|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:17 am
She was just finishing bathing, grooming the easiest area for her to reach, one of her front legs. The hunt for the day was done, the males long since having eaten. She had only just finished herself a short while ago. Though she wasn't sure where she what to do after she finished grooming. Kiamba had already wandered off to get either Asali or Sorin to keep her a bit of company and help her get more familiar with the pride.
Kiamba had arrived two days after Alla left (Settling in pretty well. Shumbi rather liked her.), and it had been days since the cub's parents had come to reclaim him and though she had learned a lot from Nahmba she couldn't say she was sure she felt anymore confident about the prospect of motherhood. Still, it was good to know these things to help the other lionesses with their children, even if she didn't end up having her own anytime soon. Or so she had to hope, there was really just one way to ensure that and abstinence wasn't something she wanted to practice.
Still, since then she'd been thinking on it a little more, and still nervous about the idea but a little bit more receptive to it, she wondered. Surely if her mother could do it she could. She was no coward.
Well, there was time for that yet anyway.
Lowering her paw to the ground again and easing into a languid stretch showed that she was feeling plenty relaxed. It was a good afternoon, the temperature slowly cooling as night drew close, the moon already visible in the sky, though faint since the sun had yet to set.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:26 am
Full, pleased, and well-napped, Matifu could not have been in a better mood. His smiles were numerous as he passed through his group, even willing to give Kouga a greeting that wasn't a growl.
There were a few new females he had decided it was best to get acquainted with. It was important, of course, that the other females accepted them, but he would have no trouble in this pride early on, especially with the promise of new cubs.
It wasn't uncommon for a female to catch his eye as he walked - they often did - and there was no exception this time. It was not at Shumbi that he first paused, instead having been distracted by the heavy yawn of another lioness, but it was Shumbi that his eyes eventually returned to.
Eyes lingering steadily on her form, Matifu took his time in moving. There was no harm in standing and leaving the others to wonder what was on his mind. Then, he looked away, taking the step to leave before reconsidering.
Back to his old tricks, he shuffled silently next to her and lowered his lower body so as to put his mouth at the same level as her ear. His next words were spoken quietly, his eyes glancing around them as if there was some dirt and scandal in what he was about to say.
"You look like you could use a little excitement in your life."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:38 pm
Shumbi couldn't claim to be paying any particular amount of attention to anyone, but Matifu's odd movement did catch her eye. She glanced towards the dark male before looking away again as well as he had. He wasn't looking at her, she must have imagined it.
Then, when she went to look again he was gone from the spot completely. She did a sort of double take, trying to figure out where he'd gotten off to when he suddenly seemed to just appear at her side. One would think a lion his size couldn't just sneak up on someone, but sure enough, there he was. Well, sort of at least. She didn't really turn her head and see him, she just had enough time to register someone coming up on her side and then he was suddenly speaking in her ear.
Judging by the way he said that made her wonder what he had in mind.
"Oh? And what is it that you'd propose?" She asked, arching one feline eyebrow and lowering the other a little, either skeptical or wary, possibly teasing. She was good at flirting, the question was just always would the recipient of her attention see it as that or not.
Kamikiel certainly didn't seem phased by her past efforts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:11 am
A low chuckle was his answer. He dismissed what she said quietly, as though the words had simply slipped off his tongue. "How very womanlike of you to demand an explanation."
Mouth breaking into a sly grin, the large male pushed himself back to an upright position. The grin changed to a relaxed smile, and he took the opportunity to turn his back and begin the nonchalant walk away.
He paused once, to look back. "Are you coming? Or are you going to be disappointed that you missed out?" It was a very simple choice, really. She was a smart girl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:23 am
She seemed to be taking the bait, either out of curiosity or truth in his statement. Either way, when he drew back her ear flicked, and she gave a soft, tolerable "hmph" in answer to his quip.
Her curiosity only grew when he began to leave, much as though nothing had been said at all. Without really thinking much about it she got up at his question, marveling a bit that he really had picked her, but she quickly recovered. Of course he had! She was an excellent choice! It wasn't her fault if the males back in her birth pride had either been related or too stupid to realize it.
((OOC: I mean no offense whatsoever to those poor boys. *lol* Shumbi's just a bit full of herself and with momma's attitude.))
"That's awfully big talk. I should hope that you're able to back it up. I'm not easy to please." She quipped back, moving into stride alongside the large male.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:31 pm
It was awfully big talk. However, Matifu wasn't concerned. There were a pluthera of women waiting for him in the Bonelands, and he had a chance with every single one. His ability to woo away those within the pride back when he had still been a rogue had given him the ego and the self-confidence to continue to do well.
Would she be disappointed? Perhaps, but Matifu thought not. He'd be careful, now, to listen to anything she might give out that he could latch onto.
"We'll see." The tone of his voice did not fluctuate, and his body language was relaxed. Strides long, he made her she worked to keep up with him, but didn't stretch out so far as to make her annoyed with the effort of it.
He let her a gentle distance from the pride, but he had no intention of getting down to business right away. Even if she was willing, there was an aspect of trust that he felt expected to build. Make her wait. Patience was something he had learned quickly as a cub. It helped him well in other areas.
The rush of the river could be heard easily. The latest rains had left it muddy and high, and Matifu picked his way along its edge as if determining a way across.
"A pack of hyenas has been trailing us the last few days." Spoken forwards, it was impossible to tell whether or not Matifu had been referring this information Shumbi at first. "What do you think of the idea of seeing what they want?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:13 pm
Shumbi managed to keep pace just fine, increasing her pace a bit so that she didn't have to worry about falling behind. It was fortunate for him to already have a plan, because if anyone had been so tactless she might have given them little reason to doubt her disappointment and annoyance.
She only glanced back once to see how far off they were going, instantly back at attention when she heard Matifu's comment. A growl built in her throat, but she restrained it. She had no good experiences with hyenas on a personal level, from her travels trying to follow Kamikiel and Kouga, but she was curious. She wondered idly if there would be a fight. Hyenas jaws were nasty things to mess with, but she was with Matifu.
Lionesses might know their way around the hunt, but lions definitely knew their way around a fight.
"It sounds intriguing enough." She quipped, realizing this would be twice now that he'd asked for her "assistance" on a matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:32 am
'It sounds intriguing enough' was enough of a confirmation as Matifu needed. He banked a sharp right, dug his heels in and slid quickly down the side of the riverbank. The dirt came out in huge clods, tearing down the side after him, small pebbles following in its wake.
It took him only seconds to pick the path through the river that he desired, and he was lucky that it was low, for even now the current was strong. Shumbi would either follow or have to wait for him. Hopefully, he would not have to surmount a rescue.
He waited long enough for her to have made it across. Both of them were now wet, but Matifu did not desire taking the time to shake off the water that coated his fur. Instead, he broke into a jog, using the momentum to make it up the other side.
Once there, it was easy to scan the area and find out where the hyenas were huddled.
"There." A glance back. "Stay close. They can be dangerous in numbers." There were more than he remembered from before. Perhaps he should have taken Kouga or Kamal with him.
"Are you ready?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:42 am
Never let it be said that Shumbi was so much of a girl that she would refuse to get her paws dirty or her fur wet. When Matifu began sliding down the incline she found her own path and skidded down as well, easily navigating a path across the waters as well. She had grown up in the Kusini lands, traveled the rogue territory to come here, certainly no stranger to these things. She was right along side him after only a moment to find a secure crossing. Shaking out her paws a bit as he jogged up the opposite bank, she backed up and did the same, pulling herself up over the other side again, only then shaking a little more water from her back paws. She wanted to be able to move freely, and being bogged down by water in her coat would inhibit that.
"Hm. I'm ready." The dusty colored female agreed, eying the group and trying to do a head count as she moved along at Matifu's side, either confident in her own skill or their combined power.
It was the smell that hit her first. They tended to all carry the scent of carrion because of their diet, and they definitely smelled differently than lions...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:50 am
As the hyenas noticed them, they turned curious eyes in their directions. Matifu was disgusted by the way their heads swiveled as they turned to look. Five. Plenty enough of them to take down at least Matifu, if not Shumbi with him.
Never the less, they had to be approached and backing away now would be too much weakness. With Shumbi at his side, he strode forwards, head held high and footfalls purposely heavy.
"Hyenas!" he called out when he got close, stopping at a distance enough to be threatening, but not to yet start a fight. "We have come to tell you to leave. You aren't welcome here."
A dark colored one with particularly bright eyes stepped forwards. A sly grin was on his lips. Then, hyenas always seem to have them plastered over their distasteful faces.
"You're a really funny, lot, aren't you?" came the lightly cackling reply. "Have any recent kills? We've been looking for something to scavange." His eyes moved to Shumbi, sizing her up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:00 am
Shumbi turned her upper lip up in a soft snarl, but she knew not to be reckless. The damage a hyena's jaws could cause was dangerous at best and deadly at worst. Five of them, a generous number for two lions, though she had heard stories about similar odds before.
"There'll be plenty soon enough if you keep eyeballing me like that, if you're not above cannibalism, that is."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:08 am
"Trickly little b***h," was the hyenas reply. It was said with a muted expression which quickly turned into a smile. "With a pretty little face."
Despite the urge to do otherwise, Matifu kept his stance stoic and his mind working. He did not bother to correct Shumbi on her behavior. It would look as though they had not planned things out. They hadn't, but the hyenas didn't know that.
"This is your only warning," he said instead. It was bad that he was giving them a warning. He would have preferred to have gone straight to physical power to drive them out. Not now. Too dangerous.
"We'll consider your lovely little offer." The brown one was speaking again. "Lions." His lips parted over his teeth and then the hyena crouched down and tiptoed his way back towards his group. It seemed reason enough for them, for now, to vacate the area. But, Matifu thought they'd be close. He'd take at least two of the other males and a few females with him the next time. He had not expected there to be five at this point. It had been naive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:13 am
She'd take the insult as a compliment. She could be a b***h, she knew it, and she was damn proud of it at times, plenty of times, but they weren't worth the effort of explaining that. She kept quiet from there, all charged up for a fight now with no one to take on. Her ears twitched atop her head with agitation, and once the canines were heading out of earshot she gave a huff of annoyance, not even suspecting that Matifu might have been displeased with her response. She was her mother's daughter above all else, and neither female had been known for holding back because the odds were bleak.
Unfortunately.
It was a trait that was being curbed as hunting within the brave group went on. She was taking in as much as she could from Asali and the wisdom the older female had to offer, but she was still a little hot blooded, as made apparent just now.
"I hate hyenas." She muttered tersely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:24 am
When the last, short tail had disappeared in the distance, Matifu turned to Shumba.
It was clear she was still agitated, so he pushed his nose to her cheek and gave her a reassuring bump with that nose.
"You did well." She had not tried to strike, that had been well enough.
"Time to do something a little less stressful." The implication was clear in the tone of his voice and his position at her side. His muzzle had not yet moved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
