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 Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:09 pm
Hantu stretched, groaning with pleasure as her muscles tightened in with that 'sweet pain' feeling that she loved. Satisfied, she pulled back into a seated position and let out a loud yawn, but stifled it quickly - she should not yawn in public, lest anyone see her... after all, she was a lady.
With tired green eyes, the pale-furred lioness scanned the savannah - there was nothing to eat, bar bugs, in sight. She pouted, and growled. Early morning, the time when everyone was still asleep. How boring.
How she wanted to run off, out of the den, and into the longer grasses... to go on some sort of adventure. Sighing, she shook her head. She was only to leave the Pridelands when she was older - and that would only be briefly. Truth be told, she loved her homeland. One day, she'd make it her business to learn it's politics, and the best ways to take down a creature in hunt.
Thinking of this, the ghostly female snapped back into reality as she noticed a butterfly drift past... and she crouched down, growling playfully. Then, when the opportunity was right, she leapt up, batting the insect gently with one paw. She did this a few times, but paused when the butterfly flew straight out of the den.
"Awww, no way," she grumbled, her shoulders sagging, "How'm I supposed to catch it when it goes out of the den? Am I even allowed to leave at this hour?"
She hadn't asked her parents permission, after all. What to do, what to do?
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:31 pm
The sound of another's voice had stirred Sukari from his formerly peaceful rest. From what he could tell, if something was going around him, he certainly wasn't able to sleep through it. What was the point of waisting the day, anyway? There was certainly more fun things to do than sleep, like playing with your siblings, or chasing butterflies, or both!
Which, coincidentally, was where the morning had started him.
In all honesty, Sukari hadn't been up very long that morning, so it wasn't so bad he'd been listening in on Hantu. She was talking out loud, anyway. And, when you talked outloud, that meant you wanted someone to hear, right? Reguardless of it being right or wrong, Sukari had heard all of what Hantu said, and had seen the interaction with the small insect. Stretching up from his resting position, he bound over, grinning.
"You chase it, of course!" He squeaked, attention flickering between Hantu and the butterfly itself. Wiggling in excitement, Sukari bound from his current spot, turning back to Hantu as he landed in a flop. If they hurried out now, they could easily catch the butterfly! It wouldn't get away from the two of them, working together. And then, there'd be even more fun when they caught it, because it wouldn't just be him playing with the butterfly! The idea of that alone made him giddy.
"So let's go, let's go, let's go! I don't want it to go away!" Sukari added, forcing himself to sit still for a moment. If he took off without his sister, then he couldn't make sure she was following along! And that would take all the fun of playing with another lion. Because, well, if there wasn't another lion to play with, you couldn't exactly play with one! ..Right?
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:52 pm
Hantu paused, not knowing whether to follow her sibling or not. Sukari was a playful brother - and one so full of life, that a lot of the time Hantu herself found it hard to keep up! But she took one look at the butterfly, flitting away, and instantly gave in.
"Right!" she agreed, bounding by Sukari's side, "But... but won't our parent's be... won't everyone else wonder where we... w-w-what if we get lost?! Sukaaaariiiii!"
But, it seemed useless, really. Maybe, she supposed, she should stop worrying and get a move on - and, for once, have a taste of adventure.
"Ah... oh, oh," she darted after him and the butterfly, out of the den and through the grass, "Oh, fine! I'm comiiiing, Sukaaaariii!"
In an instant, she was running, pouncing beside her brother, attempting to catch the fluttering insect above. At first, she'd been concerned about leaving the den, but soon, she lost all sense of direction and care - and bounded after the insect without a care in the world, nor any knowledge of where they were going.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:12 pm
"It'll be fine!" Sukari called back as he leapt for the butterfly, only partially watching what his sister was doing. The butterfly, at the present time, called for more of his focus. And he'd be able to go back to Hantu if she didn't catch up!
Pawing playfully at the butterfly as he chased it, not quite up to a pounce, Sukari was enthralled with the little hunt he'd initiated. Hantu was actually good company, when she loosened up a bit. From the little he knew of her, she always seemed very poised and proper. Maybe it was something about being a girl?
Taking a moment to consider the idea, Sukari was taken off guard when Hantu caught up, bounding after the bug without a care in the world. Giggling, he followed after her, a spring and bounce in his chase after her.
"Get it, get it, get it!" He encouraged, taking a few steps behind Hantu. She'd found the butterfly, so it was only fair that she would be the one to catch it!
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:15 pm
"Uh, uh, uh!" the little lady was now totally engrossed in Sukari's game, and her playful side escaped as she leapt into the air, cupping the butterfly in her paws with one swipe, "Caught i- OOF!"
She collapsed, exhausted onto the floor, giggling like the girl she was, letting that rare smile leak out. Then, when she'd caught her breath, she opened her palms a little to show Sukari the butterfly.
"Ain't it pretty, brother?" she stared, awestruck, through the openings of her paw, as the insect delicately opened and closed it's wings, "It's just so... gorgeous!"
She felt gratitude, knowing fully well that Sukari had allowed her this catch. She supposed it was the same as learning how to hunt - and then, an idea formed into her head.
"Say, Sukari," she rolled onto the floor, opening her clasped paws and letting the butterfly free, "This... is kind of like hunting, isn't it?"
She was genuinely interested. Hantu had wanted to know how to hunt from the word go - and she wondered whether Sukari, on any of his brief adventures, had learnt any interesting moves.
"You're the type to dive headfirst into something like hunting," she shot her brother a cheeky grin, and pawed at his legs playfully, "So, got any moves that you know. Dangerous ones?"
She paused, and, completely out of character, suggested something.
"How about a game of truth or dare?"
Hey, even proper little ladies had to be mischievous sometime.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:39 pm
Joining in the giggle with his sister and padding to her side, Sukari sat beside her, watching her reveal her prior catch. It was a beautiful little thing, he realized, as it so peacefully sat in her paws.
Nodding in agreement, he watched as the butterfly fluttered out of her grasp, and back into the open world on its own. Turning to her in response to her question, he blinked.
"Well, I guess it's like it," he started, scrunching his face up as he thought for a moment. Quite frankly, he knew nothing of how to really hunt, but it seemed enough like it. You chased, and you caught, right? They both worked the same way, then!
"And, of course I do!" He chirped proudly, hopping up and shuffling a bit of distance from Hantu. Dropping to a crouch, with a minor tail-wiggle added, he crawled in her direction.
"See, you start low like this, so they can't see 'ya comin'. Or something like that, I think. And, when you're nice and close, so that you can pounce, you tense every little part of your body, and.." following his own directions as he dictated them, Sukari pulled back into a tight, waiting stance, prepared to pull off an extrodinary pounce.
Of course, the question of Truth or Dare caught him off guard, and his pounce turned into a half-attempt at a flail. Looking to Hantu with an expression of disbelief, Sukari cocked his head to the side.
"Truth or dare? S...Sure!" He said, beaming. Hey, it was more time to spend with Hantu, right? And it had to be fun, if Hantu was playing it.
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:55 pm
Hantu frowned slightly as she observed her brother's hunting moves. Actually, when she thought about it, he wasn't all that bad. Maybe he'd be able to show her some moves one day. It seemed as if Sukari had a lot of it worked out, and even though they were still cubs, hunting would probably come to them with age. She felt impressed at her brother's knowledge, and couldn't quite help but be a little envious that he had more of an idea of hunting than she. Who'd taught him, she wondered. Had Papa given him lessons, or had Sukari just thought about it himself?
Well, she supposed, he was her brother. And Hantu regarded everyone in her family as intelligent and noble. She smiled, and, feeling free of envy, let out a laugh at Sukari's antics.
Then, it came to her. The game.
"Well," she changed the subject, nudging her brother's shoulder playfully with a forepaw, "How about we put that hunting talent of yours to the test, Sukari?"
She paused, and grinned, her tail swaying a little mischieviously.
"Truth or dare. A game of courage, really. Some say it's just a game to entertain kids," she swerved, circling Sukari with a smile, and trying her best to look as grown-up and intimidating as she could, without being 'mean', "But you know, this game is not for those without strength. So, are you sure that you want to play?"
Her pale green eyes surged a sudden strong emerald in colour, as if they were suddenly coming to life with excitement.
"So, Sukari," she grinned, "Which would you prefer? Truth... or dare?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:53 pm
Sukari settled in to listen to the rules of this new game, grinning widely from ear to ear. There were so many games that Hantu probably knew! How many of them did HE know? It was something he'd have to ask her later.
"Truth or dare," he repeated the name, listening to her explanation. It sounded fun! He almost squeaked out a yes in anger, when she questioned his strength, but she'd gone on to ask him a question. That was a part of the game, then? It seemed easy enough!
Pawing at the ground as he thought, Sukari considered both of these posibilities, debating which to pick. Truth sounded.. well, easy! Truth was what mama and papa encouraged you to tell, instead of lies. So, it'd just be talking. Dare, though, seemed harder, but easily more fun. Like a challenge!
Bouncing up with his decision, Sukari had his answer.
"Dare!"
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:38 am
The female cub shot her brother an impressed grin, and nodded her head as she did, chuckling.
"Dare, huh?" she almost laughed a little, but managed to keep a straight face... after all, she needed to convince Sukari that this was more than some fun, it was a challenge, "Phshaw, so you're feeling confident today, brother. Alright. Dare it is."
She nudged him playfully with her shoulder, and smiled, devilishly. This could turn out to be good. Really good.
"And have I got the dare for you, Sukari!"
She poked a forepaw forward, grinning from ear to ear as she did, and pointed to the long grass in front of her. A strange prey-scent was wafting from the other side, but the grass was longer than the cubs could see over... so what lay over the other side was a mystery, indeed. Soon, they'd see what kind of preybeast it was. Hantu grinned, and pulled back some of the grass with a paw.
"You need to catch whatever's behind that grass," she grinned, and shot Sukari a grin, "Or, if you're too chicken to find out what's there..."
She waited for a response, flicking her tail with amusement. She had no idea what was beyond the grass... it could be anything. Maybe an antelope, or something.
Hey, it couldn't be that bad?
... could it?
She pushed away the nervousness that was rising in her throat. Now wasn't the time for that. It was time for the game.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:27 pm
"Of course I'm confident!" He squeaked out boldly, trying to puff up to seem bigger, and stronger. A little game never hurt anybody, and he could handle this! Sukari began to stretch himself out a bit, until she called him a chicken. Flattening his ears intimidatingly, Sukari shook his head.
"Nuh-uh! I'm not a chicken! I can go get it, just watch!" Sukari cried, charging off into the grasses with a great deal of enthusiasm. His run dropped low, into a sort of quickly-paced stalk, tail proudly in the air. He'd show Hantu how great of a hunter he really was! If he could catch butterflies, then he could easily catch whatever lay beyond the grasses!
His run stopped entirely as Sukari quieted down, trying to use some of the techniques he used to catch landed butterflies. And so, he crawled along, appraoching his dare with excitement thudding in his chest.
He was going to win this game!
(( Do you want to decide what it is? Because, I think you should, just for the effect of suprise. XD ))
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:19 pm
(( xDD Sure, Trin! ))
Hantu grinned. At once she pushed through the grass alongside her brother, and then crouched down, muscles quivering with excitement, in the grass.
Here, she could speak to him... whisper to him, and do so without lunging for the unknown preybeast herself. Perfect. She stifled a giggle, and lay next to her brother. He'd always managed to get a smile out of her, that was one of his strong points. But as for the Dare... well, she'd soon see what kind of hunter he was.
Slowly, she rose, just as Sukari had left her side. Hantu couldn't help but feel slightly proud of him... proud of Sukari, her own blood, going after whatever was over there. But then, in an instant, something was bothering her, and her tail flicked with silent agitation.
Why was she feeling so... strange?
She tensed, and took in the preybeast's scent, keeping her calm and closing her eyes. There. It seeped through her, and into her lungs... she knew it, distantly, but could not put a paw on what it was.
Then, suddenly, it came to her... and Hantu made the mistake of making a loud gasp.
"SUKARI!" she yelled, seeking find his tail, and wanting to yank her brother right back into safety, "Don't go after it! It's... it's..."
A huge, grey animal poked it's sharp nose through the grass, alerted by her scream... and it huffed furiously as it did.
A rhino!
"Run, ruuuuun!" Hantu cried, as the beast came hurtling towards them.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:03 pm
This had certainly caught Sukari off guard. Skittering to a stop as fast as his little paws would allow, he turned quickly, sprinting off toward his sister once more. Well, so much for proving how brave he was! Now, more then anything, he had to prove how fast of a runner he was with his sister.
Even as fear coursed through his body, there was a powerful sense of excitement rushing through him. Or maybe that was just fear, too. Clawing furiously through the grasses, in a desperate attempt for him to get away, he flashed a glance over to Hantu.
"I'll run this way, you go the opposite!" He squeaked out, as best possible in mid-run. Sprinting and talking wasn't something he was used to..
..Then again, running from a rhino wasn't every-day experience, either.
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Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:52 pm
Hantu let out a startled cry, and lunged - body stretching mid-leap... and dropping to the ground the next second. Every time she run, she'd push herself forward with her back legs, and the force that followed propelled her further.
The little lion hadn't run like this in ages. In spite of the situation, Hantu began to laugh... oh, how exciting this was! She was going so fast, with a dangerous beast after her throat... and, despite her life being threatened, she was having a ball.
"I'll run this way, you go the opposite!" came Sukari's voice, and Hantu squeaked a reply, before hurtling off, grinning, into the opposite direction.
Suddenly, in mid run, white hot pain seized her side, and Hantu yelped... and with a crash, she lay, panting, in the higher grass.
"A stooopid stitch," she groaned, and held her side with a forepaw. Then, it happened. A crackling sound, just through the other side of the grass. Ducking behind a rock, but still feeling incredibly vulnerable, Hantu muscles quivered, and her breath shook with a hoarse rattle. She was so tired, that it almost hurt to breathe. So much for having 'fun'.
Oh, gosh. Where had her brother gone? Was Sukari alright?
The crackling sound drew closer, and Hantu grimaced. Now was the time to attack. If she couldn't run, she'd strike. She prepared herself to ambush her pursuer, claws drawn and kneading the earth nervously.... and then, she brightened.
Perhaps, she reasoned, this were all part of a game... a crazy, crazy game where she and Sukari were the main characters. Perhaps this was just a figment of the imagination, running wild and messing with their under-developed senses. And heck, even if it were real, she could pretend it wasn't. It was merely a game... and the thrill of it left Hantu panting and running as fast as she could, little legs pushing her nimbly forward.
"Let's go, Sukari!" she called with a daring laugh, and streaked through the long grass, not caring whether or not the beast was after her anymore. What really mattered was surviving... and surely having fun while doing so was alright, too? After all, if she got hit, she got hurt... that's all that could happen, right?
And as the cub disappeared off, keeping a sharp eye out for Sukari, she held hardly any fear in her mind. Ah, the young. Totally naive of danger and death at such a young age.
Perhaps she wouldn't be so lucky later.
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