If the other wild dogs were smart, they had given their friend up for a lost cause. Even if the threat of five livid lionesses was not enough, the mere sight of the offending hound - currently dangling from the jaws of the bespattered lioness by its throat, head lolling limply - should prove deterrent enough. Together? Ezino had no qualms about dumping the unconscious creature in the dirt. She glared with disdain at the creature, licking ruefully at the blood that speckled her lips.
That disgust was entirely gone by the time she looked up at Sindisa, however, her gaze holding nothing but concern. "Are you alright?" She asked after her physical health, sure, but it was more than that... What a terrible thing to happen on a hunt. It wasn't too unusual; certainly she had startled a herd or two in the past. But their current situation made it that much worse. Ezino hurt to see her pride-sister wear that shame so openly. "It will be fine. These things happen. What is important is that you are unharmed."
She had never run so hard in her life! Noxolo had broken their line like a scared hare, claws eating the earth to catch up to the zebra and Chazama. Not once did she allow herself to flag, or slow. No thinking beyond the hunt. Maybe she pushed herself too hard again, but who would blame her? They were so close! The herd was right there, and they had the numbers, the vultures...!
They were too far away. They had been even before Noxolo started running, and the chase was fruitless even before Chazama called a halt. Noxolo didn't want to admit it. Despite her heaving sides, paws akimbo as she tried to catch her breath, she wanted to keep going. They'd been so close...
"It's not fair." The words seeped out of her in a whisper. She let her head hang low, the bitter disappointment plain. She shouldn't think about that, though. The pride needed hope, they needed buoyancy and pep. Uplifting thoughts, happy thoughts...but it was so hard to hold onto them when she just kept failing!
Sucking in a shaky breath, Noxolo righted herself and trotted after the Cinga.
AstoriaFallen
SilverLutz
Jovi of Shadows
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 12:01 pm
[fin for my girls!]
Anderleit
SilverLutz
Jovi of Shadows
After the dust had settled and things had calmed down, Zishaye spoke up. "Please don't be too hard on yourself..."
Thandeka nodded her head, "We have some good news at least! There are notable herds in the areas still. We will be able to share this information once we return to the center." While they weren't entirely empty pawed, giving the carcass that was left by the dogs, there was that bit of information they'd be able to travel back with.
Amne was looking everyone over a bit, "No one was hurt?" Hopefully an Imbiza wasn't necessary, if so hopefully no injuries were too great that there would be risk. "I think now would be a good time for us all to rest at any rate, before either heading back or continuing on." Plus there was some small bites left on that carcass. They could all have at least a small mouthful to hold themselves over.
Zishaye and Thandeka both nodded their head in agreement, Rest would be good, at least for a moments time.
Neri circled above, watching the herd grow smaller and smaller in the distance. She would remain aloft, drifting in the currents while the lionesses rested below.
AstoriaFallen
AstoriaFallen
Winter Wolf
Offline
SilverLutz Crew
Offensive Hero
Offline
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 6:04 pm
The concern that came from her companions made Sindisa grimace at the ground just a bit, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears. How they could be worried about her when she was the one that ruined the hunt was beyond her, but she was so incredibly grateful that they weren't scorning her that it was a strange mix of emotions to feel.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said at last, forcing the tears back with a few quick blinks as she lifted her head. "Thank you, Ezino. You saved me." They all had, really, but Ezino had been the one to stop the wild dog that had been snapping at her tail. If that one had managed to get its jaws into her the small pack would have brought her down.
She glanced at Zishaye, then Thandeka as they spoke, trying to find the good in the situation. There was a herd in the area, one that they could possibly hunt from for a bit. That was good news. And a few bites off that carcass the wild dogs had left behind might be barely enough to keep them going, but at least it was something...
"No one was hurt," she confirmed as Amne spoke. "We should let the ladies who gave chase to the herd have a few bites first." They'd certainly expended the most energy trying to chase down a meal and they should be compensated for that. She tried to keep her spirits up but once again the grey lioness bowed her head, unable to meet her pride sister's eyes.
[Last from me!]
Jovi of Shadows
Anderleit
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 5:12 am
Chazama was glad to see the situation with the wild dogs had been resolved, and thankfully no one appeared to be hurt. That was a relief. "Rest sounds like a plan," she agreed, allowing some small bit of tiredness to seep into her voice. The newly appointed cinga had been searching nonstop for any signs of prey, and though it had been thrilling to finally find something, she was also just worn down and tired. Her gaze traveled to Sindisa and softened significantly as she recognized the signs of her being upset. It was okay. No one was hurt, and though they didn't catch anything, there was at least some small group of prey in the area. That was something, at least.
Umfula made her slow way towards Neri, as she quietly circled with the other avian. She understood the disappointment some of them must have been feeling, including her own lioness. Times were hard, and they just might be getting a little harder. The truth was anyone of them could have discovered those wild dogs. It was just bad luck that it happened to be in the middle of a hunt.
Seemed like no one had been hurt too badly, thank goodness. Ezino rolled her shoulders, checking muscles and easing tension, confirming that she felt fine, herself. Her assault on the wild dog had been quick, surprise and power on her side; no time for it to react before they drove off the rest of the pack. Their tactics had worked well for them...even if their use was not quite what they had hoped. "If you had not come up with the idea to split us up, we may not have responded so quickly to the wild dogs." The muddy lioness smiled warmly at Sindisa. "You saved yourself! I helped.
Come. Sit and be at ease." Rest sounded wonderful for all of them, not least of which those who had tried their best to catch the herd in spite of it all. Both of them looked worst for wear, unfortunately... Hopefully just tired, and not as disappointed as Ezino suspected at least one of the pair to be. Noxolo's placid expression didn't quite reach her eyes, and the fact that she did not greet her sisters joyously was telling; though she did, at the very least, take a place next to Sindisa, and seemed to be determined to raise the lioness' spirits.
For now, Ezino was content to let her concerns lie. They had been through enough today without piling such worries on top. However small this moment was, she hoped the peace of it would go on to fill their hearts. With any luck, it would even help keep them going when their stomachs ran empty.
( And we're out. This was fun - thank you all! )
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2022 11:39 am
Surprise!
A small flock of birds circled the collective of lionesses, curious as they watched from nearby branches. One by one they came down from their perch and accompanied a lioness home.
(Unspoiler for full-size uncerts! I colored them all.)
