[PRP] Family Hunting

[Z o m b i k ii]

Recovery had been a long process.

Long ago she had talked to the old Cheifan about war. He had told her about battle lust; the adrenaline that maddened warriors and brought them back to the field again and again. Now, after her first, she understood what the old man meant by his words. She had never experienced a feeling like it before and, silently; she prayed the fates would lead her to glory once more. The Outlands were a warrior tribe. Now she was truly one of them. The Queen's Vengeance, they called her.

Recovery had been a low process. She had been nursing multiple litters and the little ones had drained her energy and left her dry and tired. Thankfully, now they were a little older, forming words and feeding on flesh; she was finally starting to feel like her old self. But, tiny maws went hungry quickly - and the sooner her cubs could hunt, the less of a strain they were on the pride’s finite resources. Growing up in the wasteland happened quickly, even for those of royal blood. Everyone, even the young, had to pull their weight.

As a Shield, Chausika was not often found in the Pride’s hunting grounds. It was a duty carried out by her mate at his bretheren. Though today, she had taken a break from her duties to assist Azzan in his teaching (and to spend some well earned family time). Their first litter was large, too large for one pair of eyes alone. “Let’s hope our little migration does not scare the herd. The children are bouncing with energy this morning.” She mumbled, turning her attention towards her mate. Seven cubs - and she would happily give him seven more his prime left him.

His recovery had been as drawn out as her own. A consequence of age, they both knew, though she would not say it outloud. She offered him a soft smile before looking back towards the sands, knowing the little ones blended in a little too well at times. Left unchecked for too long, they were prone to vanishing.

---

Daayan clearly thought the hunt had begun early. Green eyes twitched and jittered as he followed the movements of a small rodent that was running between the long, dead grass. The growl in his throat was high pitched and childlike, his voice had not broken nor did he know how to have the sound rumble in his chest. His roar was weaker than his brothers, which at his age was the greatest of insults.

He pounced at the bush and the dry twigs broke under his weight. After a moment he emerged with splinters embedded in his rusty mane and his prey dead in his maw. He walked with his head held high and his chest puffed out proudly. Though he was still young, tufts of orange had started to sprout in random places across his neck and shoulders in a way that was utterly ridiculous looking to his kin - they often made fun of him for it. And in response, he usually clouted them behind the ears.

Like many young males, he was in a rush to prove himself - and, prancing ahead of his siblings. Took his place happily between his father’s front legs, puring happily. Luckily, Azzan had no lack of practise, of walking with Daayan walking under him. It was his prefered spot during the day. And at night, he curled up in the crook of his neck - leaving it sore and stiff come the morning.

Soon, he would be too big to claim that place.

---

Farah was one of the more reserved cubs, more timid by nature, she walked with her mother’s tail in her mouth so she did not fall behind. Though as her dark brother walked passed, her grip loosened and pale eyes wandered between the back ends of her parents. At first Chau had thought her to have two silver eyes as she did, however, as she grew older one pale eye deepened into a soft blue.

Most of the litter had inherited their father's strange and wonderful eyes, adorning colours that traced back to previous generations in his family. Though, it would be a long time until any of the young ones would come to appreciate that gift the Ancestors had bestowed on them.

Farah lowered her head and snuck up behind Daayan, jumping him from behind and stealing his kill from his mouth before running on ahead with the rodent impaled between her fangs. “Mine.” She claimed. And it was hers.

”Farah! How dare!” The young male growled as threatening and pathetic as he had done before, and chased his sister who was now running ahead of the group, giggling.

“Not too far! We are almost there!” Chau called out to them both. She then looked to her mate, willing him to go and round them up as she kept an eye on the rest.
 

[Krysin]

Tahka's nature shined brightest when he was around others. The burnt red colored cub was naturally charismatic and outgoing. He seemed to get along best, however, with anyone who wasn't his own sibling. Perhaps 'sibling rivalry' was not merely a playful term, but rather a natural condition of having so many litter mates. Only his twin seemed to escape Tahka's brash nature when it came to his sisters and brothers. But, she was his twin, she was always excused for her annoyances.

His grievance now was that Daayan and Farah were playing together, and it didn't seem like he had been invited. Of course, Farah's play was more mean-spirited, and actually thievery, but he still wanted to be involved. The young cub bristled a little as he watched the pair run ahead of the hunting party. His grey head-tuft made him seem older than the rest of his siblings, but the disgruntled pout upon his face revealed his youth.

He could have been hanging out with his friends right now, yet was forced to even have this trip delayed because of Farah and Daayan. Which, he noted, wasn't all that much of a surprise. Well, he wasn't going to wait around for Farah and Daayan to be wrangled. He was going to forge ahead, and get to the hunting grounds before anyone else. Of all his siblings, he was the most capable, the strongest and most certainly the bravest! "I am going to go help mom," Tahka told his dad, fully believing that Azzan would buy the lie.

He marched on ahead, tail and head held high, completely ignoring all of his siblings in his quest to be the most valorous.

Z o m b i k ii

 

[Z o m b i k ii]

kryin

felyn

Chau’s ghostly eyes turned downwards towards her daughter as she spoke. Eifa had a captivating soul that never failed to make her smile brightly. The lioness watched the way her daughter moved, from the way she stood straight and proud - to the way she flicked her imaginary locks, a habit she knew she had learned from her mother. Chau was a foreigner and her red mane was longer and more unruly than most that could be found within the pride, so much so she wore it in a braid. She did not have the heart to tell her daughter that, like her grandmother, she would be beautiful, bold and regal; but maneless. Azzan’s blood was strong, and his heritage was prominent in all her children.

“That is true.” Though in agreement, she could not hold back the soft chuckle that escaped her maw. It was her turn to shake her head then, making her braid bounce and the golden bands she wore shine in the bright sun, casting light across the redstone. “Though, Daayan should learn to protect his horde from opportunists.” The Shield would feel hypocritical to scold Farah for engaging in an a act she once practised. Chau was once a rogue, a thief and Tarnished. It was not a secret to her children, though they were all too young to understand right now; she hoped her honesty would humble them..

They were the Scions of Thaka, sons and daughters to one of the Outland’s most treasured Generals; one that was once heir to the throne. Their bloodline was royal and something they would take great pride in as age made it more apparent. Yet, they were also the cubs of a foreigner who had to fight tooth and claw to earn her place within the lands. She hoped that maybe one day, they would take just as much pride in their mother. And learn to treat the outsiders of this world with kindness.

Chau’s eyes fell on her daughter once more. “You will look after my treasures, when they are yours?” The dark lioness shook her front paw and the bangles that hung around it rattled against her ankle. Once a gift from Katiti - she had promised each of her daughters a treasure when they reached adulthood so they could carry a piece of herself with them.

-----------

Ahead of the main group Daayan was still chasing his sister, for now she was swifter and faster than himself. The male’s muscles were tense and sore from growing, often limp when he woke up in the middle of the night, growling softly. He willed his legs to run faster, but his body had other ideas. In one last attempt of desperation, he leaped - trying to land on his siblings back but getting a facefull of sand instead. He skidded for a little while, and the thud on the Earth was enough to have his sister turn around - her mismatched eyes widening with concern.

The small lioness wandered back to him, her ears flat against her head as she spoke through a mouthful of flesh. “A-are you okay?” She asked him, her voice small and delicate like her frame. It was almost comical, the way the creatures blood pooled around her maw.

Her brother, to his credit, did not whine or cry. He just spat out the earth from his tongue and shook his head to rid himself of the sudden pain in his forehead and shoulders. It hurt a little bit, more so than he cared to admit - but a real Outlander did not cry. It was almost time for his training to begin and he would die of embarrassment if he let a whimper slip out whilst attending the academy. He did not know what would be more mortifying, doing it infront of Ebbe or his father.

”Y-yea, it’s just a scratch. Just let me, catch my breath.” He had always tried to be brave, and shake off injury like he was the adults did when they dueled.

He pushed himself back onto his paws and shook the red sand off of his dark pelt, to his sister's credit she waited and watched him pick himself up before she turned to run away again. And if like he was reacting to her courtesy, he whispered a small countdown to himself before he gave chase once more - to let her regain the lead she had given up to check on him.  

[Krysin]

Tahka looked up over his shoulder to see that his dad had not fallen for the ruse at all. It was not that he expected his father to be gullible, he just fancied himself as being clever. He wanted to be the hero of this little adventure, and sharing the limelight with his siblings was such a drag. With his father having caught on to him, Tahka offered a pout in his defense. Which... seemed to work? The curious twitch of his ears and the sudden brightness in his eyes was enough of a cue to Azzan that he had his son's interest.

"I could sneak up on anyone even without your help!" Tahka boasted, absolutely beaming up at his father. If there was something he did not lack, it was ego.

He watched as Daayan made a spectacular tumble trying to catch their sister, and though for a moment he was concerned, that concern did not last long. Once it was clear that Daayan had not gravely injured himself, Tahka laughed. He cared for his siblings, but that care was not enough to excuse them from being laughed at when they were being ridiculous. He lifted a paw to wipe a joyous tear from the corner of his eye, and then pointed towards his brother with a single claw. "Hah! You're going to make the best Claw, Daayan!" he teased. "If you stumble over your enemies I'm sure you'll manage to strike one!"

It was clear that this son hadn't quite mastered his manners, and was feeling quite bold enough to be teasing his sibling in front of both of his parents. Even if it was admirable of Daayan to pick himself right back up after he had fallen, Tahka wasn't about let him forget that he had fallen. The young cub was sure that he had more grace in one of his legs than Daayan had in all four.

Felyn

Z o m b i k ii