[PRP] Hot Day on the Savanah (Aislin & Tethys)

[MangoMeow]

The sun was high in the sky, leaving the plains hot and stifling to be in, and making Aislin huff in the heat. She wasn't a huge fan of hot weather, but then, she also wasn't a fan of cold weather either. So maybe that didn't mean much.

What she did care about was the sight of antelope ahead of her. She was far enough away that noise wouldn't startle them, but she made sure to crouch low, not wanting to give away her position with her black coat. Hunger gnawed at her belly, and she was determined to catch one today. There was an old one too, which was perfect. The old were slow and weak, and less likely to keep up with the rest of the herd when they ran.

This one would become her lunch.

Ears pulled back in concentration, the lioness kept a close eye on the herd's movements. She would need to be careful that they didn't notice her approach until it was too late. That was one good thing about traveling alone. She didn't have to worry about someone else messing up her hunts. On the other hand, prey was easier to take down when you were working alongside someone else. It was a double-edged sword, to be sure, but she had made due all this time. She would do so again.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

He wasn't hungry, he'd had his fill a while ago and all things considered, his companions were more than well fed. Consequently the prey beasts of the Savannah had little to fear from the white lion as he strode through their territory. Head held high, he simply regarded what lay beyond the horizon with the intention of getting there in a reasonable amount of time.

On this occasion he was alone, an instruction that he had left with his companions to ensure that they didn't follow him in to untoward territory that he had already been explicitly warned about. Nevertheless when it came to certain individuals and the necessity to track them down, the importance of their capture far outweighed the need for safety. Unfortunately for Aislin this did cause several issues in her hunt though.

Though he strode with purpose and had little inclination to hunt these beings; something that they clearly knew from his posture. It did cause them to stir and move away, opening up in a manner of a parting sea to ensure he didn't feel tempted. The result? Well, her current target also took this hint and moved closer towards its herd mates, leaving it no longer exposed...And the poor lioness with a renewed challenge of splitting it from the herd again!

Oblivious to her presence, as he was often known for when he had other things on his mind, he scarcely acknowledged the darker lioness. If anything, the slight bow of his head as he passed by her hidden form was more of a mechanical reflex than a true indication that he even knew she was there.

...Not exactly rude, but not ideal either (on several accounts).

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Of all the things she was expecting though, a white lion strolling through the herd of her prey was at the bottom of the list. With wide eyes and ears pulled back, Aislin watched in shock as he just meandered through it, and thus caused her hunt to become, well, uncatchable. A scowl grew across her face and she glared daggers at the male as he started going by her.

To add insult to injury, his nod was almost dismissive, instinctual. She was pretty sure he hadn't actually noticed her. Rude! Well, she was trying to be hidden, but other lions should be smart enough to scent a fellow hunter in their midst. And to be so inconsiderate as to ruin what could be a potential meal for someone else - regardless of whether he had known she was there - just grated on her nerves.

With a snarl, Aislin sat up and spat at the stranger, "Do you mind?! You just disturbed my hunt!" She was less than worried about the herd noticing her now, indignation rearing it's head and pushing her to confront this interloper. Besides, the herd had traveled far enough away that all it did in response to her yelling was shuffle a few paces further away.

Whatever, she would have to re-stalk them regardless, so what did it matter if they meandered a bit further? At least they would be away from this idiot and she could hunt in peace again!

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

He always seemed to have a knack for encountering very opinionated lionesses and most of the time, they also seemed to have a temper and slight attitude problem as well. It seemed that such a demeanour came paw in paw and he could do nothing more than turn to her lazily and regard her for several moments. She was not the first lioness to howl at him indignantly over what was arguably nothing, and she certainly wouldn't be the last... Unfortunately, the frequency of these encounters had become so great that he seemed to be reasonably immune to her.

"How unfortunate," he replied simply as he finally turned his gaze back towards the herd of what was arguably, more than enough individuals to pick and choose from later. The fact she had expressed her intentions was probably going to do her more harm to her hunt than his temporary interruption, though far be it for him to point that out.

...He knew well enough what happened when the obvious was pointed out to lionesses like this.

"There will be other opportunities though, I can see several as of now," he shrugged his shoulders loosely. "Assuming that you will always have a free and undisturbed hunt however, is rather arrogant," he mused and shook his head. "To assume you're the only one chasing this migrating herd is a little..." he elected not to finish his sentence and instead, he swept away from the herd very deliberately. After all, they hadn't minded his presence and had simply shuffled out of his way, it was her they'd be looking out for.

"If you had wanted a more reliable private hunt, one might suggest pursuing them in to pridal territory. At least there, your leaders and guards determine who may or may not enter."

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Aislin's eyes narrowed in irritation and low growl starting to make it's way up her throat. This one didn't have the best of attitudes, or at least, he was the type to grate on her nerves. He was so nonchalant about it all, and she scoffed at his lack of attention or care. Did she look like a pride lioness? Did she smell like any of the ones located nearby? She was a rogue, and thus had to compete with said prides and with rogues and with other predators for her food.

Sure, he was right that having an undisturbed hunt wasn't something to be expected, but that didn't mean that he had the right to assume that his meandering was excusable. She was sure that she wasn't the only one who would be incensed over his actions.

So with cold green eyes, the lioness brought herself up and eyed him up and down. "That would be well and good if I WERE in a pride. Though I guess you wouldn't know the feeling of having to compete for food with those dear old prides." The word was spat scornfully. She had never been a fan of living in a unit like that, too suspicious and untrusting of large groups to seek them out. After all, a person is smart, people are dumb.

Turning her head swiftly away from him, she glared out at the herd to try and pinpoint the elderly one once more. Great, it was in the center of the herd now. She would have to continue waiting for another opportunity to arise. Her stomach growled angrily at the thought.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

His brow lifted in a way that his family was well known for - if there was ever a moment to be bemused, it was now. The lioness had made some rather entertaining assumptions and any other viking might very well clout her for them. Fortunately, when it came to Tethys, he had much more patience than that... And there was something quite funny about lionesses when they truly lost the rag. She wasn't there yet, but a little more prodding and she might be a tiny furball of unbridled fury.

...One might say he'd grown inclined towards playing with fire.

"That sounds like more of a personal problem than anything else," he replied with a mild shrug. The fact she had openly chosen to be a rogue, and thus she was presented with a large number of self induced issues, was rather far out of his realms of concern. Now had she been one of his he might have invested a greater amount of time in her conundrum. As it was, she very much reinforced that she was a 'strong and independent female' in those moments, and by the gods she'd smite him herself if he implied she needed help from external forces.

It was tempting to imply it again, but he elected to educate her in regards to one of her many false assumptions.

"Given that my kind take what we want, rather than simply competing, you would be correct. I do not know what it's like to compete against these prides you seem to irked by," he chuckled. "If only because they bend their knee when they see us on their borders."

He shook his head after drifting in to silence and turned his own gaze back towards the herd of prey beasts. The one she had wanted was now out of reach, but that didn't necessarily mean the others were.

"I'd always assumed most rogues were adaptable but it seems you're rather caught up in catching the one with very little meat on its bones," he remarked with a sigh. "Which is a shame really as there are better opportunities much closer to you that you don't seem to be acknowledging through sheer stubbornness..."

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Aislin turned her gaze slowly back to him, a dark look in her eyes. She wasn't amused by his words, not in the least, and it was only the remark of "taking what they want" and "bending the knee" that kept her from immediately snarling back. Hmm, she had heard of lions - prides, even - that preferred to conquer others, and it had only reinforced her idea of keeping to herself.

Figures that she would run into someone like that.

At least it was just him, though she knew better than to pick a fight..... physically, anyway. She was always more of the bark rather than bite type anyway. She still felt indignant over his actions and words, and he wasn't making any move to try and attack her, nor did he seem all that interested in capturing her. So she saw no reason to flee quite yet.

That said, his crack at her lack of attention left her hackles raised, and she scoffed back in response. "Oh, and you think you'll do any better?" She rolled her eyes, "Of course there are a lot of opportunities, and before you showed up, that one had been the best of them!"

She shook herself in aggravation, drawling sarcastically back at him, "If you think you could do better, oh wise one, then prove it." And okay, maybe she was goading him now, but he had started it.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

"No," Tethys replied in such a simple, yet forceful manner, that it might have seemed a touch out of character based on how relaxed he had been before now. It wasn't for Aislinn to know, but such things were something he simply didn't do... Not because he couldn't prove it, but because it would be an insult to his mother and what she stood for. Not that the lioness would care, she had no crystal ball to consult in that respect, and thus she would have to read in to it in whatever manner she chose to prefer.

...Even after he might have clarified some of it!

"Causing harm, and taking part in an unnecessary culling when you are not hungry is a grave insult to my family," he shrugged his shoulders. "Unnecessary waste and harm is not something that we are known for, particularly my mother," he remarked. Ah, but while Arimathras had always enjoyed blessing regions with bountiful harvests on occasions, even she knew that such blessing would tax the land eventually.

In his world one needed to tend their land carefully, to treat it and its denizens with respect, otherwise this exhausted land would cease to provide for you. As the roguelands were shared by many, he would not be the one to strike the killing blow or push it beyond its limits...especially when his own allies would need to take some of its bounty as they travels.

"Though I concede that all might sound at odds with where I herald from," he admitted after a few moments. That being said, this particular Captain had only taken willing servants and even then, he'd always expected them to be treated with absolute respect. He was one of the better examples of honour within the Stormborn, a striking contrast to some of the worst that lurked on the stormy shores of his home...

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Unfortunately for Tethys, Aislin had no way of knowing his reasons for why, and at the moment, he mostly just came off as hypocritical. As it stood though, her own fury was beginning to cool from his lack of reaction, and she found herself just giving him a dead-pan look. She would never understand other lions - other creatures in general, really.

Still, she snorted in response, "Then what right do you have to criticize my choice in hunt? I go for the weakest of the herd, not only because they are easiest to catch, but because it's best to leave the more able-bodied for the future." She rolled her eyes, "It's not like I need a lot of meat anyway. I'm only filling one stomach."

With a huff, the lioness shook out her shoulders in an attempt to try and shake off the situation. The herd was beginning to move on now, and she was going to lose the option entirely soon.

"Now, unlike someone, I am hungry, and I have no guarantee that food will land at my paws at any other point in the day." She turned on her paws, "If you're not going to be helpful, then stay out of the way."

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

"The ill and frail have less meat on their bones," Tethys shrugged. "So not only are you poor in your choice of target, you'll simply pursue another when you get hungry again much more quickly than those who hunt with intelligence," he mused. Nevertheless, rather than ruin her chances again (though the temptation was there), he simply shook his head.

It was better to leave her to her own devices - he'd already disrupted her hunt, and given her rather disgruntled behaviour and her decision not to keep her voice low, it was all too obvious what she was after. She'd have a harder time now than she had before, and while he'd concede he was partially at fault for striding through the land in such a lazy fashion... she had been the one who hadn't kept her voice down!

"Good luck," he added in a rather amused tone as he strode away, tempting as it was to point out that there were other opportunities to acquire food if they possessed the skill set, it was a dispute for another time...and to be entirely honest, he wasn't really in the mood to have yet another spat with a female. On this occasion he'd much prefer to get on his way and be about his own business.

...Whatever that business might be.

MangoMeow

/Fin?