[FIN] Jailbait (Parisa & Dwyllodrus)

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The black-furred Hunter was nosing around the central pride. Because he could. He'd thought about being a Guard like his mother, but Dwyllodrus didn't have as much a mind for politics.

Okay, Tyfu wasn't big on politics either. But she was a lot more willing to deal with them than Dwyllo was. He just liked to slice things up with his claws.

Still, there were some benefits to politics. The King pretty much let Tyfu and a few others do as they pleased. And he had a gorgeous black-furred Queen, the young lion thought, seeing the lioness herself coming near.

"Good evening Your Majesty," he offered a bow. Really, she couldn't do better politically, but he was still younger than the King. By a lot. And she was sooooo pretty.  

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The younger lion offered a toothy smile to his Queen. "Why, you don't think they need me around to cause trouble, do you? They do just fine on their own." He wasn't a leader by any means, but the young male had gathered together a few...similarly minded lions.

Needless to say, any meat they brought back to the pride was usually in many small pieces already.

"And what of yourself, milady?" Dwyllodrus continued, deflecting the conversation back to the Queen.  

[mouselet]

"What's going on?" The black male cocked his head as he considered that. "Well, I know a big hunting party just left. Um, Royal Guards and Guards are patrolling, Mom went stalking...something or somebody, oh, and that crazy huntress is still crazy."

Dwyllodrus looked up at Parisa to see if any of his list had caught her attention. If he had to choose, he would have gone with watching his mother work.

It didn't occur to him that the Queen might have feelings of inadequacy and that he himself might be contributing to such. In fact, if her dilemma had been brought up to him, his solution would have been rather straightforward - keep trying until she succeeded.  

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"I'm not sure," Dwyllodrus admitted with a smile. His mother didn't usually brag about what she did to others, though she never denied her actions. It was her stated opinion that she didn't have to talk about what she'd done.

After all, a pride lived on gossip.

"I've been trying, but since she said we're not allowed to shred pridemembers unless if they really really ask for it, and we have to get her or Firaga's permission just in case, I'd rather hunt." He wasn't actually certain if all those rules still applied, but Mom had made clear many moons ago that if he was going to make someone bleed, she'd better be on board with it or it would be his hide that was decorated with long bloody streaks.  

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"It's a lot more fun," the lion agreed. "Especially since we get to kill them in the end." The "we" in these cases referred not only to Dwyllodrus and his siblings, but also those others who happened to share his and his mother's views on what "acceptable behavior" meant.

"You could always join us," he offered the Queen. "Though I'm sure it would be better if it wasn't a major hunt and if it wasn't too far away." People seemed to get upset when things happened to lions with power. There'd been a lot of talk, he remembered, when the King named a new Shaman.  

[mouselet]

"Of course Milady," the younger lion replied with a bow. It wasn't graceful, but there was respect conveyed which was, frankly, all that most expected of Tyfu and her children.

"Good hunting," Dwyllodrus called after the Queen. He didn't know what she was looking for, of course, but he didn't doubt that she'd find it.

He, on the other hand, had the sudden urge to torture small animals. Perhaps grasshoppers tonight...?