Pride of Exiles

[Ravvij]

"This one is going to be trouble." Kaith thought to herself. She waited for Rav's decision, however, before she made a move.
"How far did they chase you from yout kill?" Rav asked, "I don't want to remain here incase those DOGS come back with more." Rav caught Skauti's glances toward Laini. He didn't think much of it until he realized the younger lion was somewhat attracted to her, This he knew, he'd need to deal with when they were alone; he and the younger male.
While he conversed, Rav lead the group out into the open. The sun was still high and had begun it's decent. The winds seemed to be favorable for the time being and no sign of other predators was present.

[TheWhistlerify]

When Skauti mentioned his kill from earlier, Laini obviously began to wonder whether going back for it was worth the risk. True, they'd killed quite a few of the hyenas, but who knew? There was also a chance that the kill had already been devoured. But since it wasn't her call to make, she didn't voice her thoughts on the matter. The young lioness hasn't noticed the younger male's occassional glances in her direction because she kept looking Rav over as he led the way.

His wounds didn't seem to be bothering him too much, so she made herself a mental note to tend to them again later if he'd want her to. She gave Rav another quick nuzzle as they walked before looking back at their new group member. "It's pretty amazing that a lion your age is hunting and taking care of himself." she said with a smile, obviously wanting him to feel more comfortable around them. "So what brought you to be on your own to begin with?" She was also curious to know more about him. "And where are you headed?" No place in particular, probably...

[Gemini]

Skauti's ears flattened quizzically, confused with the strange look that came across the male's face. Perhaps Rav thought that his intention was to steal his companion away, in which case it might pay to be a bit more careful. He had little interest in lionesses, and besides - even though he wasn't sure on their exact relationship yet, it seemed that the older male had more than claimed her already. It was best to leave it be.

Oh, well... there's more important things to worry about, anyways. It seems he is the leader of this group.

The dark lion cleared his throat and held his head up, trying to look the bigger male in the eye and only barely succeeding due to their height difference.

"Well, it's not far from here. I think most of them went after me, so it might still be there. Hopefully with four they'll leave us alone." And more importantly, he added to himself, he would get to eat something. It was about time.

Skauti followed the group out of the corridor without hearing any further word from the lion on the matter. If they decided to go back to the gazelle, he would need to lead them as he was the only one who knew where it was, but in the meantime he merely tagged along, trying not to get too close to the lions. Doing so might upset them, and the last thing he needed was an injury to look after.

His reverie was abruptly cut into when he saw Laini walking alongside him, her expression reflecting polite interest. It was a nice gesture, he had to admit, and it seemed as though her gentle nature was shining through as she approached him, trying to make him feel comfortable.

How cute. If he didn't feel so distant from other lions in general, he might have thought something of it, but as it was, the message that the older male was sending made Skauti a bit uneasy. This lioness might mean trouble for him. So he tried his best to answer politely.

"I suppose it is..." At first, her compliment sent him a shot of confidence, but once she started questioning his past, he bristled softly. "And me? Heh. I'm not headed anywhere. Why should I have a goal in mind when it's all the same wherever you go? Life is a struggle. And I..." he trailed off. "I am destined to struggle alone."

He trotted ahead after that and left her walking next to Rav, under the pretext that he was leading them to the kill. On the inside, though, Laini's queries made him uncomfortable. While he appreciated the sentiment, and her effort to be nice to him, it all made him a bit wary. Surely it was better if he didn't get too attached to these lions. After several paces, he turned around, his tail flicking softly.

"Well, are we headed back there, or no?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini was confused at how Skauti appeared to be somewhat more comfortable in talking to her and yet kept losing his confidence a little every now and then, having not noticed the way Rav kept looking at the younger male. His answer seemed to sadden her a little, actually. "Nobody wants to be alone..." she said softly, her ears dropping against her head as Rav continued to lead the way. How could anyone truly want to be in complete solitude? It made no sense at all to the young lioness. "You don't have to live that sort of life..."

[Gemini]

Skauti heard the young female answer, and his ears instinctively flipped, lips twisting. How was the best way to put this?

"I'm sorry, Laini, but you're wrong. Perhaps a pride lion wouldn't understand, but some do prefer to be alone. Especially when any other choice only hurts." He pressed his jaws together tightly, feeling a bit conflicted. For some reason, he found himself concerned for her feelings, even though, in his experience, groups of lions almost never cared for his. Perhaps that was another of his foibles - in any case, he needed to be stronger, and he found his speech sounding a bit hostile without his intending to.

"A beautiful lioness like you can get somebody to love them. But it's not like that for everyone."

His tail flicked in a myriad of emotions - frustration, fear, unease... he tried to hide it, but his emotions were still hard to control on the occasion that they surfaced. So he only grunted, looking away. It would be better for both of them if she let it end there.

[Ravvij]

Rav nuzzled Laini's cheek with his nose to comfort her. He wasn't sure how much good it would do her but he wanted to try.
Kaith still didn't like Skauti's attitude. She never got along with lions that preferred to be alone. She understood them, but often she found them to be selfish and uncaring towards the group. "The group must consider what is best for all, not just one." she said shortly.
"We'll go hunting." he stated, "And if we come across your kill on the way I'd be more than grateful if you'd share it with us."
Rav lead them back into the field and they all began to track and sniff out prey. Kaith would hold her nose high in the air while Rav kept his close to the earth. They turned over dust and dirt and other signs that told them that a herd had been there, but to their dismay, it seemed the hyenas had scared off the herds with their ravenous attack earlier.
Kaith grimaced at a thought that grew in her mind. What if she had to go back and devour one of the slain hyenas? All because the gazelle Skauti killed might not be big enough. Her stomach turned over at the very thought and she had to keep herself from gagging.
They'd come up on Skauti's kill. When they saw it they were...

[Gemini]

Skauti's ears flattened at the words of the mysterious older lioness. As it was, he had a lot to say to that, but he also felt that it wasn't the time or place to bring it up.

Still, though, it was easy for lions like them to say that. They were in power and they took their responsibility seriously. In short, everybody respected and appreciated them. But what were you supposed to do otherwise? What were you supposed to do if, say, the group interest was to hurt you, or to drag you down? What then? Was he supposed to just continue on and let his dignity wither away? He wasn't sure how anyone could defend something like that, but prides had a way of excluding a certain few at whim. As it was, he could barely stand the idea of suffering at the fringes of a group like that again.

Alas, though, he didn't expect them to understand. So he didn't say anything, and was secretly relieved when the older male continued talking.

"Good idea," he agreed, "my kill should be over this way, but that won't be enough to fill the stomachs of four. As it was, I was only hunting for one..."

He stopped, thinking that he smelled the remains of the gazelle, and his nose twitched subtly.

"Over here," he directed, finding it much harder to see in the glaring light of the sunset. After a few moments, however, the strong, sharp odor had led him to the dead prey he had killed earlier.

As it was, it had been slightly disturbed, with a few stray claw marks and a few big chunks missing... but it seemed as though the hyenas' plan had rested solely on chasing and killing him first, and then going back for the gazelle... which had obviously failed seeing as how most of the group had died in assailing them.

That said, though, he was still wary. There was no telling if any more stragglers were still in the area.

"Here, one of you should keep watch... I don't like how bold those hyenas were getting..."

His tail flicked softly as he motioned for the other lions to eat, though it did not stop him from tearing off a piece himself. After all, it was his kill, so he thought it was only fair that he be allowed to eat his fair share of it. He could only wonder if the other lions wouldn't try to take too much from him. After all, they were so much bigger and could easily overpower him. Obviously they knew that, and he couldn't help but think, with a pang of frustration, that life would be so much easier if he weren't so small. The larger lions always managed to command respect regardless of who they were or how they acted.

... Just like those senseless brutes back home...

[TheWhistlerify]

If anything, Skauti's answer only made Laini even more confused (so confused, in fact, that she'd failed to notice the rather cold tone in which he spoke - something which would have otherwise made her feel uncomfortable). Why would choosing to be alone be a worse option than having some company? And what made the adolescent believe that he couldn't get anybody to love and care for him? Sure, some lions weren't as pleasant as others, but the young lioness believed that they were all good at heart at the end of the day.

As much as she wanted to tell Skauti just that, she held herself from doing so. Yes, she had caught onto the hints that, deep inside, the younger male wished it could be different, but she could also tell that he was in no mood to discuss the matter further. But she wasn't going to give up that quickly. If she could help him get accustomed to not living a lonely life, then she would gladly do it. Perhaps trying to bring the subject up again later, when Skauti would be calmer and they wouldn't be in the company of anybody else, would be a good idea.

Taking comfort in Rav's short nuzzle against her cheek, Laini said nothing else to the adolescent as they continued to make their way towards where he'd left his kill behind. They found it after a while, and Laini could immediately tell that there would almost certainly not be enough meat for all four of them. She was about to tell Skauti that he should eat first, since it was his kill, but he beat her to it by tearing himself a peace.

The young lioness had no intention of not letting get his fair share of the dead gazelle; not only because he'd hunted it himself and was kind enough to agree to share it with them but also because she knew that, in a pride, cubs and pregnant lionesses were to always eat first. Since she was definitely not pregnant and since Skauti was an adolescent, it only made sense for him to eat first and until he was no longer hungry.

[Ravvij]

Kaith pulled up next to Rav and sat next to him. "I think we should let the smaller ones eat and then we'll go looking for another hunt." she suggested.
"I agree. You two should eat. If we start we wont stop." he said in a very matter-of-fact tone.
Kaith looked around for any signs of food. She thought she saw something moving but couldn't make it out. She bumped Rav, who had sat down next to her, and pointed out what she was. It looked to him like a mass of bodies, possibly prey. They were short and somewhat sluggish. He would make it a point to go see them in a minute or so.

After a short while, the two elder lions lead a hunt for more meat. They went to the place where Kaith had spotted the movement and, sure enough, once Rav got close enough he could see that it was a small group of boars. Rav's mouth salivated and he looked over to the others. He motioned for Kaith and Laini to go around the left and he and Skauti would go around the right.

[Gemini]

Skauti had watched his larger companions out of the corner of his eye as he and Laini snacked on the kill he had made. He bit and tore off some good sized chunks, swallowing them quickly and without much effort - eating quickly was something he'd been in the habit of doing all his life, in order that he would not be chased away from his meals. Especially now, when it took quite a bit of trouble to procure something suitable to feed him, the importance of chowing down could not be understated. He could sense, rather foggily, that Laini was struggling to keep up with him, though there seemed to be enough for them both. The other lioness was slowing down, and he seemed to be nearing full capacity, himself.

He then proceeded to lick the blood away from his paws and face, listening to his elders' plan as he groomed himself down thoroughly. If there was one thing he hated, it was the feeling of caked blood under his claws and in his fur. Thus, he made sure to clean every last drop of it off, while Laini absently sucked on the marrow.

His tail moved as he continued to bathe himself, accidentally brushing against her flank. He stiffened in surprise. That wasn't what he'd wanted to do.

-------------------------

Skauti crouched, snaking along the ground with a careful set of movements. He was already fed, but he figured it couldn't hurt to tag along, given that there might be some meat left for him later. If there was a chance for him to have, perhaps, two meals before leaving for the mountains, he wasn't about to pass that up. Besides, hunting tended to work better when it was in groups, anyway - there was less pressure on him to perform perfectly at this point.

He moved to the right, as the older lion had directed, and the two of them snuck into position. Skauti found that he was a bit too close to the other male for his liking, and cast him a nervous glance before taking a few more steps away, awaiting the signal to strike. There didn't seem to be any specific formation or tactic they were trying out, merely doing a grab-bag kind of take-what-you-can-get-your claws hunt, though that suited the young lion fine. There were plenty of boars in front of them, and besides that, the young lion was used to hunting alone anyways. Group strategies were not his forte.