[Private] Shades of the Flame [w/ Iri]

[Zoketi]

This is the story of two fierce rogues, their meeting, and how it impacted their life.

Kaharabu - scarred large grey lioness with amber eyes [Zoketi]
Chaltuu - scarred big reddish lioness with green eyes [Iri]

Around three years old, Kaharabu was fit and in her prime, with youth still trailing behind her. She'd been on her own for some time, and was a force to be reckoned with in any case. Larger than average, with powerful muscles and a clever mind. Ruthless, and often downright cruel. The brutish female was perched on a wide rock that was situated in an open grassland, observing the lazy movement of wildebeest and antelope. It was a dull day as any other, but unbeknownst to her things would change very soon. Amber eyes darted over the green landscape, and sharp claws tapped against the stone.

[Iri]

Chaltuu checked to make sure that she was well-obscured in the dense foliage, as she crouched down. Though her dark reddish-brown pelt undoubtedly made her stand out against the pale golden-yellow grass of the savanna and certainly made it difficult for her to become camouflaged, she managed to conceal herself in the thick underbrush. She hunched her shoulders and lowered her head, sniffing the ground, searching for any trace of nearby antelope. Of course, she could move to another hiding place, but if she attempted to do so, that meant she risked being spotted by even a distant herd, and that was the last thing she wanted. She cautiously, slowly, crept forward, making sure to keep herself hidden among the tall grass. Her pale green eyes were narrowed, and she periodically checked to make sure she wasn't in danger of snapping a stick, kicking a stone, or basically doing anything to alert a herd that a predator was among them.

[Gosh, that took a long time, didn't it? Sorry about that.]

[Zoketi]

Kaharabu's jaws stretched wide in a dull yawn, and she snapped her teeth together, releasing a low sigh from her maw. Blinking her vivid gaze around, she trailed past the figures of ungulates, watching them amble about grazing on the long grass. It was tempting to hunt. Perhaps that would ease up the boredom, anyhow. The grey lioness slunk off her rock and into the tall grass, shaking her coat and flexing her paws against the terrain. She lifted her head, ears twitching, to start picking out a possible target. Antelope seemed the best way to go, as she didn't want to bother trying to take down a wildebeest--and then not even be able to eat it all. Though she doubted she could finish a whole antelope either. Flicking her tail, her orange gaze locked on a young female on the outskirts. Yes. Kaharabu began to slink closer, getting in range to where she could start the chase.

[ no worries <3 ]

[Iri]

[Daaaaarn, you're a good writer. o_o
-Applauds-]

Chaltuu paused every few moments to eye the herd and its movements, watching them intently. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a distant female, who seemed to be stalking towards a young antelope. The lioness appeared to be alone, like Chaltuu herself. Ignoring the female, she lowered herself onto the ground, even more so than before, so that her stomach nearly touched the ground. She needed to stay as close to the ground as physically possible, as she was venturing further and further into the clearing, where the grass was shorter, presumably not tall enough to conceal her completely.
After she was satisfied that she was hidden well enough, her lime-green eyes scanned the plain thoroughly. Perhaps a young adolescent would make a decent meal, easy to finish but also enough to fill up her complaining stomach. As she stared out over the grass, she fixed her harsh stare on a female ungulate who looked like she had strayed a bit too far from her herd, and Chaltuu couldn't subdue a small smirk, but it faded as soon as she realized that the lioness she previously noticed no more than a few minutes ago was also stalking the same antelope.

[Yeah, sorry, I made Chaltuu and Kaharabu in a close range. I didn't want them to be traveling uphill, in the snow, both ways, to find each other.]

[Zoketi]

[ thank you! xD You're a great writer too! And lol. ]

Scuffing her claws against the soil, she kept her gaze fixed, not daring to loose the antelope within the mass of browns. However, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a flash of vivid red, enough to turn her attention briefly away from the prey. Another lion. Lioness. The scowl that already rested on her face became harder, and she gave a lash of her tail. As long as that one kept away and didn't ruin Kaharabu's hunt. Licking her muzzle, she returned her eyes to the herd, quickly picking out her target again. She continued onwards, gliding through the tall grass, towards the group of grazing animals.

When she was close enough she halted, keeping the crouch, and glared forwards. This wouldn't be hard...but...wait. Was the red female eyeing the same antelope that Kaharabu herself was going for? Her muzzle scrunched into a snarl. Oh no, she wouldn't have that. No more waiting. The big grey feline launched herself out of the grass with a hiss, barreling towards the herd. The prey scattered and fled with loud cries, while Kaharabu kept her gaze locked on the young female, unwilling to let this end badly.

[Iri]

Chaltuu curled her lip in a disparaging sneer as she saw the lioness charging at the herd, evidently lunging for the young ungulate. Although Chaltuu was intelligent, that never stopped her from making impulsive, rash decisions, and this was not the first, nor would it be the last, time she let her competitiveness get in the way of her senses. She as well started to stampede towards the antelope, her tail lashing. She emitted deep, hostile snarls from her throat as she bolted towards the young female antelope, unsheathing her long, curved claws. She knew, despite what she wanted to believe, that the other lioness- was she a rogue, perhaps?- had been closer and would have a better chance of snagging it for herself.

Not sure whether she was trying to alert the lioness or the prey, Chaltuu let out a powerful, clearly audible bellow. Although she wasn't as swift as some due to her bulky and muscular build rather than being speedy and lithe, she was mustering all the strength she could to dash forward, trying to get ahead of the other lioness. Chaltuu refused to let the other female catch the first prey that she had found in four days that wasn't a scrawny hare or something of the sort.

[Zoketi]

Scrambling through the mass of fleeing ungulates, Kaharabu kept her vision locked on the young antelope. It was hard, as many others crossed in between, and their colors so similar it became a blur sometimes. But she was used to it, and continued after her charge. As she ran she made out loud growls coming from her right. That other lioness was after her prey. She didn't dare break her gaze to look over at the red feline, too determined on chasing down her quarry. The bellow was a warning, but Kaharabu paid no mind. That was her prey. Hers. She raced onwards, closing in on the antelope. She was ahead, but she knew she wasn't fast. She'd have to take it down quickly, and then probably defend her kill. Kaharabu swung out her paws and tackled the ungulate, smashing down on it. As fast as she could her jaws were locked on the thing's mouth to suffocate it.

[Iri]

The reddish-brown lioness snarled angrily under her breath as she skidded to an abrupt halt, watching the other female cutting off the air of the ungulate. She immediately twisted to the side, throwing herself hastily in a large area of tall grass. Chaltuu righted herself quickly and peered at the other lioness through the towering golden-yellow grass, her lip curling. She perched herself on a fallen log, observing the other female rogue- it seemed she was a rogue, anyway, what with her scars and the fact that she was completely alone- intently. Chaltuu's tail lashed impatiently as she waited, and after a couple of minutes of the antelope struggling and thrashing, she saw it jerk feebly until it was completely still. Would she have to fight for the ungulate, she wondered? Typically, she caught her own prey and seldom stole from anyone or grappled with the one who originally hunted it just so she could eat, but she supposed this was one of those rare occasions where she would have to make an exception... Theft of prey never really bothered her all that much, anyway. Stealing someone else's kill was something she could do easily without feelings of guilt or shame tugging at her conscience. After all, there were no laws when it came to rogues such as herself. Unless properly defended, prey belonged to nobody in particular and was fair game in her perspective.

[These two sure are competitive... o.o
Also, sorry I made the antelope die quickly. I feel like a writhing antelope with its air cut off wouldn't last very long.]

[Zoketi]

[ xD And lol yes it would die fast, that's fine ]

Releasing the now deceased antelope, she cast her gaze around expectantly for the other rogue she'd seen. There she was, over on a log. Kaharabu's bloodstained muzzle curled in a snarl again as she faced the reddish lioness. She wasn't about to give up her meal. Planting herself squarely over the dead ungulate, she watched the other feline warily. Part of her wanted to jibe and induce a fight, but she kept her jaws shut for now, clinging to a last hope that the other would leave. Though she doubted that would happen. Kaharabu lowered her muzzle briefly to nudge her face against the carcass, starting to open it up. Slowly, eagerly, as if taunting the feline on the log.

[Iri]

Chaltuu bolted from her perch on the log, her lip curled in a sneer. She snarled, standing a few metres away from the other female. Her hackles raised and bristled, and her long, sharp claws unsheathed. Emitting low, hostile snarls from her throat, she slowly, but not hesitantly, crept towards the lioness, clearly displaying that she was willing to fight for the kill, even she herself hadn't caught it. She began to revolve around the female and the antelope carcass, her almond-shaped pale green eyes blazing with aggression. She refused to flee without a fight, even if it resulted in her getting severe injuries- the other lioness looked like she was ready to defend her prey at any cost.

[I know lions have no idea what almonds are.
Also, I just realized that neither one of them has spoken so far in the entire RP. I don't mind though. xD]