It had been weeks now since he had met Sauda, the dark-coated lioness with the knowing gaze that had, apparently, decided she was going to be his shadow, or his bane. Either way it was the same. She turned up while he was hunting -admittedly, she was a very good huntress and working together was its own special pleasure, and he had eaten better since she started joining him than he had in a long time- while he was sleeping –she would creep up and he’d simply wake with company after going to sleep alone-, and even while bathing. Twice she had scared the living daylights out of him by commenting on something from behind him when he had possessed no inkling she was anywhere near him.
Annoying. Irritating.
And yet when she was absent he noticed. He had begun to expect her to be close by, anticipated her witty, dry commentary on the pride and her various and sundry observations about the world in general. She had a sly, subtle sense of humour he could appreciate, and she had an uncanny sense of the weather, of what way the herds were likely to run in, where they would pitch up during their grazing cycle… If he had been willing to admit it, she had become part of his daily life. But he wasn’t, couldn’t, not even to himself. It was too scary a though to articulate in any way, even within the confines of his own mind.
Turning he saw her dark shape, a hazy shadow in the long dry grass through which they moved, already a seamless team, silent, not even needing to look to know where the other was at any given moment. They were stalking a wildebeest. A big prize for anyone brave enough to try, and certainly she had bigger ones than many males he knew. This had been her idea, a test of their skills. They had agreed neither of them wanted to get hurt in this folly, but likewise, the challenge appealed to both of them.
Returning his attention forward he grinned. This was actually… fun.
----------------------
She could feel him off to her side, a perfect ghost as they moved in tandem, inching closer to their target. It still amazed her that he had no mate. Could no one else see just what an amazingly sensitive and gentle lion he was? Yes he was cold and spoke harshly to just about everyone. But how many cubs had he found / saved / protected? How many kills had he made only to hand them over to one less skilled / injured / unlucky / too young? He was a natural born protector and under that hard exterior was a very private lion, a kind soul who would do everything it took to protect the pride and its young.
She could almost see the warmth he hid within him, the way his gaze would occasionally soften when he didn’t think she was looking. How he always left the best parts of their kill for her while pretending he wasn’t, (but there was only so much grooming one could do before it got suspicious..). Sure he was a cold hearted male a lot of the time, but then he’d do something unexpectedly sweet, like give her the best napping spot in the shade, or leave a fresh kill near her den if she had been unsuccessful that day.
Feeling a softer, more intimate smile cross her muzzle she turned her attention back to their current hunt. He had no idea she knew such things about him, nor that he was unconsciously reciprocating her attentions. He was less snappy, his humour witty and dry instead of cold and sarcastic. Yes he would always be one of the most intensely private males she knew, but he was opening up to her slowly… that alone was worth any amount of effort on her part.
--------------
Suddenly the wildebeest tensed and they exploded out of the grass in a synchronised movement. Taveni headed for the head while she bounded up onto its haunches. It charged him, swinging its massive head back and forth, trying to impale him with its horns, but he kept just out of reach, roaring his fury to confuse it while she hung on to its rump, gradually working her way up to its back, wickedly sharp teeth struggling to pierce its thick fur and leather-like hide. Her weight slowing its movements enough for Taveni to keep one paw ahead of its evil horns.
The fight dragged on and on, a test of stamina more than hunting prowess as the beast gradually slowed, wearying from the pain and blood loss. Taveni was able to jump and get a grip on its neck, clinging on upside down, almost lost in its billowing folds of long hair, jaws clamping round its windpipe through that furry defence. Sauda had worked her way up to its shoulders, fangs still ripping at the tough hide, trying to get a spine-bite. At last Taveni’s weight forced its head so low one horn got stuck in the earth and Sauda jumped at the opportunity, literally throwing herself to the ground and clamping her muzzle round the beast’s nose, cutting off its air supply. It bellowed in pain and desperation and with a last surge of strength flung its head wildly, nearly dislodging both lions, forcing Sauda to scramble with her hind paws on the ground in a kind of bizarre dance as she avoided the flailing horns with their deadly curved tips.
Finally.. finally, the beast collapsed, its strength gone with its breath. The massive body made the ground roll as it hit, but both lions remained attached like deadly limpets. Until with a great blood-frothed sigh, the wildebeest lay still. Taveni let go and sat back, catching his breath after almost being suffocated in all that thick fur, sweat poured from his shoulders, matting his dusty fur. But Sauda was in no better condition, panting round the muzzle still clamped between her fangs, blinking the sweat from her eyes. Only when her hunting instinct faded did she let go, flopping back on her side and grinning madly up at him, yellow eyes alight with their success.
“That was fun!” She laughed, dropping her head and stretching out with a contented, if tired sigh.
“If you say so… “ He replied, his voice deadpan yet a tiny smirk curling across his muzzle. “Let’s not do that again any time soon….” He added, finally stretching out beside her, resting for a while.
They would eat well today.
