|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2020 15:55:22 GMT
Set in past during period of Scar and the hyenas taking Pride Rock
The intensity of the sun only seemed to dry out more of the now bleak and lifeless scenery that surrounded Pride rock, trees hunched over tiredly and the grass flat and more yellow than a rich green. With the extreme heat, it wasnât a surprise to find most of the hyena in the shade, hidden in the shadows of the rocky structure. Despite sharing a home with the lion pride, the hyena rarely mixed with them. And Shenzi felt the same, lions didnât have a right to be an equal to the hyena. Each side shared a roof yet had different opinions of each other. Though today, Scar practically dragged Shenzi out of the safety of the darkness and irritably told her to make the lionesses go hunting. Recently a few of them had refused since âthere was no more prey left to huntâ. Too many times had Shenzi objected to Scarâs unchanging demands, there really was barely any food left. However, she wasnât going to be on the receiving end of an angry male lion in his own kingdom, so she was forced to follow. Only, when it was already bad enough and she was on her way to leave, Scar finished off with an order to go with them and report back to him, not believing what the lionesses were telling him. Of course she grumbled to herself at the idea, not wanting to have to go out into the heat with a lion to hunt. It seemed no one wanted to do what Scar told them to do, yet they had to if they wanted to survive. âMan, why donât he just go do it himself. âKingâ pahâ She scoffed with a quiet growl, kicking a small rock out of annoyance. Head held low in an irritable way, Shenzi had made her way over to the lion den, sheâd been in this position before. When Scar was too lazy to go and tell them himself. The stench of them all already filling her nostrils, only making her more grouchy really. Upon arrival, standing in the entrance where she could see them all in the shade, perfectly aware her presence wasnât welcome but she didnât care. They couldnât do anything to her, not while Scar was here. âListen up, lions!â She announced, wanting to just get this out of the way âWeâre all starving back here. Scar wants you to go hunting again, weâre running out of food.â She wasnât going to pick who or how many were going to attend, that wasnât her job, she merely passed down messages from Scar to everyone else. Nor did she want to deal with open refusals, if they refused they can go to Scar. No part of Shenzi wanted to tell them that sheâd have to watch over them like some babysitter, feeling more like that damn bird reporting back to the king than a leader herself. She didnât need to hunt, that was the lionessesâ job yet here she stood, refusing to move until the lions obliged.
@nala |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2020 17:03:55 GMT
The unwelcome heat of the afternoon had sent nearly the entire pride into the dens, waiting for the sun to set before venturing out into the steaming savannah. The dry season this year was worse than they had ever seen before, and the lack of water was leading to not only a lack of prey, but of energy throughout the whole Pridelands. Without a rainfall, and soon, there would be nothing left for them here.
Nala stretched, feeling out with calloused toe pads for her mother. Nearby, Sarafina sighed and flicked her tail towards her daughter, acknowledging her presence, but being unwilling to rise. Nala rolled onto her back and continued to stretch, a yawn opening her mouth wide, deadly fangs gleaming in the dim light of the den. Content with continuing to wait until nightfall to hunt, Nala flopped onto her side, rested her head once more across her forearm, and closed her aqua eyes to rest.
"Listen up, lions!" The voice was harsh and loud, unwelcoming in the silence that had been. Groaning, a few lionesses raised their heads to the sound, blinking against the light at the mouth of the den. Shenzi. Nala's lip curled, a growl threatening to rise in her throat. Hyena were not welcome on their den; even Scar upheld that rule. The lionesses had made it clear to him from day one that if those poachers came close to their area, there would be blood. A few lionesses stood, eyes pointed towards the mangy creature with intimidation. The hyena didn't seem to care, continuing on in her barking voice the orders Scar had sent through her.
Many of the lionesses huffed, irritated, but turned their attention towards Sarabi, who had risen and was contemplating the order with steeled orange eyes. Nala glanced between the two matriarchs, shooting a wayward look at her mother, who rolled her own blue eyes and returned to nap. It seemed as if the main hunting party would not be going along with Shenzi. Nala figured as much; most of their strength lay in the older lionesses, and with prey as scarce as it was, they would need all the help they could come dusk. Before Sarabi could speak, Nala cleared her throat and interrupted, avoiding looking at either end of the den.
"I'll go. I need the practice." Her voice came out much more confident than she felt; she did not want to spend the next few hours alone with a hyena, let alone Shenzi... but the pride came first, and they would need all paws tonight if they were going to catch anything worthwhile.
Padding around the other lionesses, Nala ignored the short protest from her mother and the surprised glance from Sarabi. She came close to where Shenzi stood and curled her lip at the hyena, gesturing with her paw for her to lead the way. "Go on, I'll follow." Great Kings protect her, she wouldn't let Shenzi behind her, especially not that they were alone. Her only assurance nothing would happen was the fact that for some reason, Scar favored her, despite her disinterest.
Uncomfortable silence would be the soundtrack of this hunt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2020 18:08:56 GMT
It was expected, the hostility that reeked out of that cave. Clear as day that the lionesses were fed up, heard it before and bored of it all. Inwardly, Shenzi was with them in that part. The hyena has it far better than the lions but Shenzi found she was repeatedly reassuring others and herself that Scar wasnât just using them for muscle. Still, sheâd rather be in the spot than back in the outlands.
Taking on a defensive stance in response, challenging the underlying aggression directed towards her presence, especially towards Sarabi. Mufasaâs mate was known for getting under Scarâs skin in these times with her stubbornness. The more Shenzi stared, a smirk creeping on her face as she anticipated a retort, waiting to just go back and tell Scar the news. Heâd deal with Sarabi himself.
Then a young voice sounded out of the dark, Shenziâs ear flicked at the unexpected sound. Black eyes drifted from Sarabi, a younger looking lion stepping out and offering to go instead. A sly smile rolled onto Shenziâs face as the lioness walked past the others and to her side. Meeting Sarabiâs eyes once more. There, finally.
Noticing the lack of trust judging by the lionâs gesture, âHm.â she almost scoffed, finding it amusing that she wasnât trusted to be out of sight. Not that she expected much else. âLetâs go.â
Far less elegant than a lion, the hyena jumped down from rock to rock as she made her way to the more grassy area of Pride Rock, soon entering the savannah.
Things were beginning to quieten now that it was moving into noon. The sun was setting, making it cooler but it still held the heat lingering in the air. The skies turning a more pink colour and making the already dead grass look darker and the trees silhouetted. To anyone else, it was a strange sight to see a hyena and a lion together, or at least the lion not stalking the hyena.
Itâs a shame none of the other hyenas were willing to hunt, far too lazy and used to others doing the work for them lately. Shenzi really should have dragged some of them out with her. âListen little Miss Practice, you better be a good hunter.â Or Scar would kill Shenzi.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2020 19:38:56 GMT
Nala padded gracefully after Shenzi, easily maneuvering through the rocky landscape of their den, out of Pride Rock and into the surrounding grasslands. Keeping her distance from the hyena, Nala scanned their surroundings with a hunter's eyes; unfortunately, nothing jumped out at her as prey. Clicking her tongue softly, she continued their loping pace out into the fields, eyes constantly roving for something to pass in the distance that they could easily grab and bring back. The cream lioness just wanted this ordeal to be over... but she would need to catch something for that to happen. Glancing over at Shenzi as she trotted just in front of her, to her left, Nala fought back another snarl. This was pointless. As if the hyena with her would be able to take down anything larger than a small gazelle. Hyena weren't exactly known as the best hunters, especially when alone.
Well, she wasn't alone, was she? She had Nala there to help. Not that she would be much help. Granted, Nala had already completed her first solo hunt and was fast becoming a lead huntress in her own right, but alone? Even with the help of a hyena, their odds of taking something down were laughable. Especially when you added in how sparse pickings in the Pridelands currently were. Absentmindedly, Nala wondered if the Outlands were flourishing in the absence of the hyena clan.
Shenzi's words were clipped, and Nala felt irked by the insinuation she was sub-par. "One of the best, actually." She murmured, not really wanting to have a conversation with the hyena matriarch, but knowing they would need to communicate sooner or later if they were to be successful in their hunt. "Have you even hunted larger prey? Or do you just stick to scavenging and going after lion cubs?" she spat the question, a glare settling in her mouth and eyes aflame in the afternoon sun. Her fur was warming fast, and she knew the most likely location of any prey would be in the shade of nearby groves, or at what remained of the water hole.
The hyena might not have a problem attacking the herds while they drank, but Nala and the rest of the lionesses respected the Circle of Life enough to avoid breaking that law. Where Shenzi was leading them, Nala couldn't guess, but she angled her steps to encourage her unwanted companion towards Nyani Grove. Even if they didn't catch larger prey, baboons and galagos were nearby, and something was better than nothing.
@shenzi
|
|
