Self rp between two of my characters.
The hot sun beat down on the golden sand as the air was thick. Heat waves could be seen coming off the dunes. The desert was such an unforgiving place at times, and others, it could provide. It was finicky, and thus, a lion had to have courage and wits to live in such a place. The bright red lion stood out against the golden sands, but so did the adolescence next to him as well. The pair called this place home, as did a whole pride. Vanhi gazed around the dunes. They were on a mission today. It was hunting lesson day for his son. Purple orbs turned to gaze at his son with such pride. He had grown up to become such a fine lion, like he knew his son would. It just pained him a bit that he couldn’t call his son “son” upon the agreement he made with the mother when the cubs were conceived. No matter, he had helped to bring new blood into the pride.
Today was the mark of a great and wonderful day. Canicus got to spend time with his uncle and learn how to hunt! While he didn’t dream of becoming a hunter, it doesn’t hurt to know basic hunting skills in the event he gets trapped in the desert due to some kind of weather and he needs some food to eat. While his siblings were still immature and didn’t dwell on adult things like he did, this was a golden opportunity for him. Especially since his uncle appeared very eager to teach him too. So here he was, next to his uncle’s large frame, in the hot desert farther out from the pride. He dared not to speak until his uncle spoke first. The last thing he wanted to do was to mess something up, especially since this was his first time!
Purple orbs were searching the ground for traces of traces. They had to be around here somewhere. They usually were, as the herd of oryx typically strayed in a few areas that he had stumbled upon. It would be the best and easiest way to show his son how to track and hunt for food. As Vanhi searched for some clues, it took some digging before his eyes widen. Ah! Here it was! He shifted his gaze back to his son as he motioned him to come closer. “Canicus, come here.” Once his son was by his side, he motioned to the sand in front of him. There was a very faint impression of hooves, as the wind was constantly changing and shifting the dunes that tracks could get lost very easily. “The smallest, faintest signs are what we’re looking for Canicus. This isn’t the grasslands, the desert is very unforgiving as it’ll erase tracks as soon as they appear. So you have to constantly be searching for anything,” He paused briefly, “You see the shape of the hoof here at this impression? Do you notice how there are two large imprints and then two tiny ones beneath it? The larger prints are the front of the hoof, and the point will tell you what direction our pray is.”
When his uncle stopped, he looked at looked at him curiously. Something had his attention and he wanted to know what! It didn’t take long for his uncle to speak softly. His uncle’s words were clear and concise, easy to understand as he nodded every now and then to let his uncle know he is listening. “I see, Uncle. So the print is kind of the opposite of ours, where it is larger in the front than the back. I got it.” He nodded in understanding. “How do you know if the track is recent?”
The question was common and he knew his son would ask sooner or later. “You can tell by how deep it is and how clear it is. See how the track is noticeable but that the wind is slowly blowing it away? That’s how you can tell if it’s fresh or not. Tracks don’t last long in the desert and this is a good sign for us. Let’s head in the direction that the tracks are pointing.” He took one last look at the tracks before stalking of in the direction he had motioned to his son. Silence surrounded the pair before he spotted a pile of oryx droppings. This was a rare treat indeed. What a great day! He paused to look at his son before talking, “See this pile of droppings? This is a great sign! The way to tell that this pile is fresh is by the color. The darker the color, the fresher the trail. Another way is whether there are heat waves coming from the pile. Because this comes from inside the body, it is naturally very hot. If the pile is old, it’ll be cold and there will be no heat waves surrounding it.” He explained to his son.
This was rather easy to understand and he was grateful that his uncle was patient and understanding that this was all new to him. He nodded and followed quietly. Once they stopped, he stepped forward to take a closer look. His uncle’s words wrapped themselves around his mind as he absorbed them eagerly. “I see, Uncle. It makes sense, since the sun will bake it and it’ll change. Just like everything else in the desert.”
“Very good, Canicus. If you can remember these tips, you’ll be able to find food for yourself in the event that something shifts in the desert and you are required to do so. For now, let’s go before the trail gets cold.” He spoke before stalking off in the direction of their search. He was careful as they went over dunes, and to make sure that the wind carried their scent in a downward direction and away from them. After some time of walking through the hot desert, they peaked over a dune and a herd was spotted some distance away. He paused and went back slightly to crouch low to the ground to hide himself from sight. He motioned for his son to do the same. “We have found them.” He whispered quietly. “Now the hard part begins. You must first look at the herd and determine which will be the easiest and best kill. Never go for the adults that appear alive and healthy. You are either to kill an elderly oryx or a young oryx. While it might seem cruel to kill a youngest, you must realize that the adults can always produce another one. But if you kill off healthy, fertile adults, you are left with a herd that will perish very quickly.” He informed his son.
Canicus nodded. He would have gone after the adults, had his uncle not said otherwise. His uncle’s logic was sound, so this is why they either had many small meals or one large one. “I see Uncle.”
Now that the pair was here, purple orbs gazed over the herd and picked out one that would be easy for the pair to get. After picking out an elderly one, he looked back to his son, “Do you see that one to the far right, kind of away from the pride. That one is injured. You can see by the angle it is holding its leg. That is the one we will go after. Now please follow me, and today, you shall get your first kill. Are you ready?”
Looking at the one his uncle pointed out, Canicus nodded his head. He was eager and raring to go! “I am ready Uncle!”
“Alright then. On my mark!” He went down the dune with his son following him. After doing some maneuvers, the pair managed to fell the elderly, injured oryx and thus concluding Canicus’ first lesson in tracking and hunting.
Word count - 1,316
