She had intended to simply woe him, sleep with him and then kiss him goodbye. But it was the fifth morning she had found herself walking down the pathway to where he was temporarily denning, a spring in her step and a strange little bubble of excitement in her chest. Catching herself she stopped on the pathway and sighed, rubbing a paw over her face a little roughly.
“Maisha, you are an idiot…No one would think you were a full grown adult the way you are carrying on…” Grumbling under her breath she debated turning right back around and purposely not seeing the big striped male today. But just before she could decide if this was the right option, a newly familiar voice spoke from further down the path, the deep timbre and husky warmth sending little shivers all the way through her body.
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“Morning Maisha” He called, spotting her up ahead of him. He had woken early and had thought to go hunting, maybe even take her some as a gift after, but he had accidentally fallen back asleep and now, clearly, it was too late to surprise her. But hunting together would be just as pleasurable. Smiling as he strode up to her he bent down to nuzzle her forelock affectionately. Something he did with his sisters so to do it with her felt natural.
“Are you well today?” Settling back he looked down at her, wondering at her slightly embarrassed expression but not about to be so rude as to ask her about it.
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She flushed deeper but returned his smile, nodding her head slowly. “Quite well, thank you Jamal.” She replied. Pausing, aware that she was being more than a little weird over the whole thing, which was probably all in her head anyway, she turned round so they were facing the same direction as him. “So, what are you up to this early?” She grinned up at him, amused to see the big male’s own blush darken his cheeks.
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Every day since they had first met she had walked down to his temporary sleeping place and woken him up. Used as he was to sleeping in late and staying up late to hunt in the darkness, the early mornings were still strange to him. The very fact that she was always catching him sleeping was a source of quiet embarrassment, which was why he had been so pleased to beat her this morning. If only just as it had turned out.
Giving her a rueful smile he nodded up the mountain. “I was going to go hunt.” He paused, eyeing her smile which had turned amused and knowing.
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She was well aware that her early mornings had caught him by surprise. It was partly why she did get up so early… he was so adorably sweet and useless right after waking. Like a giant cub, all too-long limbs and huge yawns.
Nodding she pretended to consider the path before them for a moment before looking back up at him, grinning again. “Maybe I will accompany you.” She suggested, then had to hide her smile at his pleased expression. He was clearly excited to have her with him and she wondered briefly if it was because he liked her as much as she was trying not to like him… Quickly pushing such thoughts away she set off, leading him up along the pathway before turning off the main track and starting across the mountain towards one of her preferred hunting areas.
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Jamal followed happily, content to let Maisha lead the way, especially as he didn’t know these mountains. Once they reached the rather open area and spotted a small herd of mountain gazelle grazing on the far side he turned to her, a slightly hesitant smile curling his muzzle. “I’m used to hunting in the forest, but this is different. Anything I should know?”
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Impressed by his complete lack of pride as he asked for her advice, she considered the mountainside for a moment. “Well, going downhill upsets your balance but is easier and faster. Try and get above them, they out pace us easily going up.”
He nodded and after another quick discussion about tactics in which he actually had some new ideas she had never considered before, the pair split up and with him heading down to provide the block, ideal with his greater strength and bulk, she headed up the cliff side. Her job being to chase them down to him.
Once certain he was in place, concealed for now behind a thick and bushy piece of scrub, she focused on getting close enough to their prey so that when she pounced, they would go in the correct direction. A few minutes later she made her move, leaping out in front of the small herd with a roar, claws flashing. Startled they turned and fled down the mountain, long legs that looked so fragile moving sure-footed over the loose scree. Maisha came flying down behind them, roaring all the way and being careful to keep her footing. Seconds later she flung herself sideways to void the sharp hooves of the animal in front as it went flying, ripped form its feet by the immense power of the lion that had jumped out in front of it. Skidding and slithering Maisha managed to avoid both lion and antelope, sliding past them before she regained her grip and sprung up beside him. Not that he needed her help, he had the prey on its back, one massive paw placed firmly on its belly and with his huge jaws clamped about its throat.
Letting herself catch her breath as he killed their meal, she beamed at him. So very proud despite the fact that she had almost nothing to do with the success of the hunt. That had all been him. Once the antelope was still he let go, grinning back at her.
“That was easier than usual… I like this method of hunting.” His comment made her laugh and together they bent to their well earned breakfast.
(Word count = 1,01 cool
