[PRP][VIKING] This was a Mistake (Jirru Beyln and Vil/Elda)

[ChaosTheories]

They were off to find a thrall. Eldahildr had no idea how, or what kind, but she wanted a new thrall for herself and now that her mind was set on it, the details didn't matter. She would find one and claim it for her own, and her current relationship problems would hopefully be solved. Vilhelmas could officially retire and do what he wanted, since he was barely a thrall anyway. Oh, and perhaps there would be more cubs in their future... she shook her head. Hormones must have been getting to her, since she doubted Vilhelmas had the same thoughts at this point. He was angry with her.

Vilhelmas gazed across the plains. They had split off from their band to do some searching of their own, and he was certain the captain would scold them for wandering off, but Eldahildr didn't care. At the very least, Vilhelmas could keep an eye out and help her on her mission, but his heart wasn't really into it. Elda was determined to get a replacement for him and her mind was made up. He also had to admit he was enjoying being outside of the pride, even though he was annoyed with Elda. She had abandoned him and he hadn't forgiven her... even though she was trying very hard to make it up to him. Even he had to admit that.

But so far, all they saw was long, yellow grass. If anything was out there, they had yet to find it.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

Jirru had been stalking a hare, when the lion pair showed up, and their stark variant against the grass around them made them stand out almost painfully, while the oblivious rodent continued munching his shorter grasses and hopping along the path.

She did a mental tally and... she would swear she hadn't crossed any marked borders. It was hardly possible to be trespassing on owned territory. They didn't look to have spotted the hare, or didn't care, so she wasn't stealing a meal, and there wasn't water to fight over in the immediate vicinity.

Satisfied she hadn't broken any laws, her eyes slipped back to her quarry and her shoulders rotated as it munched. More lightning than grace, she pounced her meal and, satisfied with the silencing of its terrified little wail, set into lunch, leaving the lions to their own. She was sure her silver coat stood out against the grasses, but as they had no reason she could find to quarrel with her, she doubted it would make much difference.

Still, she glanced up at them once, to gauge their interest in her kill.

ChaosTheories

 

[ChaosTheories]

"Did you hear that?" Eldahildr's ears perked as she thought she heard the squeak of the hare. "Something or someone is around here..." She dropped the volume of her voice, in case they had already been seen or heard. "We're not along any pride borders, are we? Eh, no matter. Let's look."

Elda lowered herself into stalking position and crept in the direction of the sound. Even if it was just food, it'd still be something to take back to the band.

Vilhelmas heard the sound too, but he was more hesitant. It could be a trap or a large, dangerous animal lying in the grass just out of sight. The two of them wouldn't want to take on a rhino, or worse, an elephant. Still, if it was some kind of feline or canine that would make the perfect thrall... Perhaps it was worth taking a chance.

He quickly copied Eldahildr and followed before she could get too far. He flanked her left, keeping his eyes and ears open. Wait, what was that silvery thing in the grass? Some kind of feline? He pawed Eldahildr and gestured towards the sight. When she confirmed she saw it too, they split, hoping to surround Jirru unnoticed.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

Alert as she was, Jirru's ears picked up on the larger cats' distant voices. There wasn't enough skill in her ears for tracking to hear them after the dark figures ducked under the tall sunlit grass. She dropped her own head for the hiding, and as she looked around, suddenly every shadow was the lion and lioness, and she kneaded the ground beneath her paws while she waited to decide it was some kind of trap. Or worse, a hunting circle.

Deciding she didn't like the looming silence of the field, anymore, Jirru tilted her ears behind her and gathered the remains of her kill in her maw, glancing to either side and starting a light trot, trying not to look like she was looking over her shoulder quite as much as she was.

ChaosTheories

 

[ChaosTheories]

Eldahildr thought they were in luck and that the approach was going really well. They were so close to the feline, she could start making out her species. Oh, a cheetah! A lean creature, smaller than a lion but much faster. Wait, that could be a problem...

Jirru must have heard them because she picked up something - a kill - and looked side to side. Eldahildr flattened herself and held still as the cheetah's eyes scanned the scenery. She held her breath until Jirru started moving away. Not at full speed... yet.

Vilhelmas had settled at the other side of Jirru. His lighter mane helped him blend in, but he was all too aware that his dark pelt made him stand out. It also absorbed the heat more, so it was hard to resist shifting his body when Jirru went on guard. She started to leave, so he followed. If he could just get closer...

But suddenly, Eldahildr burst from the grass. "It's a cheetah! Quick, catch her before she gets to full speed!" With that, Eldahildr put on a burst of speed and tried to cut Jirru off from the side.

Vilhelmas cursed to himself. Elda should have waited! He grunted and spend forward too, trying to cut her off from the other side, in case she turned.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

Jirru had been trying to track their motions, and so far unsuccessful. When the lioness sounded the hunt, she didn't wait to hear the whole statement to start off. She curled herself in a cheetah's lithe way when she found a pile of lioness in her path, and bounced off the wall of lion with a grunt, when she did try to turn.

She dropped the hare and set instead to backing away, her tail tucked close to her heels and ears tilted back warily. "Now... We can talk about this... You want the rabbit? There it is! I'll leave... just tell me which direction your border's in and I'll go completely the other way. Sound good? No need to maul anypelt today, right?"

ChaosTheories

 

[ChaosTheories]

Eldahildr's quick thinking let her get in the way of the cheetah. She grinned with a nasty glint in her eye just as her quarry turned and Vilhelmas was there to block her path. Quite literally, as she hit him right in the chest. She had to bite her tongue from laughing. She'd have to tease Vilhelmas about that later!

Vilhelmas wasn't expecting to have the smaller feline run into him so he let out a puff of air and braced against the impact. Were cheetahs all such sprightly things? No wonder he didn't see many of them as thralls around the pride...

Eldahildr blinked at Jirru when she offered her meal. The lioness snorted and ignored it. "You are not near a pride, and we do not want your food. We think you'd make a great little pet, though..." she smiled and massaged her claws into the earth. "Healthy and fit. Yes, you'd make a great thrall. We'd just have to teach her some obedience, right Vilhelmas?"

The lion stood still and stoic, his bright eyes fixed on Jirru.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

The cheetah ducked as she backed up further, her tail tucked against her heels while she moved back from the lion pair. "Yeah, y'know, I don't really need any lessons, so I think I'll skip the class and... y'know, maybe the whole.. following-two-very-large-lions-home bit, hmm?" She steadied her pace backwards and started into a k-turn to make her retreat. "Maybe you can just.. look for another kitty to be your thrall, yeah?"

ChaosTheories

 

[ChaosTheories]

Eldahildr tried to cut off Jirru's attempt to back away with her bulkier body. "Oh no, you don't get to choose. You aren't the one in charge here. I am, and for your own good, you should listen."

She growled deeply, her face as close to the cheetah and she could be in that position, threatening to bite down on something soft and potentially vital.

Vilhelmas, meanwhile, stood his ground, and couldn't help but roll his eyes a little. Eldahildr was certainly enjoying putting on a show. If she wasn't careful, it'd go from intimidating to cheesy territory. This cheetah was a bit mouthier than he would have liked for his potential replacement, too. Not that he would say anything to Eldahildr.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

The cheetah gave a soft smile and tilted her head on her shoulders. "Oh, but I am listening. The lovely lioness and her mate are telling me I shouldn't have come and certainly shouldn't remain."

The slender cat gave a rueful smile, before she turned and tried to set a fire under her paws. Sadly, a runner had to get their start somewhere. If the lioness was quick enough to react... Well, cheetahs weren't exactly built to argue with lions.

ChaosTheories

 

[ChaosTheories]

And there she goes. Vilhelmas had heard that cheetahs were speedy, but he'd never seen one really put on the speed. The whole thing was so shocking to the lion that he didn't even think to try going after her. What lions had in strength, cheetahs had in speed, that was certainly clear.

Eldahildr reacted as fast as a lioness could, which was not fast enough for the smaller, leaner cat. She swiped at Jirru but her paw only met empty air, and the momentum from her frantic swipe quickly had her face first in the dirt.

"Vilhelmas, do something!" She yelled, trying but failing to get up with some dignity.

Vilhelmas bounded forward to chase Jirru, but his heart wasn't really in it. She was going to outrun him. Unless she tripped in a hole or something.

Ruhane Chiisai

 

[Ruhane Chiisai]

ChaosTheories

Jirru seemed surprised she'd managed to get away and leapt in the air just for good measure, as if to tease her would-be captors. At one point in her joyful little jumps, though, she didn't resurface from the grass.

Instead was scattered three or four birds to the air, and the scurrying of small grass-dwellers could be heard among the tall grasses. Even in his half-hearted chase, Vilhelmas would find Jirru in a heap atop the freshly-evacuated gopher den that had collapsed under her weight, trying to piece her very rung bells back together.