are you doing out here? I know you don’t hunt much at all.” Nia commented as she kept pace with Lalika who had increased her pace. Unlike the pale lilac leopardess, Nia was perfectly calm in the darkness of the night. Her coat blended in perfectly and Lalika knew that if her friend closed her eyes then she really would fade into the night. It was scary.
“I was going to check to see if anyone had wandered into my other den.”
“Oh! You still do that then?” Nia jumped over a rock and landed smoothly back on the ground. Lalika rolled her eyes, what a show off.
“Yes. You would be surprised by all the rogues that have wandered through here and needed my help recovering from wounds. Especially this one rogue lion. He’s always getting into fights.”
“Sounds like my mate.”
“If your mate was dark red with midnight blue eyes, then it could be him.”
“Nope, not even close.” Replied Nia with a laugh, “Though he does like to fight.”
“Of course. You would never be satisfied with a pacifist. Especially a weak one.”
“True.” Nia shrugged, “I can’t help it. I’m a tough one, I needed someone just as tough as me or even tougher – not that I’ll ever admit that one out loud to him.
Lalika laughed and turned as the familiar water hole came into view. So far it looked clear, with no hint of blood in the air. “Anything?”
Nia shook her head, “I don’t smell or see anything.” She paced and checked the ground, “No signs of any other felines that could have come by recently. Looks like you’re good.”
“Good.” Not that she minded helping others. She was just glad that no one was hurt. “Guess I got that finished then for the night.”
“Wait. You came all the way out here in the dark to make sure no one was here?”
“Basically. I’m too busy during the day to come here.” She shrugged, “I don’t mind.”
b
“You’re so weird sometimes, Lalika.” Nia shook her head, “But that’s fine! You can hunt with me now instead.”
“Hunt? But Nia-“ She paused sheepishly.
“Oh, you’ll be fine. I’ll watch out for you.” Nia motioned towards the left, “I was tracking some antelope over this way earlier. They should still be out there. Come on!” With that she started racing into the dark.
Casting one last hopeless look over her shoulder, Lalika started running after her. “Wait up, Nia!” Both raced quietly over the Savannah until Nia signaled from them to hide behind some tall grasses. “Where are they?” She whispered softly to the dark leopardess.
“Coming.” Nia’s tail flicked, “We just have to wait.”
“Great.” Why did she get dragged into this again? The leopardess remembered her earlier hunts. Those had never worked out well, so why did Nia even try? Couldn’t they just talk like last time they met? But no, she drags me into hunting with her. Lalika sighed silently before a nudge from Nia made her focus.
Sounds out in the darkness. Their prey was on the move. Following Nia, Lalika inched closer and closer until she could smell the overwhelming scents. “Go to the left. Scare it towards me.” Nia instructed before leaving the leopardess alone.
“Kay.” Swallowing her terror, Lalika inched closer until she could make out the faint forms of an antelope under the moonlight. Tail twitching behind her the leopardess let out her best roar before launching herself towards the antelope.
After that it was all chaos.
Terrified of the sudden attack, the antelopes turned and started racing away. Several swerved away from Nia’s hiding spot but the one nearly ran over top of her. Growling Nia jumped out and latched onto a hind leg. Fascinated Lalika watched as the hunter tired down her prey. So this was how she managed all that time on her own in the rogue lands.
“Break it!”
Lalika flinched. Really? Her? Gulping the leopardess jumped and aimed for the neck. A satisfying pop came from the neck and while Nia purred happily, Lalika had to take a moment to breath. She killed. Not like she hadn’t helped during a hunt before…it was just that she had never finished the prey off before.
“You okay?” Nia’s golden gaze sought her’s. “I’m sorry. I forgot, you never did really get into hunts before.”
“Nice time to remember that.”
Laughing Nia shoved the prey at her, “It’s not like we’re wasting it. Eat and be happy, Lika.”
“Easy for you to say.” She muttered, but after another nudge from her friend the leopardess finally gave in and started to eat. It was true, fresh kill was better than kill that had been dragged back.
“Atta girl.” Nia chuckled before joining her, “I hope you don’t mind that I take the rest back for myself.”
“Of course, I don’t mind.” She grinned at her, “I understand that you’re such a glutton.
“Pfft. When one has a family, they have to be.”
Laughing both leopards finished their meal before separating ways once again.
