Skauti stopped once he'd killed the boar, and stood over it silently. He'd looked away, his face cast in shadow, as he momentarily wallowed in a sharp pang of jealousy. Of course. It was just like his old pride. He could be the best hunter, but nobody would ever recognize him for it. Perhaps it was better that he be alone. Once this stint in the mountains was over...
His ears pricked suddenly. This time it was the older lioness addressing him, and in a few moments she had shortly and aptly described her sense of pleasure in his hunting skills. Her compliment, in turn, caught Rav and Laini's attention, and before he knew it the entire group was watching him earnestly, faint smiles on their faces.
The young lion felt his pelt bristle, surprised and a bit nervous at suddenly having all this attention.
"Well, it just kind of happened, I mean, it's not my best," he puffed up slightly, before realizing that he was probably taking this too far. Thus Skauti relaxed with a sigh, his ears drooping and his face locked into what seemed to be an appreciative smile. "Thank you."
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Night had fallen and the younger lion had finished with his meal. He hadn't eaten much, as the gazelle he had killed earlier had mostly been enough. Instead, he had simply waited for the other lions to finish eating, casting a few impatient glances around as they filled their stomachs. Finally, after some time spent grooming, they were ready to continue on their way, with Skauti leaving most of his mutilated kill behind.
Inwardly, he sighed. If it weren't for the other lions, he wouldn't have had to hunt again, and he wouldn't have had to waste that boar. Such a shame. Although something told him that being in a group would make it easier to catch food, his instincts still told him that food was hard to come by and that wasting a meal like that was never a good idea.
The lion sighed as they found an umbrella tree to spend the night at. As it was, his legs ached, and the day had been a pretty tiring one. He was more than ready to get some rest. As expected, Laini was already cuddled up against Rav and ws busy smooching and touching and giggling and gawking at him. Figured. Again, it was just like his old pride - everyone else had their close friends they'd known since birth, their future mates, their little groups with their silly antics and games and fun pastimes. And where had he been? He'd never belonged in that pride. While they were playing their stupid games, he'd been bettering himself, spending many countless hours under the burning sun trying to run and leap and hunt, wishing he could care for himself like a fully-grown lion... even though he was barely big enough to be a threat to anything aside from a mouse.
Still, he'd tried. But it was no less difficult as time went on. Only when he'd run away was he truly free, he found.
At the end of the day, he had no doubts that those two were just like those lions. He'd probably been there for her since birth, cuddling her and confiding in her and giving her someone who loved her. Some, like her, had that. But others did not. And those who did usually did not know how lucky they were.
He sighed, leaping into the tree and curling into one of the branches, trying his best to ignore the two love-doves down below. His claws scratched at the bark, an ample show of his frustration... and it was only then that he realized he wasn't alone. For the older lioness, too, had found the tree a great place to sleep. Skauti grimaced, hoping he hadn't awoken her, as she intimidated him somewhat... but still she noticed, and seemed to turn her head to look at him.
The young lion stiffened, awaiting her reaction...