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 Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:06 pm
 It had been a few weeks after his meeting with Nata, and he had practised the amble that she had taught him. It actually worked for the first time, though the portion of the carcass he had stolen from a group of lionesses was significantly smaller than what she had managed to take. Kizuka couldn't help but feel proud of himself though, as he had finally lived up to what a hyena did for life.
For once, his gait was straight and proud, much different from his usual slouching slump and paws that practically dragged themselves across the dirt. He just needed to find a nice cool spot to sit down by and start his meal. His most successful meal by far.
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:20 pm
 Fenja had been having a few easy weeks lately and the tiny gazelle that hung from her mouth was just another proof of her luck. Poor thing. It had been born with some strange defect on its back legs and it had actually been quite merciful to kill it quickly. Not that Fenja wouldn’t kill a healthy baby gazelle if hungry enough but there was something tragic about taking a life that had barely lived at all.
Still, now she had the usual problem. Like leopards, Fenja liked to eat and sleep in the safety of a tree. Unlike leopards, Fenja didn’t have the anatomy and the skill to accomplish this kind of feat with the same kind of ease that her friend Hantan displayed. While she compensated with a great deal of practical experience, climbing a tree and climbing a tree while dragging a gazelle were two very different things. Honestly, how did the leopards manage to drag huge prey beasts up into hiding was beyond her.
She made her third attempt and jumped but once again her paws got caught in the small body she was dragging. Down came the lioness and just in time to see the approaching hyena. Oh, Fenja didn’t like hyenas. She’d spent her cubhood growing up the rogue lands, listening to cackling monsters at night while trembling in fear under the concealment of the dark. She hissed on instinct, a low growl rumbling in her throat.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:20 am
Kizuka heard a rather dull thump somewhere close by, and being the rather stupid creature he was, he went to see what the source of the sound was. He froze immediately though, hearing a low growl coming from the same place where he had heard the sound.
He saw the lioness, and cursed his luck. She had a small gazelle hanging from her jaws, and was glaring at him with utmost malice. If he was any other hyena, he would glare right back at her, but he couldn't bring himself to do so and decided the best option for now would be to just leave and pretend nothing happened.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:14 am
After the initial shock, Fenja slowly started to take in the details about the approaching hyena. A male, alone. Not much of a threat unless there were others following him. He was pure white with some every light violet hues here and there. She definitely liked that. And, most importantly, he also had something hanging from his mouth, his own meal to eat or take to someone else and Fenja was gaining confidence by the second.
Very slowly, the pale lioness dropped the small carcass and eyed the hyena inquisitively. She sat down, wondering how he’d react to a non-aggressive gesture from the feline.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:29 am
What? She sat down and dropped her meal? She wasn't going to attack him? Kizuka stopped, staring at her suspiciously, was there some other motive she had in mind? Keeping his eyes on her, he bent his head slightly to drop his carcass on the ground, wondering why he was still here and not trotting away to eat his meal in peace away from other lions and those other troublesome felines.
"....Yes...?" he said slowly, still watching her.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:46 am
Fenja almost laughed, mainly because she was at a loss about what to say. Why was she being ah… not exactly friendly but certainly not aggressive eithe? It was unusual because she wasn’t in the familiar safety of a tree and she had a hyena in front of her. If she tried to rationalize her reaction, she’d assume that it was probably because the hyena was alone and carried rather soothing colors. But Fenja wasn’t exactly thinking that deep at the moment.
“Sorry for the hiss. Instinct.” Had she ever actually spoken to a hyena face-to-face…? No. This was the first time. It felt so strange to calmly exchange a few words with her “old enemy”. But she had to admit she was a little curious as well. What were hyenas really like (when they weren’t trying to steal her food)? “I thought someone was coming to steal my kill.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:55 am
Kizuka shrugged, "I'm used to it." which was the truth. He hadn't come into contact with another lion in a while, but he was used to hostility from the felines. It made sense though cause he always did steal food from them. And sometimes he had seen some females snatch up small cubs if they couldn't find a meal so...it made sense either way.
"Oh...um...I already stole someone else's so..." the hyena stopped, realizing how bad that sounded. "...Um." he managed to say, trying to revise what he said, even though he knew it was useless trying to take back words that he had already said.
"You're the first lion I've seen that hasn't tried to attack me." he said, deciding it would be best if he quickly changed the subject.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:07 am
"Is that for you?" Fenja cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head comically to the side, wondering if the hyena was joking. He probably wasn’t and she didn't really know how she felt about that. At least it was a small piece of meat which meant there was still a lot more where it came from.
“Ah, well.” She wasn’t sure how to answer that statement. She supposed the truth was a good way to go. “You’re the first hyena I ever talked to.” She paused, thinking about all the things she wasn’t really willing to admit out loud.
“Don’t hyenas usually travel in packs?” she asked after a short silence.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:30 am
"What? The meat? Yeah. I suppose it is." he glanced down at the small chunk of meat he had ambled away successfully. It would be his, but if he found someone that was hungry he wouldn't mind giving it up to someone who might've needed it more. Unless if he met Kataja. Then he would have to eat his food as fast as he could.
"Oh...really?" he wasn't sure what to make of that statement. Was he supposed to feel flattered that he was the first hyena she had ever met? "Um...we usually do...but..." he preferred to travel alone. Or maybe it was the fact that no one really wanted him in their pack because his pelt was too hard to blend into the landscape of the brown savannah. Either way, he had been a loner since he had reached adulthood, being driven out of his pack by his own father. Perhaps that was why.
"...I don't know actually." he said. Not knowing what else to say.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:43 am
Fenja smiled a little, feeling like she might’ve hit a nerve there.
“Well, most lions choose to live in pride and here I am, right?” This guy wasn’t so bad. Maybe all hyenas weren’t half as bad as she saw them – once you got past that whole food-stealing issue.
She grabbed the little gazelle by the neck and tried to climb the tree again. Having an audience probably gave her a bit of added strength because the lioness finally succeeded this time and she found a comfortable spot to rest before eating.
“You’re alright, Kizuka.” She said from one of the lowest branches, offering the hyena a toothy grin. “Are you going home now?” Did he have a place to call home even?
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:07 am
For the first time in a while, he chuckled, "Yeah...that makes sense too." he watched her climb up the tree, a bit confused, wait weren't leopards the one who climbed up trees when they ate? Not lions? "Wait..." he said, staring at her, "You're up a tree." stating the obvious rather stupidly. What was happening?
"Oh...thank you..." he said, blinking a few times. He had never heard something like that in a while. Not since Roxo...hm. "You're not so bad yourself..." he said in return, really meaning his words. "Not home...but by the watering hole to eat. I like to have water so I can wash myself after eating." he didn't like blood and dirt on his fur. Maybe if it was a different color he wouldn't mind so much, but everything looked so dirty on white.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:51 am
This time Fenja really did laugh. It was amusing to see the expression of those she met when they were faced with some of her little quirks. And, of course, now that she was safe on the tree branch everything seemed to be a lot more fun and interesting.
“If a tree is not too steep, I can usually climb it.” She said lightly, grinning widely. “You know, a lone girl living alone in the rogue lands… I got a few tips from a leopard or two.” she laughed again.
“Ah, yes. Your coat is too pretty to get all bloodied up. Have fun. I love to swim there.” Another odd habit of hers. Her gaze was expectant almost teasing as she waited to see how he’d take that bit of information. Even her tail danced playfully behind her like a little cub who was about to play a prank.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:06 pm
She climbs trees and she swims? What kind of lion was this? "W-wow." he managed to get out. "Y-you're different. Really different." he stared at her, "I-in a good way. In a good way." Kizu quickly added, not wanting to fall into a sour mood.
"Oh...thanks." the hyena felt his face grow warm, he had never been called 'pretty' before. It felt nice to be complimented. It was the first time in a long while he had been complimented. He picked up his carcass once more, and with a small nod to her, trotted off.
He couldn't help but feel a little awkward because he didn't say farewell or goodbye, but he wasn't accustomed to showing his emotions. Maybe if he met her again, he would then talk to her properly.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:51 pm
Fenja laughed again. Did she detect a little bit of embarrassment there? That was kind of cute. It seemed the tension had eased the minute they’d put some distance between them – which was not necessary the cause per se. It seemed they only allowed themselves to relax and really talk once they were at a comfortable distance. She returned his nod.
“Goodbye, hyena boy!” She called out to him when he was a little bit away and promptly turned her attention to the meal at her paws.
- Fin -
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