The brown splotched lioness knew she wasn’t really supposed to go out on her own, with Kil watching over her as she was, but she felt compelled to try some of the hunting tips Kil had given her while they had been talking lazily earlier. Kil usually brought her food, after all, so it seemed fair for her to go out and try and get her own and bring it back for her guardian. It would be a nice gesture, and it would show Kil that Hit was doing well under her care. Hit wanted nothing more than to make the older lioness proud. So she was out in the area surrounding what Kil considered her land, crouching in the brown grass.
She didn’t know that another lioness, who had recently been speaking to Kil, was crouching nearby, also on the hunt. The regal lioness did not like hunting, and would much rather have someone else do it for her. However, Ygraine had no servants with her, and had no reason to have them, so it wasn’t like she could get someone else to hunt for her now. Perhaps she was just spoiled from her childhood: she had been very well taken care of. Sighing profoundly, the lioness who would be queen sat up and scanned the area. She spotted a large form that was not grass nearby, though the brown splotches hid her well. Another lioness? Perfect.
Hit looked up to see a lioness approaching her, and she instantly found herself cowering. She didn’t have the best track record with other lions, male or female, and now that she thought she was trespassing on someone else’s land, she was terrified. Her ears dropped back and she instantly hit the ground, fighting the urge to roll over onto her back and surrender immediately. She just crouched down and waited though, trying not to look as nervous as she felt. But it was impossible to hide it. The lioness approached, looking down at her with a slightly arched eyebrow.
“Not much of a fighter, are we?”
“I don’t want to fight you. I’m sorry if you think I do or if I look like I might want to fight… I really don’t. Really.”
Ygraine smiled, amused. She looked smug, almost snooty, looking down at the lioness over her nose. She shook her head slowly, taking a deep breath that was supposed to sound patient, but certainly wasn’t. It was one of those breaths an exasperated parent might take after a child was caught doing something wrong, but was already crying about it and they just wanted to settle the situation without making things worse or getting screams. She sat down, swishing her tail behind her. She considered her options for a moment, wondering if this little lioness was even capable of hunting, or if Ygraine would be better off just hunting for herself. Then she remembered how much she hated that, and opted to try her luck.
“My name is Ygraine. I am a friend of Kilgharrah. She is a lioness that lives around these lands. Do you know her?”
“Oh. Yes, I do. She… she’s been letting me stay.”
“Has she now? How nice for her. And you, she’s generally not welcoming of strangers. Well, then, you must know these lands?”
“Uh.”
“I’m looking for some help. I am hungry, but I have not found any thing to hunt. Perhaps you might assist me?”
Hitilafu watched her with a blank, save for a slightly confused, expression on her face. She shook her head slowly, opening her mouth to reply, then she shut it again. She didn’t want to be rude: what would be the harm of helping her? True enough, it would be impossible for her to hunt two things, so if she caught something for this Ygraine, she wouldn’t be able to find anything for Kil. But maybe she could? Who knew, she could get lucky… she sighed, feeling guilty already for just considering saying no. True enough, Kil was important to her and she really wanted to show her she was improving, but she just didn’t have it in her to deny a request.
“Okay. I can go and catch something…”
“Good girl.”
The older lioness watched as the brown lioness skittered off, keeping low. Not a confident thing, from what Ygraine could see. And she hadn’t even given her name. Not that it mattered, Ygraine would just forget it anyway. She sat back, watching the lioness crouch and get ready to hunt. She would probably be a while, so Ygraine yawned and settled herself down on the brown grass, closing her eyes and chuckling. It would be interesting to see what the younger lioness came back with: as Ygraine was absolutely certain she would be coming back. Hit just didn’t look like the type who would agree to something and then just disappear. The almost-queen prided herself on being able to read the ‘common’ creatures.
And she was right, this time. Usually she just ended up looking like a snob.
Hit came back an hour or so later, dragging a heavy, but small, kill with her. She dropped it near Ygraine, looking puffed out, but very proud of herself. She swished her tail, grinning broadly with bloody teeth. She had a rip on her flank, where it seemed she had been kicked quite hard, but she hardly noticed it as she beamed in excitement. She even giggled as Ygraine moved to sniff at the meal.
“That was fun! I can’t believe I caught it. You should have seen it!”
“You look like you got hurt. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine! I’m excited,” she giggled. Ygraine smiled, despite herself, finding her youthful vigor invigorating. Endearing, really. She nodded her head, then made to eat the food she had been brought. She nodded her head, indicating that Hitilafu should eat, too. The younger lioness bounced and moved to join her, digging in to the thigh. They were eating together for some time, until the carcass was mostly empty, and they were quite full. It hadn’t been a big kill, true enough, but it had certainly been enough for the two of them. Ygraine sighed, looking at the girl, whose name she still didn’t know.
“Thank you for doing the hunt for me. That was very sweet of you, to do for a stranger.”
“You’re welcome! It was good practice. I’ll do it again soon, and show it to Kil next time. She’ll be so proud.”
“I’m sure she will,” Ygraine smiled, knowing Kil had always been a maternal time, but had never been a mother. It seemed she had found a way to fix that. The younger lioness got up quickly and bid the other good bye. She hurried off, all but skipping as far as a lion could, and Ygraine smiled. A very sweet child, indeed. Now she definitely needed to come visit again, just to see how the two were doing.
(Word Count: 1164 in Word)
