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Nyota and Amin. That was two down, with three more to go, that is, if Hakuna insisted he take the little lady too. Verge'lian had been all but wrangled by Hakuna into spending some one on one time teaching the kids...or at least taking time with them, in order to teach the prospective heirs about survival and 'being a demon'. Wondrous. Nyota had tired him, nearly worn him down, and made him instinctively wary. Some of Nyota's attributes were a little too like himself...a young and far more foolish self. Amin...reminded him of his brother, given the gift of a bit more caution...now it was time to sum up yet another of his children, and that was why he sought out one more son...and then he really -was- going to take that nap.


Sil'in Drathir was out 'hunting', harrassing a group of meerkats, grasshoppers, or birds - whatever he found. The meerkats were the most amusing though... Would chitter at him and then dissappear down their holes. But, at this moment, he was focusing on a particularly fat grasshopper, sneaking up as quietly as he could, tail swishing from side to side and ears laid back against his head.


And that was where Verge found him, though he didn't interrupt the 'hunter', instead, he watched, blue eyes calm as he observed his son hunting less than ostentatious prey. Ah well, everyone had to start somewhere, and though Amin had brought down a hare with a minimal amount of help from his sire, grasshoppers could be wily little bugs, and were at the least, decent practice. Now, to see if the cub would be successful.


Unfortunately, he hadn't seen the snake on the other side of the rocks he was stalking, coiled up and soaking in the warmth of the sun. Getting to within pouncing range, the cub flexed his claws and leaped... coming down on the rocks fast enough to catch, or rather squish, the grasshopper. The snake, startled, reared up in the s-position, obviously intending to strike and Drathir back peddled, squeaking as he tried to keep all limbs out of striking range.


With a snarl, Verge leapt forward, claws extended to strike down with a massive paw, batting the snake to the ground with one paw and pinning its head with the second, putting weight on that single paw. There was a satisfying crunching sound, and he turned to regard his son. "Be aware of everything around you." He admonished quietly, "This snake was defending itself, he thought a big lion was after him." Verge smirked coldly, "Unfortunately for him... he too, was not entirely aware of his surroundings."

Blinking in surprise, he looked up at his father for a moment, uncomprehending. When the words soaked in, giving weight by that cold smirk he hung his head, ashamed and nodded. "I... was just practicing." He'd made a fool of himself in front of his father of all lions... Growling to himself, Drathir wiped his paw on the rock to remove the bug goo.


"And you did catch the bug." He said quietly, "Don't consider it utter failure when you have achieved some victory." Verge glanced out across the grasses. "Why don't you and I look for something a bit bigger for you to hunt, hmm?" It was so strange still...through all of this...to think of himself as father and mentor to half a pride of cubs.


Drathir stuck out his tongue and held up his paw, a slight grin on his muzzle, "I didn't catch it... I landed on it." Wrinkling his nose, he wiped his paw once more before standing properly, feeling very smal in comparison to the big lion beside him.... but pride swelled in his chest as his gaze played over the other's markings. Tossing his head Drathir looked out at the plains as well, ears flicking about, "Really?" He was surprised. Didn't his father have something more important to do...?

"But the end result would have been the same. The grasshopper was very small, and you are very large to the insect's eyes." Verge nodded at his son's question. "A hare would be more beneficial to both you and the pride, don't you think so? And besides...if I do not teach my children to hunt for themselves, what sort of father would I be?" And with that, he began walking out towards where he knew the rabbits often fed on the grasses and other tender shoots, even an unexperienced cub should be able to snag prey there, given instruction.

He nodded seriously and bound forward, having to half-run to keep up with Verge's long strides. "I haven't caught a hare before... They always run before I get close enough." It wasn't for lack of trying that he was unsucessful but rather his choice of approach. "I'd learn... I don't need to be lead around all the time." Grumbling, he put a bit of a swagger in his step as though the action might make him look more capable - he wasn't weak.

Verge chuckled softly, "Perhaps they do, but it's all a matter of how you approach them. Test the breeze first, make sure it isn't blowing your scent towards them. You want to be smelling them, not having them alerted to your presence." Blue eyes were strangely patient, an attribute that he had when dealing with his children. "And if you learn with guidance, you learn -faster- and once you've learned, then you are stronger on your own, and also as part of the pride."

"Is that how you learned?" He glanced up as he moved, curious. Maybe he /could/ be like Verge... grow to be just as stong and imposing. Thoughtful now, Drathir pursed his lips, whiskers twitching, "Test the breeze hm?" Lifting his nose to the wind, he sniffed experimentally.

He nodded slowly, "My father taught me first..." But then, he had had the distinct advantage of having a god for a sire. "Yes...now tell me what you smell..." He wanted to know how many scents his son recognized, even at this young age.

Drathir sniffed again, pausing in his steps to consider what he had smelled... "I smell... you. Me... the grass and ground... some of the
"I wanted to know what you could recognize." He said seriously. And though he was slightly disappointed the other could not scent prey, he wasn't going to worry about it just now, that would come in time. "Now come...let us hunt..." And with that, he loped off, fully expecting his son to follow him.