[PRP] Once is Happenstance (Esche and Lusala)

[Sunlit.rains]

Crouching low in the grass, Esche peered at the herd of antelope that were peacefully grazing not too far away. He'd been watching them intently for about an hour now. He'd studied them pretty carefully and been able to pick out one or two of the weaker ones and had been waiting for one to venture further out of the safety that was the middle of the herd. Luckily the grass was tall enough to allow him to remain unseen since his gray coat didn't quite blend in. Even more luckily, two of the weaker ones had ventured towards the edge, close together and doubling his chances of getting a delicious meal.

Slowly and carefully Esche began to creep closer to his targets. He had to be patient though. The moment had to be just right. His muscles were tensed and ready for action, and his gray eyes were firmly fixed, waiting for the sign to pounce into action.  

[ShinyObsessed]

Not too far away Lusala was crouched watching the same antelope. They looked delicious. He was also very hungry. He hadn't eaten in a few days. The prey around here seemed especially healthy and spry. But those two right there were the weakest of the herd and had made the fatal mistake of moving out to the rim of the herd.

Slowly, muscle by muscle he moved closer. He was down wind of the herd, and it was a perfect position. The first weak antelope moved a few steps closer to catch a fresher patch of grass and he lept! He managed to land on top of the antelope and raked its back with his claws a couple times while the surprise lasted. The frantic creature bucked and twisted and did its best to dislodge him. Its best was pretty good and Lusala went flying off to land on his feet. He didn't take long to recover and started to give chase.  

[Sunlit.rains]

With surprise, Esche found out he wasn't the only one who had been eying up the antelope. He found out when another full grown male lion went into a flying leap at one of the weak antelope he'd been eying. He couldn't help the curse that came out under his breath as he watched the one antelope and then rest of the herd try to scatter.

Though as Esche sprung into action, trying to salvage a meal for himself out of the panicked herd, he realized maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that the other male had pounced because it was sending his prey running blindly sideways of where Esche was lying in wait. He ran towards it, trying to head it off and chase it back towards the other male. Maybe the two of them could each get a meal out of it.  

[ShinyObsessed]

Lusala was also surprised to see another lion, though he supposed he shouldn't have been, what with the lack of weak prey. He cursed to himself when he realized that the other male was going to take his meal. But when instead of going for its throat and nabbing it for himself he startled it back towards Lusala instead.

Well, he wasn't one to give up on opportunities. He crouched so the antelope wouldn't see him and then pounced upwards going for the throat when it was close enough. He hung on determinedly even when the silly beast kept trying to get away. Being dragged over rough ground by the antelope was not fun, but it beat the heck out of going hungry again today.  

[Sunlit.rains]

Esche watched as Lusala went in for the kill, ripping out the throat of the unlucky antelope. He didn't stop to watch long, he had his own meal to try to chase down. He sprung off after the other weakling of the herd. Maybe he could still salvage a meal of his own out of this.

The antelope veered wildly about, just out of reach of Eche's teeth. He sent his paw out, claws extended and took a solid swipe at the antelope's torso. Red lines bloomed under Esche's claws as he ripped a layer of skin from the creatures body. He could only hope that swipe would be enough to slow it down.  

[ShinyObsessed]

Lusala picked himself off the ground when his antelope stopped thrashing. He shook his fur of the dust and licked his jaws of blood. Looking towards the other lion he saw the other weak antelope just managing to evade his swipes till he got some claws into its chest.

Claws wasn't going to cut it, he'd have to use his teeth if he really wanted to catch that antelope. Or... he could help, Lusala didn't like owing anyone. And what was a few minutes more work when he already had bagged his dinner?

Quickly Lusala ran over to join in cornering the slightly more intelligent (or was it just more spritely?) antelope. He tried to turn the antelope back towards the other lion with another long swipe of claws along its ribs.  

[Sunlit.rains]

As the antelope turned back towards him, Esche went in for the killing bite to the neck. His powerful jaws closed in and crushed the creature's windpipe. It kicked for a couple moments and then went still. Esche dropped his kill to the ground to regard the other lion with gray eyes.

"You have my thanks. What is your name, stranger?" Esche ran his tongue along his muzzle, licking up some of the blood that was there. He enjoyed the taste of it and was looking forward to diving into the rest of his meal. Esche was grateful, though he felt like it was only natural they should help each other. It was hard being a lone lion and keeping yourself fed.  

[ShinyObsessed]

"Lusala." He said in response to the other gray lion's query. "And you have mine. That antelope had quite a bit of spunk to throw me like that." He looked over to make sure his kill wasn't being perused by any other animal. Good. All for him.

"And your name? I'd like to remember it so in case we meet again, I'll know you to be a good one to work with. And one can never have too many friends, or allies." He shook to get some more of the dust from his tumble out of his fur, at this rate, he'd look brown.  

[Sunlit.rains]

"They both were more spirited then they looked I think." Esche gave a small chuckle. He didn't often laugh, but the situation struck him as kind of amusing. There was also something about the other lion that set him at ease.

"I am called Esche. That is very true. It's always good to have allies out here. Keeping yourself fed alone can be challenging." He glanced back down at his kill. As much as he appreciated Lusala's help, he really just wanted to enjoy his kill alone. "I hope to see you around in the future Lusala, enjoy your meal." With that he bent down and took the limp antelope in his jaws, preparing to wander off to find a bit of shade.  

[ShinyObsessed]

So far, Lusala really liked this Esche lion. He had the right ideas. "Probably, and it is good to know you Esche. I also hope to meet with you again. Enjoy your meal."

Lusala trotted over to his own kill, grasped it around its neck and started dragging it away in the opposite direction, there were some good rock over hangs back the way he'd come. He'd killed for food, and he wouldn't hesitate to kill for the shade either.

While eating, he went over the hunt in his mind. That Esche was a fine hunter, and one smart lion, taking a potentially tricky situation and turning it into a mutually beneficial arrangement. Lusala would definitely remember him.

Total word count: 1304