Being Hunted (Dark Huntress & Malenga)

[Dark Huntress]

Changa rolled his eyes. "No. I don't see, smell, or hear anything but a prissy princess," Changa laughed, loving how annoyed Lesedi got. "You know you love me," he said as sauntered by her and nodded as if to confirm himself. He grinned as she gave him an unbelieving look and stalked past him. "Moody!"
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"Oh, my paws, Jumo!" Amunet stood and slipped out of the grass lithely,"Can you sense, like, every girl in a hundred-yard radius?" She couldn't bring herself to look at Moyo, suddenly feeling a little angry at him for embarrassing her. "Whose the new guy?" She beckoned to the large, white rogue with an elegant paw.
"Kafele." He stated simply, meeting her blue-green eyes with his emerald ones unblinkingly. "Hey, look, Jumo," she elbowed Jumo playfully,"a man who actually makes eye contact." She laughed as she awaited his answer.
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Kafele chuckled to himself as the blonde lion ranted: victory was so sweet. His triumph was short lived as the brown lion, apparently "Jumo", addressed a lioness hiding in the grass. "Amunet", the lioness, appeared and immediately begin to kid with the brown one, laughing easily. She, however, seemed to avoid the dippy lion, something in her eyes he couldn't quite put his large paw on. He gave Jumo an expectant look, the erratic, playful lioness seeming to get him interested.

[Malenga]

"Hrmph," Lesedi grunted femininely, raising her brow at him. "And I'd love you even more if you would get your head out of the clouds and pay attention to what you have to do. And if that doesn't make you feel entitled to do your job better, then you should think about what queen Malenga will do to you if I tell her you did nothing while I was productive," Lesedi threatened. With a huff, she walked past him and attempted to find something else. There were no pawprints, scents left behind... for all she knew, she could have been going in the wrong direction. She figured that if Moyo were going to run away, he must have bounded out of the territory mark by now.

With a sigh, she trudged forward through the thick grass. Unsure of where the lion had gotten to, Lesedi growled in frustration. "Moyo, I swear to the Great Kings of the Past, when I get my claws on you, I'm going to stick them in you so deep, you'll be able to stick flowers into your neck." With that less-than-appetizing thought, the princess walked forward, not really intent on checking to see if Changa was behind her or not. By this rate, she could just tell Malenga whatever, and not feel bad about telling a lie.

~*~

As Jumo sat down, watching as Amunet walked closer to him, he continued to look down at her. His smile was small, but vacant. That kind of smile where he was obviously pleased with himself. "Could be," Jumo shrugged before looking to the two males, play fighting, "and it could also be because your tail was sticking up over the grass for a bit." Jumo flicked his ear, innocently looking back to her. Once Amunet began to joke with him, he merely allowed her to nudge him with her elbow before his mind started to play at the angle he would take to annoy her next. "Did you say something? I was too busy not making eye contact," Jumo replied, once again looking away from the lioness and over to the landscape this time.

Moyo looked forward, towards Amunet, as he was still pinned to the ground by the other lion. Once he noticed it was, indeed, her and not just his made up concussion playing with him, he turned his head away, using his optics to look in the opposite direction of her. But before long, Moyo sighed and looked back over at his betrothed. "How did you find me?" he asked her.

[Dark Huntress]

Changa rolled his blue eyes. "Calm down, Lezzy," he grinned as he called her his self-proclaimed nickname for her,"I'm keeping an eye out-I'll tell you if I see something." He flinched as she padded silently through the dry grass, realizing how much noise he was making. eesh, he thought,aren't I making lots of noise! He grinned a little as Lesedi made a frustrated growl.
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Amunet gave her tail a little glare. "You little betrayer!" She laughed again, then turned back to Jumo,"oh, you're usually ogling other things with those beautiful eyes of yours." She gave him a playful smile and whipped his leg with her tail. She turned to Kafele and gave him a curt nod. "Amunet," she elbowed Jumo,"and that's Jumoca, but we just call him "Jumo". What are you doing out here?"
The white lion shrugged. "I'm a rogue and you and your friends are in nomadic territory." Amunet looked down and lifted a dusty paw as if in disgust that she wasn't on her home turf. "Well...," she trailed off,"are we going to go, Jumo?" For once she was glad Jumo was there, otherwise she would've already had to speak to Moyo.

[Malenga]

'Lezzy' snarled. Rolling her eyes, she ignored Changa and kept walking forward. I love it when he calls me that, she thought. Though she thought such sweet things, she looked like she was ready to rip someone open. Stress did a number on this young princess, and most of the time she didn't even realize just how aggressive she was being. Although, she hoped Changa didn't mind. He sure seemed to handle her well enough.

Just as Lesedi snapped out of her thoughts, she noticed the sound of chatting going on. "Get down," she told the lion, leaping at him whilst using her weight to pull his head down. Hopefully, his butt wasn't sticking up. As Lesedi flicked her ears back and forth, she listened closely to see if it was the sound of familiar voices or potential enemies.

"You little betrayer!" said a lioness, who sounded far too similar to Amunet. Poking her head up, she used her rubies to make sure her assumption was correct. It was. She groaned, rolling back her eyes under closed lids before she poked her head up and walked through the grass.

"Do you know how far you are from the territory, guys? Come on, we have to get back before the queen finds out," Lesedi walked up to the others. Moyo, still underneath the rogue, watched as Lesedi came nearer. Once she made eye contact, Moyo stiffened.

"I'm out!" he cried, trying to lift off Kafele, but it was no good as Moyo had no more strength left in him from the fight.

"Moyo," Lesedi growled. Her fur began to stand on end, making her spine look like she had spikes coming out. "You are so--!" Lesedi began to trot forward, but was stopped by Jumo, taking the princess' neck fur in his mouth and holding her back. Lesedi let out a small grunt as she lost her footing, but was gently placed down on her side by Jumoca. "Excuse me! I was about to--"

"Princess," Jumo looked down at her, disregarding Amunet's joking, "you would do best not to draw attention by making a scene. If other rogues are around, and aren't as nice as Kafele, we might all have to stand against a pride. You're far too beautiful to be killed in battle, though I would lay my life on the line to protect you."

It was quiet for them before Lesedi let out a small, high pitched sigh of irritation. Taking one final look at Moyo, she shot a glare to Amunet before getting to her paws. "If you had kept an eye on that cub over there," Lesedi shot one last look over to the blonde lion, "we wouldn't have to be here right now." With that, she walked past the others and back to the territory. She looked over her shoulder, "If you're not back in five minutes, I will personally exile you all myself." With that, the princess slapped her tail on the ground and walked off.

Jumo looked down at the others for a moment before he looked over at the rogue. "Love is expressed in all kinds of ways," he assured Kafele. He didn't know how the rogue would react to that first impression that the princess of their pride just made. Although, he knew that if he had just met Lesedi and gotten that kind of display, he wouldn't be so fond of being around the Zawditu pride either.

Moyo, too, looked over at Kafele. "Chicks, right?" he began to laugh.

"Moyo," Jumoca said, getting to his fours, "if I hadn't held her back, you know you wouldn't have a face right now."

[Dark Huntress]

Amunet raised her eyebrows as Lesedi stormed up and instantly began scolding people. She bowed in acknowledgemt as they started to move out. She clung to Jumo's side. "Do you think she's mad at me?" She whispered softly, hoping Lesedi wasn't-this was her family. She cast a glance over at Kafele who was stirring up dust with a white paw as if facing a difficult decision. Amunet shrugged to herself and turned back to Jumo, giving him a worried expression.
Changa rolled his eyes at Moyo. He himself acted immature but he knew when to be sensible. "So," he fell into pace with Lesedi, trotting briskly,"you look as if you could use a vacation, huh, Lezzy? We could throw up some vines in a tree, lounge over a stream, watch the sunset, you know, just me and you?" He elbowed her playfully, giving the princess a cheeky, sly grin. "If we could get Malenga's permission to disappear for awhile," he laughed,"you know, she'd probably betroth us though." He gauged her reaction carefully.

[Malenga]

Jumo began walking behind the princess, now focused solely on making sure that Lesedi didn't get even angrier with the others and him. He was particularly concerned about Amunet; she seemed to be getting the grunt of the abuse. He flicked his ears and looked down at his side to her, listening to what she had to say before he turned his head forward once more. He chose his words to attempt to calm her as they walked beside each other.

"She's just stressed out," he replied, keeping his voice quiet, using the back of his throat to keep it low and huskier, so hopefully whilst the princess was speaking with the other male ahead, she wouldn't hear him talking about her. Jumoca then flicked his ear and smiled down at her again. "Besides, I'm here to protect you." Jumoca continued to keep an eye on Lesedi, knowing well that she could turn on Changa at any moment if he decided to say the wrong thing.

"Even if I could ask for my mom's permission, I wouldn't," Lesedi replied. She looked out of the corner of her eye, her red optics looking smaller than usual being concealed by the side of her eyes. "I don't need you or the pride getting the wrong idea about you and me." With that, Lesedi picked up her pace to a brisk, powerful walk. It was looking pretty obvious that she was pushing her muscles even harder to get away from Changa, as much as she didn't want to.

~*~

Moyo got to his paws and watched as the others began to walk away. He watched them disappear into the grass, leaving him behind as though they trusted him not to run away again. He was well aware the white lion was there with him too, and probably had many questions.

Turning his head over to Kafele, the blonde lion let out a laugh. "Pretty lame being in a pride, huh? You're so lucky you have the entire world to go where you like," Moyo commented, dreamily. "If I were a rogue, I'd do whatever I want and not have to listen to some stupid princess." As Moyo spoke, he animated his body like a cub. He skipped and jumped, sometimes swaying his butt in the air with his tail high over the grass. Suddenly, Moyo's mind thought up something he probably shouldn't have thought up. "Hey, I know! How about you and me travel together? Just the guys, no lionesses and no worries."

[Dark Huntress]

Amunet leaned her head against Jumo's broad shoulders. "Sometimes I wonder if I'll need more than you against her," she laughed quietly. She sighed, regretting what she'd said earlier-she'd not seemed very worried or caring about Jumo, she'd been worried but she didn't want Lesedi to think she cared about her pride members more or less than one another. "Thanks, it's nice to have someone almost adult in this pride," she whispered and stopped to look back at Moyo and Kafele. "Are you coming, Moyo?" Her voice was a little icy. He flicked her an immature, cub-like look and returned his attention to Kafele.
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Changa laughed as Lesedi trotted away from him. "Would it really be the wrong idea, Lezzy?" He chuckled to himself; he loved annoying her and Amunet with words and ideas of that genre. He looked back at Amunet as she called something to Moyo. He cast a glance over his shoulder at Lesedi before trotting towards Amunet. "I don't think you're his type, Amunet," he called, feigning seriousness,"he likes large white lions." He shrank a little from her angry look.
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"It's not that great,"Kafele told Moyo,"the worlds not unlimited when you're by yourself-you limit yourself. Plus you miss the lionesses." He smiled and looked from Amunet to Lesedi. "I don't know if you would want to, it gets lonely without your friends," he gave Moya a serious look. "But," he shrugged,"of course, you're welcome to come with me if you're okay with leaving that behind."

[Malenga]

Moyo listened to what the seasoned rogue had to say. Of course, much like a cub would think about, he only thought about the good stuff and figured that nothing bad could never happen to him. And since it would be the two of them, they would be friends and never get lonely as long as they have each other. "Yeah, I wanna leave this behind! I mean, look at them," Moyo slapped his paw to the air, leading the eyes of Kafele to the wandering lionesses and lion going back to Zawditu territory, "they follow each other in a perfect line, always scared about punishment. I need to be away from that sort of thing! Away from bossy females, thick males... I just need to be free. I want to be free. And I want you to teach me." Moyo was practically begging, as he thought the rogue wouldn't give into temptation of allowing someone to follow him and learn from him; a grasshopper following his master and learning from better.

~*~

"Don't worry about it," Jumo replied to the lioness. He stopped as he felt her head against his shoulder, watching her but not moving her away. "Hey," he cooed, picking her chin off him with his own muzzle gently pushing against hers whilst he smiled down at her, "she's just stressed out. I promise."

Jumo's eyes cheated from Amunet to the beckoning lion before him, informing Amunet that he wouldn't be Moyo's type. Just like Changa, Jumo looked over at the two as well. He was watching them carefully, seeing Moyo communicate more through body language that he wanted to leave.

Jumo could only sigh as he watched the blonde lion interact with the white lion. Moyo wanted freedom, but he didn't know the cost of it. Not only that, but being out of the Zawditu pride could mean serious trouble if they crossed paths again-- depending on if Malenga was in a good mood or a bad mood that meeting.

"I dunno, you guys," Jumo shrugged his muscular shoulders, "I think our little Moyo's about to pick up and leave the nest."

[Dark Huntress]

Kafele cringed; Moyo wouldn't take a hint. "Sure," he reasoned,"that's what you think now, that what I thought too, but you start to miss everything. The laughter, the teasing, the voices-you know something's wrong when you start hearing those." He laughed to himself. "Plus I don't think your princess will be too pleased if we run into them again and I like my hide where it is: attached to me!"
He sighed. "Maybe I could come with you, teach you a few things, then, if you still want to, we'll fly the coop together," he hoped he would be able to convince this clueless kid to stay put-being a rogue wasn't pleasant and he wanted him to know that.

Amunet gave Jumo a small, sad smile and looked over her shoulder at Moyo and Kafele, watching the two talk with nervous interest. Moyo should come back-he owed her at least that. He'd embarrassed her in front of the entire pride, gotten her yelled at by Lesedi, and made her the favorite source of Changa's teasing for the morning. "Please, Moyo," she begged him with her eyes.

A pang of guilt plagued Changa; Amunet seemed awfully affected and he wondered if he should leave her alone. But he'd already pushed Lesedi rather far and Jumo was not to be trifled with-having the extreme physical edge. He stretched a little, muscles roiling beneath his fur and sprinted to fall in step behind Lesedi, deciding to be wise and shut up. He cast bored glances all around as he followed her, his life boring without conversation and laughter.

[Malenga]

Moyo gave the rogue a crooked smile. He was unsure if the white lion even wanted him around; thought he would be able to handle himself. "Hey, don't believe what Jumo and the others say-- I can and will handle myself," he assured Kafele. "In fact, what about coming to spend time with my pride for a while? I'm sure queen Malenga would be okay with letting you stay for a bit. And while you're here, you can teach me all about being the best rogue, and then we can head off on a journey together."

The lion nodded his head, giving the "OK" to follow him back with his pride.

~*~

Jumo, walking forward, began to look behind him to see if the others were following.

"Are you thinking of disobeying me, Jumo?" a feminine voice, belonging to Lesedi, questioned him.

The red maned lion looked in front of him at the lioness with a small smile. "Of course not, my princess."

"Good," she looked past him to the others, "it seems like others love to do it though."

He shook his head. "Maybe you wanna ease up on Amunet? She didn't do anything, really," Jumo commented. He wasn't sure how the princess was going to take it, but hey, he had been hit by her before, so he figured nothing more could come than just a simple slap and a bruise as a trophy.

"Maybe you wanna ease off of her?" Lesedi replied. She knew there was more explanation needed, as she noticed Jumo raise his brow. "She's a soon-to-be married lioness, and you're allowing her to flirt with you."

"She's not flirting; she's just being friendly. She can't stand me and she knows she should only have eyes for the one she will be wed to."

"And you're alright with that?" Lesedi rose her own brow, watching Jumo's reaction. All he did was nod his head, his mane falling in front of his gaze.

"Even if I wasn't, I don't have a say in the matter." The princess shrugged gently, keeping her rythm as she walked forward. However, she was aware that Jumo was still staring at her. "So, why won't you go with Changa?"

"Because I don't want to," she replied.

"Could'a fooled me, princess." Lesedi whipped her head back around, looking at Jumo with an even angrier look than she had on her face before. He knew that he could, again, be taught a lesson at the mercy of her claws. "Princess, I flirt all the time. I know what flirting looks like when I see it, and I can see that he was doing it to you," Jumo said.

"As appreciative as I am about your talents of detecting when someone is trying to seduce me, I can tell for myself what he's up to, thanks. So, if you don't mind, just keep your mind on your duties to this pride."

Jumo nodded his head, looking away from her. "Alright, alright."