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Haraka'majani, or Hark, as some called him, shifted his lithe body silently. His intense, flame-like eyes were pinned forward, as were his rounded ears, as he focused on his quarry. His prey was not feline on this night, but consisted of a small waterbuck. It's scent caused his stomach to rumble silently, reminding him of the fact that he had not yet eaten on this particular day. His muscles tensed as he prepared to spring, his dark, cloth swathed frame trembling with anticipation and hidden in the shadows of the long, thorny grass that he had hidden himself within.

The waterbuck lifted it's head from grazing, wary eyes turning this way and that. Had she heard something? Maybe not... She had the inkling that, perhaps, she should move on. She was alone and anxious, as a lone prey-creature would be. It was misfortune that had her alone and not with a herd, something Hark was more than willing to take advantage of. He slunk forward, his paws placing quietly as he circled the beast. He sprang at the last moment and she started, darting off. He was easily in pace with her, his powerful legs thrusting forward. He caught her quickly enough and she was smallish for her species. It was a combination of planning, experience, and luck that had him with a fresh kill that evening. He licked his lips cheerily, before digging in. He'd eat his fill and move on, leaving the remains for any creature that happened upon it, as they were wont to do. The scent, itself, would be enough to draw others and the vultures would arrive fairly soon.

He ate hungrily, though he was careful not to gorge himself too completely. He remembered his training s a cub. Eat too much and one would be too full to move quickly when needed. Eat enough, but don't overindulge. It was something he couldn't afford to do, especially when living on his own, a cheetah for hire. He licked his lips, blood tinging the dark fur about it. He was careful to keep his mouth covering tucked away at his chest, as he didn't wish to bloody it.

He ate slowly, almost delicately, but there was a swiftness in his actions, his mind drawing back to a time that had passed none too long ago. In fact, it almost mirrored that night and he found his mind tracing over each moment that had come to pass. The scent of death was quick to draw unwanted attention and he, well, he had places to be. Or at least he had at one point in time. Unbeknownst to his most basic of senses, sight, scent, and hearing, another had been drawing closer. For all his caution, he had made a most grievous of blunders and hadn't even been aware of it. He'd entered the territory of a pride without consent or discretion. It was damaging not only to his pride, but his reputation in stealth and he wasn't even aware of it, yet. His primary focus had been on feeding himself, so that he may live another day.

It was a sudden feeling, a twinge in his gut, that caused him to stop eating for the final time that evening. Suddenly, the task at hand, some simple seek and destroy mission for some pompous lion that he found fat and arrogant, seemed unimportant. He couldn't even remember the b*****d's name. Probably something just as smug as his face had been when he had hired Hark on. A great change was coming, one that would sweep him up in a way he couldn't completely predict at that very moment. He needed it and he knew it, though whether the outcome would be positive or negative, he didn't have an inkling.

His pink tongue slipped between his lips and cleaned the blood from about his chops and his ember-like eyes searched in the direction he felt the pull. There was a figure, though he couldn't quite make out her details, and he suddenly felt very exposed. The darkly pelted and garbed male slowly lowered himself closer to the ground in hopes of making himself less obvious. He worried that he may have already been seen and, if he hadn't, the scent of kill would bring the stranger closer.

He inched forward slowly, hardly expecting a blow from above. His limbs trembled ever so slightly with anticipation and readiness to run full speed, should he need to. Instead, a sudden weight was crashing down on him and he was knocked backwards roughly. His mind was spinning as he tried to see who or what. It had to be the figure he had noted earlier. His paws fought to find purchase against her, to push her away, but being caught by surprise had put him at the disadvantage and while he didn't give in easily, she had him on his back, at her mercy, as she took in his scent.

Where he was a wanderer, the scent of others clung to her fur and though he thought it, he didn't dare indulge in the fact that he found her scent pleasant. There were too many pressing things at stake, here.

"No business." The darkly garbed cheetah croaked, an unamused scowl firmly set across his rubbery lips as he looked his attacker up and down, the best he could while she had him pinned, at least.

"Just passing by."

"A transgression, you can be sure. I must have missed the scent markers. Should payment be wanted, payment I can offer... In some form or another."

He was at her mercy, he knew this. He had not been cautious enough and would pay the price for his negligence, but perhaps he could talk himself out of the situation. He'd done no wrong or no harm, bar passing borders without realizing it and killing a waterbuck. Okay, so it was thievery, even if unintentional. Perhaps they would be forgiving. He already knew his life would change this night, drastically so, but he had assumed it had something to do with his target's annihilation, not his own mistakes. He was relieved when she moved her weight off of him, but did not try and move. Her paw on his chest was warning enough and they were not alone. He could possibly outrun them. Possibly. He was unsure. He had been travelling much of the past few days and while he was a speedy creature, skiled in the art of the kill and the escape, he was unsure of how well rested his enemies were. He knew he was not.

"Call me curious~ I had not realized where I was until I saw you. I was stuck in my own thoughts, a folly, clearly. Should you let me up and let me be, I could make it worth your while."

"Fair enough."

He didn't realize just what he was getting himself into. He was still young and inexperienced in the ways of coalition life, never mind mafia coalition life. He'd lived on his own thus far, a wanderer, a vagabond killer that hailed from a coalition that raised cheetahs to fight. He relied on stealth and surprise to make his kills, neither of which he had in this moment and he knew he had been beaten. He knew he could not outpace these cheetahs, simply because he had been on the move the entirety of the day.

"I hail from Mkali'mpiganaji. It is a coalition of warriors. I am an assassin. I no longer have ties to the coalition and work on my own." He was being honest and straight to the point. It felt strange to do so, but he had little choice in the matter.

"My name is Haraka'majani. I am sometimes called Hark. I am currently passing by on a hit I undertook for a male lion who came to me for help. Take out his rival so he can take the position as heir." If they had a problem with him, he might have to run after all. He wouldn't sit and let them murder him. His frame tensed subtly and he observed Katapatan through concerned eyes.