|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:23 am
It's hunting day! It's hunting day! The small, herbivore inspired busisa trilled giddily as her slender, yet strong legs stretched into every bounding stride. Everything about the day seemed perfect for a promising hunt. A gentle breeze licked her face, carrying the scent of several nearby herds in the area. Golden sunshine warmed the dark markings upon her backside and the grass beneath her paws was green, lush and springy.
It wasn't often the dopey Ithambo lioness was permitted to go anywhere on her own. They'd had one too many experiences with the gullible female nearly being stolen from the pride by rogues or conversely, allowing the clever males to wander their territory unchecked until one of the wiser members stumbled across them and chased them away again. However, there are times in every pride when all the members were tied up in their own business which left Njalo'sasa one of the only females available to hunt. That--coupled with the fact that she was one of their most successful predators often made her one of a pawful of the most likely candidates to be sent out for a meal to feed her busy kin.
The resulting scene was a product of this need. A cheerful and exuberant young adult eager to be away from the familiar views that were customary in Nja's everyday life and out mingling with the thriving wildlife of the roguelands. She could barely decide which way to go first. Slowing her racing pace to a jog.
Electric yellow gaze was already scanning the terrain for the perfect target as she slowed to move at an even more graceful pace. Long and languid strides carried the lovely female across the plains, seeming to move amongst a herd of springbok effortlessly despite the fact that they were natural born enemies. Nja's going to find a good kill to bring home!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:27 pm
 She had been on the move for a very short period, she had managed to catch a hare during the night which she happily enjoyed eating earlier and enjoyed a rather nice sleep shortly afterwards.
She had decided to travel a little bit while the pride was quiet and there were no cubs to worry about and she would gain some information on what has been happening outside of the pride.
She spotted a small watering hole near a herd of Springboc she quietly ewalked at a slow pace towards the water trying to keep a little distance from startling the prey animals. She couldn’t help but size up the herd and calculated her chances of taking one down later on, if they were around by then.
Feeling rather satisfied having finished sizing up the herd she returned her focus to the water. She approached the water with no problems and lowered herself slightly as she began to drink steadily from the water hole. Now satisfied with her drink she paused to admire her crisp white markings and deep red eyes.
She glanced back at the herd to her side while she debated on staying around to hunt them later on or actually leave the area shortly. “Another day can’t be that bad...” Her thoughts returned back to her pride. She had to remind herself that there were no cubs that needed to be attended to, and not for a while at that. ‘The joys of being a messenger’ she smiled to herself as she took a few steps into the water and enjoyed the sensation of water in between her paws.
Feeling now a little playful, she then glanced back at the Spingboc and chuckled a little bit, they kind of reminded herself of well.. herself. She glanced to her side and compared her markings. Trying to hide her she attempted to twitch her tail like they were doing and rubbed her head against her side trying to imitate them. After that she moved a few more steps closer to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:08 am
Njalo's characteristically cheerful and slightly vacant expression had already sobered into something akin to a proper huntress. High beamesque eyes cutting across the terrain even in broad daylight as she took in the shapes of the gazelle around her carefully sizing up each one. Examining the definition of their muscles, the color and state of their pelts and size amongst other things. Gauging them with a straight face that was out of place and a touch intimidating when seated upon the usually simple lioness.
Finally, after much searching Nja found the perfect target. A strange looking Springbok that had waded into the pool of water that had formed during the rainy season. It seemed completely oblivious to her presence and at ease with its surroundings as it drank. The tan herd beast's supple frame was a little larger than the others. An ideal meal for her hard working pride mates!
Stalking through the grass, lithe lioness lowered into a slithering crouch, moving with a snake like stealth as she stalked her target. Njalo had been too cautious in her approach to catch the gazelle at the lake. Silently cursing the missed opportunity.
A little too prideful to walk away with paws empty, the female who was often considered neither of the light or dark umzengeli, but rather some poor stray who had been saddled between the argumentative cliques. With patience and perseverance to spare Nja followed the critter with care. Lining herself up. Creeping into range. Staying low. Edging closer. Muscles tensed, coiling with gathered energy as she prepared to spring.
Closer. Dark ears listened intently, mostly to the fall of her own footsteps and breathing.
Closer. Nose twitching with the scent that filled her lungs, nearly overpowering in her nearness now.
And then, without much thought to the fact that her prey certainly didn't smell like a gazelle, nor did it have the tail of one, now that she could see the long appendage swishing about, Njalo bolted forward bounding up into a pose ready to pounce!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 12:17 am
She chuckled at them some more, so calm yet she could go after them in a split second. She then though of giving them a chase though she knew she probably would have poor luck with catching one. She was better off with catching fish and anything that got dragged down by the river, she wasn't usually too fussy with what she ate. She then began to ponder if she actually ever tried one of these.
Her thoughts got disrupted by a rather quick movement in the corner of her eye, combined with the sudden nervousness of the Springboc. Glancing over in a jerked manner she froze at the sight of a lion in midleap at her. She freaked out and tried to bolt away from the pouncing lion unsure if she would get out of the way in time. She yowled loudly while trying to keep her body as low as possible.
"I'm not foooood!" She managed to yell out after finishing off her yowl. Her eyes widened with fear, her mind became all jumbled up with thoughts of mostly who this lion was and and why was she being pounced. Was it a fight for food or was she to be the food. She glanced back only to stumble on a piece of dried grass.
"This is it..." That's all see could really think of at this point and closed her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 12:49 pm
Killer concentration was almost immediately broken by that look of horror. This was definitely the face of a lion, but how had that happened? Njalo was certain that she had been stalking a Springbok. Was someone playing a cruel trick on her? Switching her prey at the last moment?
Either way, it was too late to change course now. The best the busisa could manage was to retract her claws and seal her maw to hide once rearing fangs ready to puncture and suffocate. Landing on the unfamiliar lioness and rolling several feet in a tangle of limbs until their momentum finally came to halt. Surely leaving the pair a little bruised and battered and Nja panting with surprise as she fought to pick herself up. Hopefully without further stepping on the stranger. Voice raising with a far more typical giggle as she cried out, Wowwee! That was a close one! Nja thought you were a Springbok!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:14 pm
'What a way to go...' she thought to herself 'so this is it...then why am I so sore...wait a second!' She opened up one of her eyes and freaked out when she saw a limb right in front of her at an angle. 'It sohuldn't bend that way!' her mind began to race until said limb twitched and she realized it was just her tail.
'I must have really gotten tangled up. She opened her other eye only to find her fur tuft covering it with a quick shake of the head the problem got fixed. she could feel the weight of the lioness getting off of her. Her ears twitched and turned towards the lioness. "That truly was a close one...N-Ja" she responded trying to sound out the name a little bit as she sat up slowly still trying to catch her breath. She couldn't help laughing a bit maybe it was how close she was to death or she now knew how the Sprinbok felt.
She turned to face the lioness, "That's what I get for trying to act like one" she could easily see how she could have been mistaken for one. The female in front of her had beautiful markings and colours.
She froze as she realized the lioness was hunting a Springbok, and most likely for a meal, she bowed lowly and began to apologise "I'm sorry... I must have ruined the meal you had planned..." She then looked back at the Springbok that seemed to have been startled off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:30 pm
It was! It was! Heee! The friendly female bobbed her head in an overly exaggerated fashion that seemed to depict the magnitude of her amusement at the situation. Granted, she seemed a little surprised by the fact that the stranger put so much emphasis on her name. How'd she know Njalo's name anyway? Did they know each other? She would have felt awful for forgetting such a pretty face.
But you were good at mimicking those Springbok! Nja is one of the best hunters in aaaaaaaaaalllllllll her pride and even she got fooled! While others may have been embarrassed to admit it, the Bongo-marked lioness seemed delighted by the fact. That must have meant that her companion was a really competent actress! Canting her head as the tri-colored lioness picked herself up off the ground after a few moments, she was relieved to see that the other didn't appear hurt. Happily jogging up to buffet her forehead against the other in a more proper greeting.
Blinking dumbfounded at the offered apology, that acidic yellow gaze drifted across the plains towards the herds that had scattered and gone shooting well out of reach. Startled by the sudden pounce.
Hahahah! You shouldn't worry about that! Nja's just glad you're okay and sorry for attacking you like that.. Njalo murmured suddenly sheepish, tucking her chin close to her chest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
