[Request] Subconscious Lessons

[Ushujaa]

Jake had lucked out not once but twice, he had been confronted with two meat eaters and both decided to let him live. How long could this good fortune last? With another predator on its way, only time would tell.

The stout lioness was obviously confused. Did he know the blacked out lion? Barely, but that's not something he could tell her. Kind of... Looking at the baffled expression on her face reminded Jake of how confused he was himself. He started to zone out. Just how exactly did he become a meerkat? He knew his school nurse did something to him, but he was still unsure of exactly how it happened. He tried to remember, but it was all just a blur to him. Well, none of that mattered now, what did matter was surviving through this crazy experience. Without his new friend that could prove very difficult.

Jake snapped out of his trance when the lioness offered him a chance at hiding. I- I think you're right... Thanks He looked back down at his friend You better be alright... Without making a sound Jake climbed to the top of the tree, once he was safely out of harms way he looked around to see what was coming and hoped for the best. It was really all he could do, he wouldn't be much help in a fight and if sleepy didn't wake up Jake certainly wouldn't be able to carry him to safety.

It seemed like since Jake had found himself in this strange existence all he had been doing was either running away or pleading for his life. He thought back to every single kid he pushed around. Something irked inside him, what was this feeling? He tried to ignore it and focus, he knew somehow he would find a way to figure this all out later, hopefully.

[TheRoguePrince]

Keto stalked through the semidarkness in the canyon, making his way swiftly toward the scene of his brother's incident. He blamed himself for his brother's misfortune and desired nothing more than to set it right. Before him, through the mirky light, stood an imposing form that seemed to be a lioness. Regardless of the fact that a lioness was nearly no threat normally, she was a stranger and stood between him and his unconcious brother. That was a problem, and it would soon be resolved, even if it required force to do so... Keto snarled as he drew yet nearer, he could just make out the forms before him. It was time to make an entrance.

A life of being a rogue had left it's mark on the brothers. Each was marked by countless engagements, and each was more fierce than the had once been. Despite that, they were not villainous. There was a difference between justice and vengeance, and it wouldn't do to be rash in a situation like this. No, he would talk with this lioness before he made a decision on whether or not he would attack her to save his brother. An imposing presence wouldn't hurt though, so Keto kept walking, claws scratching the ground and a low growl permiating the silence. Added to this was his mucsular appearance and dark coloration. Overall, a very satifying effect.

He wondered one thing however, how had she ever managed to ambush Kasi? Kasi was the fastest lion he had ever seen, so obviously he hadn't seen her in advance. Perhaps it had something to do with that peculiar scent he had picked up, maybe a lure? Either way, he would find out, then get his brother out of there. Of course there was always the chance of trouble, so better to be careful. At any time the odds could turn, one lioness could turn out to be a hunting party. That would not be good for a rogue to engage, not at all...

[Alicia]

Mipa held her ground as the male came towards her, ears flat against her neck, partially hidden behind her big cheeks. She snarled, bearing her teeth and screwing up her nose, but the male just kept on coming.

“Stop right there,” she growled, voice echoing about the canyon. It sounded squeaky to her own ears.

He was a large male lion, coloured much like herself, and a good head higher than herself too – then again, most males were. He also looked angry. Did he know the male she’d hurt? Then she really was in trouble. They didn’t look anything alike though – completely different colours, and build... they were probably from different prides. Perhaps this was his territory.

She had an idea.

“Was it you who hurt my mate?” she said, taking a step forward, still crouched, fat tail lashing over her large posterior. “If this is your territory then we’ll leave. We don’t want to fight... but if you get any closer then don’t think I won’t!”

[TheRoguePrince]

"Huh?' Keto said, what was she talking about? She is standing right there over the prone body of his brother and she dares blame him for this? She was clearly up to something. Keto growled and drew closer, obviously not threatened by the chubby form of this lioness, who seemed to be desperate for escape. Then Keto had an idea, perhaps he could have a little fun with with her, she obviously didn't know that he was Kasi's brother. This could be fun...

"Oh, I'm afraid I must have missed the memo. I'm sure my own brother would have wanted me at his wedding. I had no idea he had an interest in lionesses such as you at the moment." She was obviously surprised with this news, and the look on her face was all to amusing to look at. Keto chuckled with a bit of derisive malice in his voice. He was no villain, but this girl was causing trouble, and he meant to stop it. Keto paced nearer, letting her have time to respond, he meant to hear this.

Whatever excuse she thought of next would be a great amusement to him. Would she actually claim to have married his brother without him knowing? That could be interesting, or maybe she would beg for mercy, which he kinda would have to grant. Either way, this was shaping up to be an eventful day indeed!

[Alicia]

"I said stay back!" Mipa lowered herself closer to the stony floor of the canyon. I'm not looking for a fight, but if you come closer I'll bloody your nose, she hoped her posture said. "If he's your brother, then I'm a spotless giraffe. You don't look anything alike."Then she had an idea.
"Look, there's one way we can deal with this: Let's wait for him to wake up. If he calls you brother, fine: take your brother and scurry off together. But if he calls me wife, then you'll leave us both alone. Does that sound fair?"
She crouched down again. Hopefully, she had just bought herself time... but it was clear she was going to need a miracle to get out of this. IF the large male intended the lithe male harm. There was no way she could protect anyone from this brute. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to get out of the way. Doing so seemed... cowardly. And I thought I was smart, she thought, then flicked a glance down at the sleeping male.

Wake up, you imbecile.

[TheRoguePrince]

Keto was about ready to just get it over with and take down this lioness. She was causing no end to trouble for him, and his patience was wearing thin. First she had had the audacity to claim that she was his own brother's mate, and now she is trying to say that Kasi wasn't his brother. Keto edged his way between Kasi and the lioness, this was not the time for something irrational to happen. She might get it into her head to use him as a hostage next.

"Fine," Keto said, "but when he names me brother, and he will, you had better be the one to get out of here, lest I get it in my head to pay you back for the trouble you're causing." Keto placed himself directly between the lioness and Kasi, not violently, but with enough force to make her see his displeasure. This could take a while, Kasi had lost a lot of blood, and it was all her fault.

Just wait till he wakes up.... then we'll see. Keto thought with a smirk. This lioness was in for quite a bit of trouble.

[Harvs]

Kasi ran through the flat desert canyon surface against his brother again. It seemed to him, in his own mind, that he hadn't raced Keto in ages. And surprisingly, Keto was keeping up. Kasi ran with great speed, but right behind him, Keto closed the gap. He had never been this fast in previous races. But then came the part that defined the winner: The Leap of Faith. Kasi had given it that name after the first race they had. There was a huge gap in the ground, about 20 yards long. Without the right speed and launch, the jumper would miss the next stretch of land.

He looked back at Keto and smiled at him. Then with all speed, he burst into a dash toward the Leap of Faith. The first few times were frightening, but after a while, making the leap became second nature. Kasi's front paws landed on the edge of the gap, soon followed by his hind paws. Stopping for a moment to regain himself, he pushed off with his hind paws as hard as possible.

Kasi flew through the air, the wind blowing his mane out of his right eye. It was a great feeling, like he could just spread wings and fly. Wouldn't that be something? A winged lion. But suddenly, the scenery of the canyon faded away into nothingness. It was all a dream.

Kasi awoke to an unfamiliar sight: night time in the canyon laying down. he blinked a few times to adjust to the light and looked up. At first, all he saw was a bright light, followed by complete darkness. Then shapes started to form... then colors. And finally, his sight came back to him. Kasi saw his brother on one side of him, and a large lioness on the other. Leaning away from the lioness and more toward Keto, he asked "Um... bro? What's going on?" he looked up at him with a severly confused expression on his muzzle.

He looked up at the tree that was directly above us and saw a vine dangling from a high branch. And then Kasi remembered what had happened. And the lioness who was there... she was a culprit. Kasi was literally roped into the situation, and this lioness could be directly responsible for delaying his return to the den. "Was it you who set up that trap?" Kasi asked the lioness, shifting a bit closer to Keto.

[TheRoguePrince]

"Like I said, go!" Keto said, and he meant every word. She was either gonna get out of there quick, or face his wrath. She had set a trap that had knocked out his brother, and that was no mean offense. Keto growled menacingly as he slowly paced toward the lioness. He had no intentions of killing today, but she was in a lot of trouble with him. She was a liar, and an incompitent fool. She didn't even have the courage to own up to her actions. That was the worst of it.

Turning his head to the side a bit, Keto spoke to his brother, "Are you alright?" He had lost a lot of blood, and not all of it might have been from knocking his head of the ground. He was clearly out of it. Kasi didn't seem to have much idea of the importance of the things going on. This lioness was a threat and here he was staring at a tree. True, that tree did have the vine in it that was the basis of the trap, and that could mean he knew what happened, but why did he keep looking up in it?

It was time that this all was resolved. Keto was tired of this situation, and didn't have any patience left for foolish excuses. It was time that the lioness was gone, and that the brothers got back to their cave. Food was waiting for Kasi, and it was best he get out of danger. Besides, he was scared of blood, and he was covered in it.

[Alicia]

Beautiful purple eyes reflected the light of the dimming sky, and Mipa stared back, dumbfounded.

"Was it you who set the trap?"

She shook herself, face creased with concern. "Yes. It's how I hunt. It wasn't meant for y-"

"Like I said: go!"

Mipa flinched, and carefully made her retreat, not turning her back on the lion pair until she was a good few yards back. Then she turned around and waddled away, though kept her ears trained backwards as far as they could go in case one of them decided to follow.

So they'd been brothers after all, despite looking almost like different species. And now she looked like a fool. Mate? Mipa, you idiot, she slapped her forehead, then huffed into the dirt before continuing on her waddle.

She'd never seen a lion like him though... so brightly coloured, and lithe of build. His eyes had been odd too - purple, of all colours! Maybe he was some strange mixture of cheetah and lion. That would explain the skinnyness. That would explain why he was out here alone too. Maybe his pride had rejected him.

Maybe they were adoptive brothers?

Then she stopped, remembering the meerkat in the tree. She turned around, but didn't look for long: if the cranky male saw her gawking he'd probably run snapping until she scaled the canyon walls out of fear. Instead she shuffled off to the next bend in the canyon and crouched down behind a boulder, a good hundred yards away. The light was fading very quickly now. She could scarcely see the ground at her paws. Instead she scratched out for herself a dusty little nest, and settled down on her tummy.

Tomorrow she'd find a way out of this canyon, and move on, far away from the males around whom she felt so humiliated.