Not Doing Their Job

(October 3rd, around dawn. This is a hunting party thread limited to Pridelander lionesses.)

Sienna toes passed through certains of sand-colored grasses with soft rustling, doing little for stealth. Ruby irises drifted across the seascape of grass, searching for the distant blobs that would mark a herd. Her ears did the same, training themselves upon the horizon while flicking back at the lionesses at her side every few moments.

So far, no good. Not a wildebeest in sight. Kula sighed, knocking a rock aside with her paw. She'd thought to finally take the initiative with her pride and lead them out in a hunt, but the idea was beginning to backfire. If they had to walk much farther, they'd be too tired to drag their kill back to Pride Rock in the miraculous case of them actually catching something!

As it was, Kula was feeling the nips along her stomach that berated her in thinking she wouldn't need to grab a meerkat snack before leaving. She'd thought for sure that they'd have found something to eat by now. The line of Kula's mouth thinned to a stern line.

Is it really getting this bad for the herds?

Back behind the line of lionesses a smaller feline strode, her gait faster to make up for the distance her shorter legs couldn't handle. Sabini was lucky - she was used to walking great distances to find food. This was little more than a morning stroll to her, and the fact that she was out and away from the oppressive presence of the pride males only eased her into a further state of comfort. Hell, she was even smiling. Of course, the view of the felines walking before her wasn't doing too much to dampen her mood either...

It was like the young kid could feel each single muscle as they ached. They hadn't exactly rested or stopped since Kula suggested going out on a hunt. The prancing optimistic girl had gone from the pride's cheerleader to that whiny kid at the back of the pack. She'd all but said 'are we there yet?' She looked back with a gulp, her muscles rippling with pain in her legs. She, along with the rest of the pride, had spent more time fighting and lounging about the camp rather than actually hunting. It was beginning to show on the golden pelted girl.

They hadn't seen a thing since starting, a few scattered hares here and there but no large kills. Not even a stray Thompson's Gazelle strode on the grassland and that bitty thing would only be enough to feed one lioness. They were more like an appetizer rather than a main course. As growing lionesses, she pondered, we should all be eating large amounts of flesh. But alas her views would be quashed when over the next ridge her stomach sank in disappointment.

She trotted up beside Kula and gave her a childish glance. "I don't understand," she murmured, "The snow's gone. The grass is all green again. The trees have even grown back. Where IS everyone?"

Sheathed paws danced across the terrain elegantly, each step deliberate as the feline slipped forward with a fluid grace. Cushioned pads pressed into the dirt, each golden stem of the grass whispering to one another as they weaved around her toes. Shoulders were hunched and head was aligned with her spine as the female quickened her strides, making sure to stay close to the others. She felt out of place here, there were no other males for her to drift towards, only lionesses.

That part didn’t exactly bother her considering a female was just as good as a male, if not better in some cases. Lips stretched towards the terrain as the ivory female slowed to a stop, her vibrant irises dancing along the province in disappointment. Wasn’t there supposed to be an abundance of prey to choose from? Here, she only saw empty lands, not another creature in sight. Perhaps prey slept in here? Bewilderment glazed over Boga’s gaze as she turned to face the lioness which led this hunt, Kula. She hadn’t known the female long, however she sensed the respect the others had for her. Well, most of them. The red maned lion didn’t seem fond of her, nor did his sidekick. What had been her name again?

Abu? No, that can’t be right. Something…something Almazi? Grunting, she shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to be pondering over some miniscule details. They were supposed to be hunting! Nostrils flared as she inhaled the inhabiting scents, her ears swiveling to capture any sound besides the groups’ inaudible breathing. Wrinkling the bridge of her muzzle, she allowed her lower jaw to drop so that any undetected scent could lap at the roof of her mouth.

Once more she was faced with disappointment. It had been a while since she hunted last, yet her skills were to be envied. Given her slenderness and speed, she was able to match the speed of her victims and in some cases, outrun them. It was necessary to be faster considering her pelt was usually a dead give away. Granted, here, in the blinding sun, she was able to melt into the background, yet in open plains, she was a beacon. It had outstanding results when looking she wanted attention, yet during times to be inconspicuous, she dreaded her pelt.

Was that the problem here? Was she not keeping herself undetected? Grunting, she lowered her build to the ground, her alabaster belly becoming acquaintances with the blades of grass, hoping to assist in some way.

A sigh drifted from Kula's snout as sienna paws ceased in their movement. As far as the eye could see, nothing. Nothing! It was as if a giant paw had swept across the plains and simply pushed the prey off the face of the earth. Only scant scent trails hung in the air, dry and stale in their age. Kula snorted and shook her head, thrusting the smell form where it stuck deep in her sinuses. "Boga, you can get up." Kula's tail twitched as she continued to rotate her head in a slow scan of the surrounding savannah. "There's nothing around for you to frighten off." The lead lioness frowned, nipping her lip with a single canine as she thought.

"If we do see anything, we might have to wait and follow them until we're rested enough to hunt them anyways." But speaking of rest... Kula's ear twitched towards Kivivu, and she turned to look down at the younger lioness with ears fully rotated forward. The question was a good one: why had the herds not returned yet? They were at least a pawful of miles from Pride Rock already and there was still no sign of life larger than a lizard. Lips dark as the night pursed together as Kula considered her answer, but eventually she had to shake her head sadly. "I suppose that last attack on Pride Rock has them so frightened of the place that they don't want to be anywhere near it." Remembering the sight of a tyrannical lizard flying through the air towards her home Kula found herself shivering away a chill. She could understand that, at least. "I did tell them a couple of months ago that the waterhole had been poisoned and wasn't safe to drink... But the humans assured me that the snow and ice killed whatever evil was still lurking in the water."

Kula shifted her weight to one side so that she could reach up and rub a land-roughened paw against the nape of her neck. "But if they think Pride Rock is dangerous... We might have to go a while without eating." Again. Kula's stomach clenched not in hunger, but in fear at the thought. If things continued as they were it would be Scar all over again. No matter how Simba promised to change or what he did to 'protect' his land, the war was taking its natural toll.

We'll be starving within the month. Kula winced at the thought, quickly trying to wave it from her mind. No, no, that wouldn't happen again! They'd find a solution... They had to.
Returning to reality Kula searched the faces of the lionesses around her. Young, young, and tiny. How could she expect to push them hard enough in just looking for food? Again Kula sighed. There was no other choice, that was how. "We'll stop and rest for a bit..." A glance over her shoulder found an acacia tree a half-dozen or so yards away. "There." Kula turned and began to pad towards the tree. "The sun will be up in an hour or so. We can rest for a few minutes, but we need to move as much as we can before it starts getting hotter."

In her slowly advancing age, Naanda had fallen to the back of the hunting party. The elder lioness's eyes had cast about left and right with an unreadable look but the further they had walked, her muzzle had twisted itself into a tight frown.

The herds should not have been gone this long. The migrating animals, if nothing catastrophic had happened along their never-changing route, should have arrived back in the savannah a good few weeks ago. She'd see years when the hunting was lean and the herds had been delayed for one reason or another. Those years weren't a great by any stretch but they weren't a calamity either. The herds came as always but only after they'd experienced the hunger that came paw-in-paw with the difficult years.

However, the old lioness couldn't help but remember dead dry lands. No food, no water and a tyrant forcing them to hunt lands with nothing but dust and hyenas. It was too soon and the memory was too fresh for her to think of anything less. It seemed this war was nothing but one disaster after another but she knew that this one would be the worst. No food did things to one's mind, made even the most civilised animals turn into raging beasts. Tlid would break them if the worst came to pass and there was no hiding from that.

She didn't voice her fears but she knew that she wasn't the only one with dark thoughts on her mind. As if that wasn't enough of a reminder of difficult times, of times she wished would remain a distant memory, Scar's spawn had decided join them.

Vitani slunk through the grasses only slightly ahead of the rest. Her sapphire eyes trained on the horizon the further they got from the Pridelands. She hadn't joined the other lionesses in a hunt since Queen Nala had been banished, preferring solo hunting during the evening and early morning, but today was different. Soon she would be joining Mooch when he left for the Great Prince's homeland.

When Kula called for rest, she slunk back towards the other females to rest in the shade. She hung back from most of them because she was sure, no matter how many battles she fought in or scars she gained, they would never trust her. To them she was still Scar's daughter and always would be, particularly the older beige lioness who did nothing but glare at her from the moment she joined them on the savannah.

"We're getting close to the border now." she spoke up "Zira would always use these lands for poaching on." She almost had to bite her tongue to stop herself from saying 'my mother', Zira wasn't her mother. For all Vitani could care, she was an orphan, Scar and Xira were dead to her.

"NO. NO. NO. No going without food!"

Gluttony wasn't on the mind of the protesting little lioness though hunger still nipped at her stomach something fierce. Kivivu wasn't going to let the pride and therefore the army starve. It was there job to keep the balance of the pride going. And in a turbulent war torn world, this was all the balance they were going to get. Her ears folded back, lips pursed as she gave a pouty look towards Kula.

"Balance, we're trying to maintain a balance here," she said, raising a paw in gestures as she spoke, "We need to tell the animals it's okay to come back now." She turned over her shoulder, spotting Vitani and Naanda. She gave them a nod.

"Wh-what are we supposed to do if there's no food? What are we supposed to eat?" The childish question hung on the air as a genuine concern. She'd never starved before. Her mother either did the hunting or she did with the pride. What did they do when food was scarce?

Ears pressed to her skull as the female obey the other, raising slightly, her skull lowered. A huff was released heavily as she cast a glance along the vacant plains, tail twitching disdainfully. The others were just as upset as she was and a rumbling in her stomach reminded her of her hunger. How long would it be until they found food? She kept silent, allowing the others to speak while she observed. Another glance was offered to the region, eyes hopeful. As far as she could see there was no movement however a silence had crept up as well. It was quiet before yet now, even with the other lionesses talking, it seemed to still. Shoulders quaked as a tremor passed through her spine, nostrils flaring before she shook her head.

Stepping forth she watched Kula, awaiting the female to show them where to go next. As she motioned to a tree not too far away, she nodded before following close behind, whiskers twitching. Now that she thought about it, she was quite exhausted. Even if it was a brief break, she’d take pleasure in it. Paws pressed within the terrain, tail at her hocks as she made her way towards it. Kivivu’s words rang through her mind, inducing another rumble to churn her stomach. Ears flicked as she glanced cautiously over her shoulder, interested in the lack of life. Sure the battle could have scared them away but battles happen regularly, the animals were never gone long. Why was this any different? Shrugging at her inner dialogue she stopped in front of the tree, her toes digging into the cool sand. Lowering herself heavily to her haunches, she pressed her shoulder into the bark, lips twitching now and again.

Blinking slowly, she ran her tongue along her teeth before speaking quietly, her emerald eyes flashing, “Will we head further away? Perhaps there will be prey farther out?”

Olive eyes turned from lioness to lioness, taking in the feminine forms with pleasure. It was much easier to show a smile here, where only females resided, than in Pride Rock's shadow. Sabini's tail swung in a relaxed arc behind her, offering a slight twitch here and there as she sighed. Unlike the larger lionesses whom she'd assumed were all pride-born, she'd learned long ago not to fear the keen sting of hunger. Sometimes it took over a week to find and bring down large enough prey for a single pair of rouges. THat wasn't to say she didn't understand the concern regarding the herds, however... The Prideland lions depended on those animals for their continued livelihood. It wasn't as if they could wander the territory all the time in search of a wayward wildebeest.

Sabini trailed after the hunting party as they padded towards the clear space provided by a tree. Glances were thrown between two particular lionesses; Kivivu, who'd she'd taken a bit of a shine to after her bravery against Babu, and a much younger lioness who seemed particularly distant. The gaze that rested on the latter was brimming with curiosity. She didn't look like one of the Pridelanders, and she certainly didn't act like it. Another ex-rouge, perhaps? She was terribly young for a rouge... Though she'd just mentioned a 'Zira', had she not? Perhaps she'd left another rouge for the safety the Pridelands offered, much like Sabini would have in her not-too-distant youth.

A soft smile graced the pale feline face as Sabini padded up near Vitani - not too close to be considered rude, but much closer than the rest of the pride seemed willing to do. Though Sabini was older than the other lioness, her stunted growth placed her head to be level with Vitani's. Mistaking her for a female around the Outlander's age would hardly be an offense. With a slight bow of her head and a timid smile Sabini glanced towards the other's paws. To look another rouge in the eye before exchanging pleasantries would be disastrously rude, surely! "S-so you know this area?"

As Kivivu voice her complaints regarding the lack of food Kula's neck twisted so that she might look over her shoulder. Crimson eyes searched her mother's face, taking in the frown and harsh lines of worry that cast Naanda's face into subtle shadows. So she was worried about this as well... The darkened lids of Kula's eyes drifted lower as her gaze shifted away from her mother's, resting to the ground beside one velvet-clad paw. "We'll make do." She called back to the younger lioness, voice unyielding. "We'll just have to adjust to having less food around, that's all."

But what about Simba's forces? Kula felt a weight press into the space between her shoulder blades, hanging heavy about her neck. How will they react when they find they can't find prey in our lands anymore? There was a chance that they'd move on to find a new campsite with plenty of resources, but there was also the chance that Simba would have the hunting parties pushed past their limits to try and feed his troops. If they weren't fed and happy at Pride Rock, who would defend his precious territory from Scar?

Kula's lips twisted in a bitter scowl, and with a simple 'follow me' flick of her tail the lioness padded into the slight shade offered by the tree. The sun had not yet risen past the horizon, nullifying the immediate need for shade. That was not Kula's reason for choosing the tree's shelter, however. As she approached the tree Kula paused beneath it. Muscles lining her haunch bunched as she crouched, the lines of her body tensing slightly before launching her upwards. Lengthy claws dug into the bark as Kula clumsily pulled her way up to a crook in the tree's branches: a leopard she was not, and the effort left her quite uncomfortable. From her new vantage point however she could see much farther than before, though the dim morning lighting made distinguishing specific objects difficult. Screwing her eyes almost shut to try and make out distant smudges, Kula scanned the horizon for the telltale shape of a herd.

Blinking leisurely, she watched the others interact, her tail tip twitching slowly all the while. Their excellent numbers were no use when there was no prey to take down. If they spent all their time searching for something that wasn't there, they'd grow much more hungrier from the use of energy.Huffing wearily, Boga rolled her head back, relieving stress on her neck and back as well as rubbing her should along the rough bark, scratching idly at a bothersome itch. Her attention shifted upwards as she observed the lead huntress scramble up the tree, slightly curious about her actions. Flicking her ears she followed her gaze, glancing at to the province once more. Her expectant irises faded once more as she failed to see anything, though her lack of height may have contributed to that small detail. Seeing as there was no point in crowding the tree's slender branches, she allowed Kula to scout to area fro above while she awaited orders from below and took the time she was given to rest.

After a few short moments, she found herself languidly sprawled on her side, low pants slipping into the dry air. Even though it wasn't even the hottest part of the day, the lack of moisture in the air was a constant reminder of her thirst. Swallowing dryly, she descended her chin to her outstretched forearms, lazily gazing ahead. Her tail tip drew lazy shapes in the dirt as she watched nothing in particular. Being a lioness, she was naturally compelled to sleep when not hunting or looking for something to hunt. After all, lions slept a majority of the day. It was only natural that she suddenly felt so drained. In fact, the ground was never more comfortable. Rolling to her spine, she stretched her paws out to the sky, her claws becoming visible for a fraction of a second before she sheathed them once more.

Everyone continued to voice the obvious, yet the female didn't mind too much. Surely they'd find food sooner or later. They may just need to start looking somewhere else. Perhaps they could move the pride. After all, she wasn't born here, it's not like she had any real attachments. It would be much easier for her to leave and find somewhere else to live rather than fight for a dying land. No food meant it wasn't meant to be home to lions.

"We'll just have to adjust to having less food around, that's all."

Less food meant less strength. Though Boga didn't voice this aloud, she, sure did have the thought reel through her mind. They were an army, were they not? Expected to fight and kill those in the opposing armies. If they were getting half as much nutrients and calories, they'll only be able to fight half as much. Hopefully the lack of prey would change rapidly, otherwise hunger won't be the only problem the pridelanders would be facing.

Vitani watched silently as Kula scaled the tree, the younger lioness's mouth twisted into a frown. Vitani knew well what the pangs of hunger felt like, she had been raised knowing it in the Outlands. 

Another reason to give for hating Simba. In the Outlands there was little food and even less water.

She was shocked out of her thoughts by an almost timid voice at her side. The young lioness's sapphire eyes fixed on the other feline, she looked almost like she was the same age Vitani herself was or possibly slightly older. She hadn't seen this girl around before...a rogue? Was Simba that desperate that he was willing to let rogues into his kingdom do long as they found under his cause?

"Yeah." Vitani replied somewhat cryptically "I do."

They were getting nowhere fast and Vitani was getting impatient. They could dally here and there all day and not catch anything. In Vitani's mind, the solution would be for a few lioness to split off and scout ahead. More ground covered and a better chance of finding something be it a herd, an injured straggler or, if there was nothing else, a corpse with some meat still attached. There was no time to be picky in the face of starvation.

On the other hand, splitting off from the group was a risk. There was no guarantee that Kula would wait for her if she were to leave. Vitani could almost imagine the other lionesses urging her to leave and let the Outlander wander to her hearts content. Knowing them, they would probably whisper about how she was sneaking off to her father's lands and betraying them, that she wouldn't put past them at all. She was Scar's daughter, after all.

Decision made, she called up to Kula "I'll scout ahead. There might be herds to the east of here where the river broadens."

She didn't wait for a response or an okay, she simply inclined her head to the other lioness, an invitation to join her, and then loped off into the long grass eastwards. She wasn't about to stick around for the murmurs of discontent. 

It seemed that with these lionesses, she would forever be an outsider.

"I-I'm jealous, it must have been nice - hunting in such fertile land." The pale lioness didn't seem to understand that here in the Pridelands, if someone of Vitani's ilk was caught hunting their punishment could possibly be fatal. "My name's Sabini, by the way."

Kula slid from the tree's boughs with a discontented sigh, her claws catching and scratching awkwardly at the bark before she thrusted away to leap down. "I didn't see anything - but that doesn't mean there isn't prey out here." She affirmed, jaw tightened. It wasn't just the females that needed feeding - there was also Chumvi, Ni, Simba, Mega, Babu, that old man Tanglemane... Not to mention all the other predators that didn't hunt for themselves, or the humans. What they needed was a herd, and badly. Kula's ears perked as Vitani called out her intent, and with a soft nod the princess excused her younger relation. Scouts were a good idea in situations like this, certainly.

With a glance shot between the pride females and Vitani, Sabini tentatively padded after the latter. As Sabini was unused to the concept of friendly females, the smile that answered the invitation was a shy one. Without a word Sabini took to her own easy lope, legs pumping to keep up with Vitani as they bounded off through the grass.

Watching the pair of former rouges head off Kula sidled up to her mother. "Should we send out more scouts? Or would that just make us all harder to find?" In times like this she was certainly glad that her mother had come along. With Kula leading the hunting party alone, she'd have had no one to advise her otherwise!

Whatever her mother's answer might have been was cut off, however, by an unsettling laugh.

She hadn't particularly made an effort to sneak up on them. That being said it would still be alarmingly, and her arrival would be sharp. Her pale pelt would probably conflict them for the most part. Bellatrix didn't look like an enemy. The enemies all had distinct looks. She looked to be nearly one of them, but more pristine. Bellatrix... had been one of them. Not that they'd remember her, maybe they'd recognize her, but further than that, she had little faith.

"I believe you have a very valid point, my darling." she cooed. There was an underlying viciousness that didn't fully present itself, "It would make it harder to find you all."

There was something unsettling about the way she said that... About the way she gracefully slid along the outskirts of the group, nearly brushing the edges of some of the females. She edged around the side of a particularly pale lioness, giving her a sideways glance.

"Perhaps it'd be best if we kept it together, hm, Boga?"

Bellatrix had no doubt picked up the name from merely listening for a few moments. The small walk she'd taken had been to deliberately grasp the attention of the group of females, and the trotted circle to the other side of the group , stopping near the lighter lioness she'd directly addressed?

Another attention grabber. Diversion. Bellatrix's performance was designed to distract, everything about her appealing, but just threatening enough to make them concerned. About her. Not what might be lurking behind her. As a last touch she flashed a particularly winning smile to the group of them. Charming, but again, somewhat disconcerting.

As cream-and-silver paws stepped through the hunting party, another feline figure emerged as well. This one, a slim and smaller version of her predecessor, was coated in a barrage of sienna spots atop a saffron canvas. The leopardess stepped gingerly from her place among the waving strands of grass to offer a rather wicked smirk, her place just off the group's left. Lime eyes reflected the sparse light of the approaching dawn as they traced a line towards where the two rouge lionesses had galloped off.

The first, a pale thing with eyes of blue, she recognized: that had been Scar's deposed daughter, if she wasn't mistaken. Perhaps it would be better if that one weren't to join her new pridesisters in their fate. Sabor didn't want Scar's bloodlust towards his kin to interfere with the other lust he might turn on the rest of their gift to him. The pale lioness that had followed Vitani, however... She was of fair coat and green eye, with a body that appeared young and strong. She'd make a fine addition to the group if they could snare her.

"Zolita," Sabor called gaily to another indistinct blur, "Could you fetch the pale one?" The leopard's eyes glimmered as they narrowed slightly, her smirking grin widening as she inclined her head towards the now very-agitated princess. "We wouldn't want her to lose her chance to join in the fun."

Sabor sealed her muzzle with a low chuckle as she watched Kula's gaze flick this way and that, searching for more sinister rustlings in the grass.

Life emerged within the depths of the feline's sinister gaze, highlighting the flame within.

Unsheathed paws pressed into the parched earth, silently etching caverns within the dirt. He'd brought the plan up to the other elites then led them out into the night. The lionesses were finally just where he wanted them. All grouped together in a stationary formation. This would make the capture much easier and smoother. That is, if it was carried out correctly. A tug of his lips became apparent as Bellatrix advanced from their hidden position. As she broke the formation a sneer was carved within his gruesome apperance. Trailing off was Sabor and Zolita, they were in the direction of the two lionesses that split from the group. Gritting his teeth he emerged from the golden blades, his muscles rolling thickly.

Ivory ears were plastered to a smooth skull as Boga's vibrant olive eyes widened. The words came from an unknown lioness immediately causing her to rise from her languid position. She tilted her skull, pupils dilating. This lioness was also pale in color, though where as the odd visitor had a splash of gray along her pelt, Boga was absent of color. A gleaming alabaster lioness. Albino? Nearly, but not quite. Smoldering gray was smeared above her eyes while a lighter slate hue licked beneath her eyes. She could use her charm as a weapon if only she could gain the confidence to face the lioness. Fighting wasn't her specialty, but hunting was. “P-perhaps It'll be better if you uhh, left!” Claws were forced from their enclosure as he lowered her head, trying to cover her fear with courage. So far it only seemed like a single lioness. The hunting party could easily destroy her. If only it was just her.

Rajah wrinkled his muzzle as he observed the hunting party. He offered the abyssal twins a particular look along with a fierce twitch of a tail. He'd development an unspoken language with the dark siblings. It proved to be extremely useful. Veering to the right he stepped forwards, shoulders rolled back in a relaxed state. Immediately his scorching eyes landed on Simba's sienna painted kin. He experienced a few unwelcome run-ins with the lioness. “Out doing a little hunting are we?” The lyrics spilled warmly from his lips towards Kula, as if she were an old friend. Though his fierce expression spoke otherwise. He offered Bella a glance however she had her attention on an alabaster feline. Squinting he gazed at the pallid creature another extended moment. That night under the moon Bellatrix seemed unreal with her beauty however she was unmatched next to this ivory cat beneath the sun.

As a massive striped brute made his debut, Boga lost what little courage she was able to conjure. His intimidating size dwarfed the others. Parting her lips she went to speak however her words died in her throat as his piercing gaze locked upon her. Once she was released from his blistering eyes a chilling tremor ran down the length of her spine. She much preferred the smoky lionesses unfaltering smile in comparison to this brute - what was his name? There were only two tigers in this war she knew of. The savage murderer and the friend of humans. Which was he?

Curling his whiskers, Rajah swept his blazing irises along the majority of the group. There were quite an assortment of females. They'd make an excellent gift to Scar. Running his tongue along his inken lips he rumbled deeply, “Everyone likes to be given a choice. So, I'll give you two,” Pupils targeted Kula, “Come along quietly or...” He sprung forth, teeth gnashing together near the dark queen-to-be's throat, “You die.”

She was much too valuable to kill in truth. He wouldn't kill her if there was a way around it. His expression however, didn't reveal this minor detail. “Persuasion is a thing of beauty.”