Post by Elimnyama on Sept 3, 2006 1:46:07 GMT -5
Prince Elimnyama and his daughters Almasi and Miali were lounging by the river one afternoon in Tyne... but when a black-hearted hyena arrives, horrible things ensue!
}*{ Tyne }*{ Bilauli Rapids
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
| |
| From the Kimaji River sprouts the most active portion of any waterway in |
| Tyne, and the only source of white-water if you don't count Kijitu Lake's |
| baby falls. The ground is littered with rocks of an immense variety, their |
| size anything from pebbles to jagged stones to large boulders. Water trips |
| and tumbles over and around them, creating a light mist and a fair amount |
| of small rainbows. While the water is relatively shallow here, crossing is |
| still fairly dangerous, the rocks not providing secure footing. |
| |
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
| Commands: 'thelp' |
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
Waset, Big Momma. Elimnyama, in training.
Exits:
Towards the Pride Lands, Into Hilly Terrain
Up to Kijitu Lake
[IC ] Elimnyama, male lion [zzz] Waset, female barbary lioness
Almasi has arrived.
Hawai has arrived.
The weather lately has been rather capricious and largely unpredictable. Heavy, slate grey clouds drift over a sky that, when visible, is a beautiful powder blue. When the sun does manage to poke through it heats the fur with surprising speed, and when it is absent the breeze blowing through is comfortably brisk. Elimnyama is lying in repose beside the river, his head raised and for his own particular reasons a firm glare is in place upon his face. It's directed toward the river's rapids that reside a scant few feet away, and the dark prince is simply thinking although anyone unfamiliar with him would probably wonder, based on his expression, whether somebody had died.
Almasi is wandering along the near the water, or it was when she was back near the river.. She's in search of them croc's and hippos that Hyacinthe was talking about.. So far she's seen NONE and is wrondering if he evern knows what his talking about. She doesn't expect to run into her parents out here seeing how she keeps sneaking out from the cave and all which will most likely leave her grounded when they find out. Not like that will stop her by anymeans. She pauses as she catches sight of the rapids and blinks while trodding towards the edge to peer at the water while her tail sways about as she's never seen water move this fast before it seems.
He's quite oblivious to everything as he stares blankly and determinedly at the swift moving rapids. Though Almasi - and Miali as well as the fiery grey cub bounces into view near Almasi - both move within his peripheral vision Elim' doesn't stir for quite a while. Eventually he glances over at the girls, his style almost reluctant, and then he is slow to offer a smile as he watches them gambol around. Miali hops up to Almasi's side and tilts her head as she catches sight of the rapids. "S'that?" she asks of her sibling, her little headstrong heart immediately filled with the desire to go investigate.
Almasi settles on her haunches while her tail lashes, blinking she glances to her sister half expecting to get shoved into the water but glad that doesn't happen. She never knows what Miali after all. "Looking for a crocidale and a nippo." She offers while her tail wiggles about and her ears perk forward. "What you doing out here?" The girld questions curiously.
The forest thins out shortly before it reaches the river, and between the line of trees and the shore is a mottled series of small jagged boulders. Unknown to the happy family some ways away a rather sinister presence is lurking among these boulders, slipping as less than a shadow from niche to niche to hide. Silvery blue eyes narrowed into slits Hawai keeps watch over all three, smiling sadistically to herself as she ponders her upcoming actions.
"What'n heck's a /nippo/?" Miali asks, looking dubiously back at Almasi. Now that it occurs to her pushing her sister into the water isn't such a terrible idea. "I's just lookin' fer some'in to do. Who said there's nippo's here? Water's all that's here, /duh/." Pink tongue slips out and excitedly brushes across her lips and nose as Miali continues to watch the rapids with hungry curiousity. Elimnyama for his part does nothing to alert the girls to his presence. His eyes on them are rather unconcerned - after all, they're nowhere near the water just yet. Waset's always getting on his case for being too anxious over the kids' safety, and for once he feels no need to be worried. They're all safe here. It's a good place to be.
Almasi blinks some and huffs some. "I dono.. Hyacinthe was talking bout it and corcidale which have HUGE teeth and head." This said while she sits on her haunches and uses her forepaws to make the huge jaws. "Hyac said dey can eat ya whole!" She offers whie her tail wiggles about and she grins. "He dono if any are here but I bet der cool to look ats."
It's a very good situation. It won't be hard for her to pull it off. Hawai gazes eagerly at the two small cubs, delighting in the venemous black hatred she can feel coursing through her veins into her heart at the sight of them. It has the sensation of something thick and glutinous and it makes her feel grimy and unclean - yet it is a feeling she quite enjoys. If she could, Hawai would perpetuate this feeling for it gives her a delicious high.. A brief, slant-eyed look is given to the lazy male lion.. She'll need to strike and get away as quick as possible, for the goal here is NOT to lose her own life. Hmmmmmm.. Just a few more moments, and the time will surely be just right.
Hyacinthe has arrived.
A huge yawn errupts out of Elimnyama's muzzle and he relaxes onto his side, stretching out comfortably in the grass. Ahhh. He is in a state of total tranquility and he allows his mind to wander unchecked. It's not so bad, this father business. Sure it was nerve-wracking at first, and now that things have calmed down the days pass in a way that's almost .. well, boring. But relaxing, no doubt about that. As she is downwind, the hyena that is lurking nearby goes undetected by the father as he lies down his head and releases a sigh as he closes his eyes. Miali casts another incredulous look at Almasi and snorts through her minute nostrils. "An' who's /Hyancinthe/?" she retorts, supposing that anyone with such a stupid name has got to be stupid themselves.
Almasi ears flick at the yawn and she blinks peering over to their father. When did HE get here? She watches a few moments and grins as he just lays down to sleep it seems. She huhs and looks back to her sister. "Well.. His my friend. He and his mom are gona stay here for a while." She offers with a nod and smiles. "His really kewl! His like been -ALLLLL- over de place." Looks like someon's found a rolemodle to latch onto. As for the hyena, what's a hyena?..
"/Hyacinthe/ is a /BOY/?" Miali's emerald eyes widen dramatically and a wicked little grin curls the edges of her muzzle. "Are y'kiddin'? That's totally a /girl/ name. Does he look like a girl?" And yet right after this question, which was apparently asked simply for the purpose of distracting Almasi, Miali drops into a sudden dive and lunges at one of her sister's defenseless paws with her mean little teeth. HA! Elim' merely continues to relax and he thoroughly intends to keep enjoying the lack of activity until circumstances make his full consciousness an absolute necessity. Ahhh. Happy sigh.
Almasi blinks.. "Hey.. Wait, no he looks like a boy.. Why wouldn't he?" The girls questions while her mismatched eyes blink. She huffs some and her ears lower wondering why her sister ALWAYS does this. A sudden squeal escapes her as the other lunges and nips at her paws. She sits up and batbatbatbats her forepaws at her sister's head trying to make her back off it seems. "Mial!!" Eh, she is forever getting picked on..
Hyacinthe /is/ a boy and looks very much /like/ a boy too. He's supposed to be waiting for his mother to return, yet again, but, like before, has chosen instead to take to his own paws and...do something else. Anything else. He's already explored a bit around the lake and has followed the water's path to this point, where the dull roar of the rapids has managed to grab his attention. Trotting along the water's edge, keen dark eyes following the path of silvery fish as they dart through the shallows, he keeps his ears on the water's path itself, occasionally glancing about -just incase- Anas might be around to catch him. It is in once such glance that Hya catches sight of Elimnyama, lounging as he is. The sight of the large male makes Hya almost immediately drop where he's at to better hide; he's met many an unfriendly male before in his short time. But Almasi's squeal is also heard, something that grabs his interest. Trying to keep hidden, yet peer over the grasses at the same time, Hyacinthe's head can be seen, should any look his way, just barely peeking over his chosen hiding area.
Why DOES Miali always do this? She baits her siblings and then, when they fail to have the reaction she desires of attacking her, she typically succumbs to impatience and launches an attack on them instead. Anything to cause a little excitement. People are always more exciting when they're angry. Almasi's furious batting has plenty of effect: it makes Miali laugh heartily and bite at her sister's legs with even happier determination. Soon she's pounced forward, aiming to knock Almasi to the ground in a full-blown wrestling match, quite oblivious to the arrival of the very boycub they were just discussing. At the sound of Almasi's outcry Elim' blinks his eyes open and reluctantly raises his head, frowning in the cubs' direction. "Kids?"
Nostrils dialate within her thick, stubby muzzle as she continues to hide behind her boulder downwind. Hawai actually has to swallow to keep her mouth from overflowing with saliva induced by sheer anticipation. She has no taste for blood, only an unholy desire to inflict harm. Her own children..... Well, she won't think about that, but others' children have no business being happy or healthy. Children must learn - they MUST be -taught- early on that life is harsh and unforgiving. She will disabuse these two children of their current ignorance. Quietly she crouches and then, abruptly, she pitches herself forward and flies over the short distance separating her from Almasi and Miali. A savage growl rumbles forward as she closes in, tendrils of saliva flying out of the corners of her open mouth.
Almasi whines some as she finds herself getting shoved to the ground.. Great here it goes -AGAIN-.. Though at this moment she chooses to fight back it seems. Her hindpaws are shoved upwards and she tries to push Miali over her head while her forepaws rest on her sister's shoulders gripping slightly. If she is able to swing her sister over her then -she'll- be the one ontop pinning her dear sister to the ground in stead! As for her father and anything else she doesn't pay a -bit- of attention to. Well not like she has a reason to mind you. Though something catches her attention, mismatched eyes lifting to blink at the oncoming hyena and her ears flatten. Something about this is not good, a chil runs down her spine while her eyes just widen. Someone seems rather scared and most likely makes a very easy target thanks to it..
A lion with cubs. Surely he can't be a blood-thirsty, savage beast, right? Hyacinthe's courage grows enough to let him lift his body a bit more to peer at the cubs, recognition of Almasi dawning finally. He knows that one! With a wary glance at Elimnyama, the boycub decides to, at the very least, greet a friend; if it goes awry, he can always high-tail it. Or so he believes. Hyacinthe takes a few steps towards the playing cubs, only to freeze, stock-still, as another form makes itself known. And not only that, but it fairly rushes at the other two cubs. Hyena! He's seen those too. Nasty beasts. Terror freezes the cub to the spot for the moment.
Though Almasi's sudden dumbness would indeed make a very easy target for her renegade sister, that rustle of movement catches Miali's attention in the same instant as her sisters and she looks up as well. She utters a little gasp as terror rushes into her heart at the sight of the hyena, and a second later she pierces the air with a shrill, nerve-shattering scream. As the scene unfolds in a second Elimnyama's heart leaps into his throat and he's on his feet and running before he recalls giving his body the order to move. "GIRLS! RUN!"
The thunder of her paws creates the percussion beat that will begin the bloody symphony. Sadly due to the presence of the lion, Hawai knows her work will have to be short. She will need to inflict the most damage and get away in the least amount of time in order to save her own valuable skin. The lion's shout makes her laugh loudly as she continues to gallop toward his children. "YES! RUN!" she shrieks derisively an instant before she is upon them. She lunges first for Almasi, taking no particular aim except vaguely for the facial region. If she can slash the throat, wonderful. If she can rip out an eye, perfect. No preference as long as blood is shed. This horrible obsession is in no way inherent to hyenas: Hawai is a special case.
Run?.. The thought crosses Almasi's mind but she can't get her paws to move other then to hunker down and quiver. A hiss escapes her at the charging hyena seems to go for her first. She bites back trying to get hold of the hynea's cheek while the monster's jaws get hold of her shoulder area and rips into her without much of a problem. A pained squeal escapes her while her paws lashes out trying to get free from the hyena. GReat.. She is going to be SO traumatized once this is over..
What in the world is going on? Hyacinthe can only stare dumbly as the hyena sets upon the other cubs, suddenly wishing he hadn't disobeyed his own mother. Yet, Hya isn't a pride-raised cub and has seen, for his age, his fair share of violence. He could run - and indeed, he should. But Almasi's squeal holds him where he is; what does he do?! Paws dancing in indecision and a strange mix of terror for himself and terror for the fate of the other two, he finally lets his paws take charge; Hyacinthe turns for Elimnyama and the two girls.
Miali continues to scream piercingly until Hawai is actually upon them at which point she suddenly heeds her father's warning and turns on her heel. But in the instant the hyena picks Almasi to attack, a sudden flash of anger rises over her crushing terror. Anger on her sister's behalf. It's very brief but fierce and it gives her a second of courage that carries her though lunging at the hyena's face. Her small teeth, cut on her poor siblings' flesh, aim for Hawai's sensitive eyes above all else, and though she doesn't growl or indeed make any noise at all, inside Miali's heart and mind are raging in a torrent of brief, passionate fury. ... Elimnyama in the meantime has closed the distance, but at exactly the wrong moment a dip in the group makes him lose his footing abruptly. He goes down, his landing punctuated by a cry of pain as a few of those small, jagged rocks that line the river's shores break his fall. But almost instantly he is on his paws again and running. His anger is slow to arrive; all that is in him now is terrified desperation. Desperation to save his children.
Hawai ceases to laugh as she gets down to the real, swift work of slashing and blood-letting. Hyacinthe and even Elimnyama are entirely disregarded in those first few beautiful moments of unrestrained carnage. She rips into Almasi with glee, cutting wherever she can as fast as possible. The only snag results when tiny teeth collide with her cheek and, in their infantile ferocity, progress quickly to her eye, opening a gash near it that causes her own blood to run into vision and then into her sinuses. Hawai reels back and rounds on Miali with a murderous snarl. The lion is getting closer. Lucky there was so much distance between them at the start. Hyena teeth fall on the grey girl cub and rip wherever they can. In her desire to avenge her eye wound, Hawai grows a little too focused on her attack on Miali and Elimnyama is for a second or two entirely forgotten.
Almasi bites and chomps down as hard as she can on the hyena's cheek while her shoulder is ripped into and out wounds offered thanks to getting slammed about and such. When her sister attacks she's at least dropped when the hyena goes fot Miali. She hits the ground with a thud and wails at the feeling of the harsh fall, and her ripped open shoulder. Though her cries are soon quitened as she watches wide eyed as the hyena attacks her sibling and there's nothing she can do about it.. The red girl attempes to get up but can't move without more pain running over her form. So she lays there unable to do anything but watch with stunned fear as tears steam down her cheeks.
Desperation is the emotion of the second it seems, for it too, rings in Hyacinthe as he charges, unthinkingly, towards the attack. The distance isn't as far as it seemed before and, in fact, is altogether too quickly closed. Hyacinthe doesn't think or really notice that Almasi has been released and Miali turned upon instead. No, thought doesn't play an important role in the youngster's head any more. A ball of dark-brindled fury launches itself into the fray, claws unsheathed and teeth bared in the stupid assumption he can land such instruments upon the hyena - to be honest, the hyena's limbs are about all he can see and focus on.
A sudden sob leaves Miali and her fury instantly subsides as the first shock of pain from Hawai's teeth hits her. She's not angry now! She doesn't want to fight anymore! She just wants to get away! But almost in the same instant the father figure arrives on the scene. The anger that left Miali seemingly has flown into Elimnyama so that when he finally reaches them he is blinded to anything but the desire to see the hyena killed. Even little Miali is forgotten for the moment - for presently she dangles from the hyena's jaws - and Hyacinthe is not seen at all as Elim' with a roar aims to ram himself headlong into Hawai's unprotected side.
Hawai lets out a snarl that is muffled by Miali's presence in her jaws as she is struck by the full force of the lion. Both would-be killer and cub go rolling away, possibly right over poor Hyacinthe, and Hawai releases Miali in an instant allowing the cub to go flying in whatever direction fate decrees. Pain shoots up her spine and through her ribs from the impact but even as she hits the ground she does so running, well-aware that a single second's hesitation will result in her death at the lion's teeth and claws. Spitting and snarling ferociously, Hawai scampers quickly away through a great deal of pain, making for the temporary shelter of the distant forest. If there's any justice in the world, her heart reflects stormily, then that lion's children will die of blood-loss or infection .. or at the very least suffer permanent bodily damage.
It's just as well; Hyacinthe would have missed the mark. Both hyena and Miali do go over him, the impact sending the brindled boy rolling a short distance away. Half dazed, but mostly dizzy, he lays on his back a moment, a jumbled mess of paws, staring uncomprehendingly at the sky above him. Unobtrusive and unnoticed, he seems content to merely lay there until the world stops spinning.
Almasi catches sight of her father running towards them, she the thought of getting stepped on crosses her mind, but at the same time she can't move. A whimper escapes her as she watches, scrambling some to try and get up and only manges to move a few feet before falling right over and lays there watching wide eyed as her sister goes flying and then the hyena fleeing. She caught sight of something else that went flying but isn't to sure of what it was, nor does she care at the moment as she doesn't know where her sister has gotten to. She's starting to get dizzy though, her shoulder and other wounds still bleeding a good amount. Her eyes half close while her head sinks down to the ground and she whimpers out wanting her mom what about now.
Poor Hyacinthe. But Miali really doesn't have the attention to spare for him right now. Her world is a simple, fettered world of hurt and fear. Tossed around like little more than a ragdoll she doesn't open her eyes until she feels herself finally stop moving. Numerous wounds of varying severity are bleedingly sluggishly all over her small body, staining ugly currents of crimson into her grey fur, and there's a particularly sharp pain in one of her ankles, the one she's apparently lying on as a matter of fact. For Elimnyama the fight is not over. The hyena he can see is making its retreat, and a large part of him wants nothing more than to follow and rip her worthless body down. He even takes several galloping strides in pursuit before at last the recollection of his daughters brings him to an unwilling stop. He is left to stare intensely after Hawai for a few moments and then suddenly he turns around and dashes back to the site of the attack. Immediately he is frantic again. His daughters are both lying motionless - and so is some other cub that seems to have appeared out of nowhere - and for the longest time Elim' can only gaze at them in horror, not knowing what action to take. "Almasi! Miali! Girls!" He cries out suddenly and then drops down in the grass next to the one who's nearest - it happens to be Almasi. "Almasi.." He can hardly swallow around the lump in his throat and he shakes violently as he lowers his face to gently nudge the cub's cheek. Please be alive.. God, he'd give anything.
Almasi is alive, her sides heaving as she breaths, which is rather ragged at the moment. Her side she fell on is throbbing, something's broken for sure. A faint whimper escapes her at the nudging, eyes half open to peer at her father's face but her vision is mostly blurred. "..pa.." The girl offers softly wondering if she's dreaming. "..urts." And big time, she still wonders where her sister is, unable to lift her head and find out where she might be.
Eventually the world does stop spinning and gives Hyacinthe's mind a chance to catch up with current events. He rolls onto his stomach, unphased save for the brief tumble before, and certainly far from hurt when compared to the two girls. Shaking his head, he notes the disappearance of the hyena and the state of Elimnyama. Tossing aside the care that Elimnyama might not like his presence around, Hya leaps to his paws and joins the battered crew, eyes wide, nostrils twitching at the scent of leonine blood. "Are they...?" he questions to no one in particular, only partially catching the words Almasi utters. If Elim wasn't around, he might come closer, but as it stands, Hyacinthe is out of his league.
(continued)
}*{ Tyne }*{ Bilauli Rapids
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
| |
| From the Kimaji River sprouts the most active portion of any waterway in |
| Tyne, and the only source of white-water if you don't count Kijitu Lake's |
| baby falls. The ground is littered with rocks of an immense variety, their |
| size anything from pebbles to jagged stones to large boulders. Water trips |
| and tumbles over and around them, creating a light mist and a fair amount |
| of small rainbows. While the water is relatively shallow here, crossing is |
| still fairly dangerous, the rocks not providing secure footing. |
| |
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
| Commands: 'thelp' |
}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*{}*
Waset, Big Momma. Elimnyama, in training.
Exits:
Towards the Pride Lands, Into Hilly Terrain
Up to Kijitu Lake
[IC ] Elimnyama, male lion [zzz] Waset, female barbary lioness
Almasi has arrived.
Hawai has arrived.
The weather lately has been rather capricious and largely unpredictable. Heavy, slate grey clouds drift over a sky that, when visible, is a beautiful powder blue. When the sun does manage to poke through it heats the fur with surprising speed, and when it is absent the breeze blowing through is comfortably brisk. Elimnyama is lying in repose beside the river, his head raised and for his own particular reasons a firm glare is in place upon his face. It's directed toward the river's rapids that reside a scant few feet away, and the dark prince is simply thinking although anyone unfamiliar with him would probably wonder, based on his expression, whether somebody had died.
Almasi is wandering along the near the water, or it was when she was back near the river.. She's in search of them croc's and hippos that Hyacinthe was talking about.. So far she's seen NONE and is wrondering if he evern knows what his talking about. She doesn't expect to run into her parents out here seeing how she keeps sneaking out from the cave and all which will most likely leave her grounded when they find out. Not like that will stop her by anymeans. She pauses as she catches sight of the rapids and blinks while trodding towards the edge to peer at the water while her tail sways about as she's never seen water move this fast before it seems.
He's quite oblivious to everything as he stares blankly and determinedly at the swift moving rapids. Though Almasi - and Miali as well as the fiery grey cub bounces into view near Almasi - both move within his peripheral vision Elim' doesn't stir for quite a while. Eventually he glances over at the girls, his style almost reluctant, and then he is slow to offer a smile as he watches them gambol around. Miali hops up to Almasi's side and tilts her head as she catches sight of the rapids. "S'that?" she asks of her sibling, her little headstrong heart immediately filled with the desire to go investigate.
Almasi settles on her haunches while her tail lashes, blinking she glances to her sister half expecting to get shoved into the water but glad that doesn't happen. She never knows what Miali after all. "Looking for a crocidale and a nippo." She offers while her tail wiggles about and her ears perk forward. "What you doing out here?" The girld questions curiously.
The forest thins out shortly before it reaches the river, and between the line of trees and the shore is a mottled series of small jagged boulders. Unknown to the happy family some ways away a rather sinister presence is lurking among these boulders, slipping as less than a shadow from niche to niche to hide. Silvery blue eyes narrowed into slits Hawai keeps watch over all three, smiling sadistically to herself as she ponders her upcoming actions.
"What'n heck's a /nippo/?" Miali asks, looking dubiously back at Almasi. Now that it occurs to her pushing her sister into the water isn't such a terrible idea. "I's just lookin' fer some'in to do. Who said there's nippo's here? Water's all that's here, /duh/." Pink tongue slips out and excitedly brushes across her lips and nose as Miali continues to watch the rapids with hungry curiousity. Elimnyama for his part does nothing to alert the girls to his presence. His eyes on them are rather unconcerned - after all, they're nowhere near the water just yet. Waset's always getting on his case for being too anxious over the kids' safety, and for once he feels no need to be worried. They're all safe here. It's a good place to be.
Almasi blinks some and huffs some. "I dono.. Hyacinthe was talking bout it and corcidale which have HUGE teeth and head." This said while she sits on her haunches and uses her forepaws to make the huge jaws. "Hyac said dey can eat ya whole!" She offers whie her tail wiggles about and she grins. "He dono if any are here but I bet der cool to look ats."
It's a very good situation. It won't be hard for her to pull it off. Hawai gazes eagerly at the two small cubs, delighting in the venemous black hatred she can feel coursing through her veins into her heart at the sight of them. It has the sensation of something thick and glutinous and it makes her feel grimy and unclean - yet it is a feeling she quite enjoys. If she could, Hawai would perpetuate this feeling for it gives her a delicious high.. A brief, slant-eyed look is given to the lazy male lion.. She'll need to strike and get away as quick as possible, for the goal here is NOT to lose her own life. Hmmmmmm.. Just a few more moments, and the time will surely be just right.
Hyacinthe has arrived.
A huge yawn errupts out of Elimnyama's muzzle and he relaxes onto his side, stretching out comfortably in the grass. Ahhh. He is in a state of total tranquility and he allows his mind to wander unchecked. It's not so bad, this father business. Sure it was nerve-wracking at first, and now that things have calmed down the days pass in a way that's almost .. well, boring. But relaxing, no doubt about that. As she is downwind, the hyena that is lurking nearby goes undetected by the father as he lies down his head and releases a sigh as he closes his eyes. Miali casts another incredulous look at Almasi and snorts through her minute nostrils. "An' who's /Hyancinthe/?" she retorts, supposing that anyone with such a stupid name has got to be stupid themselves.
Almasi ears flick at the yawn and she blinks peering over to their father. When did HE get here? She watches a few moments and grins as he just lays down to sleep it seems. She huhs and looks back to her sister. "Well.. His my friend. He and his mom are gona stay here for a while." She offers with a nod and smiles. "His really kewl! His like been -ALLLLL- over de place." Looks like someon's found a rolemodle to latch onto. As for the hyena, what's a hyena?..
"/Hyacinthe/ is a /BOY/?" Miali's emerald eyes widen dramatically and a wicked little grin curls the edges of her muzzle. "Are y'kiddin'? That's totally a /girl/ name. Does he look like a girl?" And yet right after this question, which was apparently asked simply for the purpose of distracting Almasi, Miali drops into a sudden dive and lunges at one of her sister's defenseless paws with her mean little teeth. HA! Elim' merely continues to relax and he thoroughly intends to keep enjoying the lack of activity until circumstances make his full consciousness an absolute necessity. Ahhh. Happy sigh.
Almasi blinks.. "Hey.. Wait, no he looks like a boy.. Why wouldn't he?" The girls questions while her mismatched eyes blink. She huffs some and her ears lower wondering why her sister ALWAYS does this. A sudden squeal escapes her as the other lunges and nips at her paws. She sits up and batbatbatbats her forepaws at her sister's head trying to make her back off it seems. "Mial!!" Eh, she is forever getting picked on..
Hyacinthe /is/ a boy and looks very much /like/ a boy too. He's supposed to be waiting for his mother to return, yet again, but, like before, has chosen instead to take to his own paws and...do something else. Anything else. He's already explored a bit around the lake and has followed the water's path to this point, where the dull roar of the rapids has managed to grab his attention. Trotting along the water's edge, keen dark eyes following the path of silvery fish as they dart through the shallows, he keeps his ears on the water's path itself, occasionally glancing about -just incase- Anas might be around to catch him. It is in once such glance that Hya catches sight of Elimnyama, lounging as he is. The sight of the large male makes Hya almost immediately drop where he's at to better hide; he's met many an unfriendly male before in his short time. But Almasi's squeal is also heard, something that grabs his interest. Trying to keep hidden, yet peer over the grasses at the same time, Hyacinthe's head can be seen, should any look his way, just barely peeking over his chosen hiding area.
Why DOES Miali always do this? She baits her siblings and then, when they fail to have the reaction she desires of attacking her, she typically succumbs to impatience and launches an attack on them instead. Anything to cause a little excitement. People are always more exciting when they're angry. Almasi's furious batting has plenty of effect: it makes Miali laugh heartily and bite at her sister's legs with even happier determination. Soon she's pounced forward, aiming to knock Almasi to the ground in a full-blown wrestling match, quite oblivious to the arrival of the very boycub they were just discussing. At the sound of Almasi's outcry Elim' blinks his eyes open and reluctantly raises his head, frowning in the cubs' direction. "Kids?"
Nostrils dialate within her thick, stubby muzzle as she continues to hide behind her boulder downwind. Hawai actually has to swallow to keep her mouth from overflowing with saliva induced by sheer anticipation. She has no taste for blood, only an unholy desire to inflict harm. Her own children..... Well, she won't think about that, but others' children have no business being happy or healthy. Children must learn - they MUST be -taught- early on that life is harsh and unforgiving. She will disabuse these two children of their current ignorance. Quietly she crouches and then, abruptly, she pitches herself forward and flies over the short distance separating her from Almasi and Miali. A savage growl rumbles forward as she closes in, tendrils of saliva flying out of the corners of her open mouth.
Almasi whines some as she finds herself getting shoved to the ground.. Great here it goes -AGAIN-.. Though at this moment she chooses to fight back it seems. Her hindpaws are shoved upwards and she tries to push Miali over her head while her forepaws rest on her sister's shoulders gripping slightly. If she is able to swing her sister over her then -she'll- be the one ontop pinning her dear sister to the ground in stead! As for her father and anything else she doesn't pay a -bit- of attention to. Well not like she has a reason to mind you. Though something catches her attention, mismatched eyes lifting to blink at the oncoming hyena and her ears flatten. Something about this is not good, a chil runs down her spine while her eyes just widen. Someone seems rather scared and most likely makes a very easy target thanks to it..
A lion with cubs. Surely he can't be a blood-thirsty, savage beast, right? Hyacinthe's courage grows enough to let him lift his body a bit more to peer at the cubs, recognition of Almasi dawning finally. He knows that one! With a wary glance at Elimnyama, the boycub decides to, at the very least, greet a friend; if it goes awry, he can always high-tail it. Or so he believes. Hyacinthe takes a few steps towards the playing cubs, only to freeze, stock-still, as another form makes itself known. And not only that, but it fairly rushes at the other two cubs. Hyena! He's seen those too. Nasty beasts. Terror freezes the cub to the spot for the moment.
Though Almasi's sudden dumbness would indeed make a very easy target for her renegade sister, that rustle of movement catches Miali's attention in the same instant as her sisters and she looks up as well. She utters a little gasp as terror rushes into her heart at the sight of the hyena, and a second later she pierces the air with a shrill, nerve-shattering scream. As the scene unfolds in a second Elimnyama's heart leaps into his throat and he's on his feet and running before he recalls giving his body the order to move. "GIRLS! RUN!"
The thunder of her paws creates the percussion beat that will begin the bloody symphony. Sadly due to the presence of the lion, Hawai knows her work will have to be short. She will need to inflict the most damage and get away in the least amount of time in order to save her own valuable skin. The lion's shout makes her laugh loudly as she continues to gallop toward his children. "YES! RUN!" she shrieks derisively an instant before she is upon them. She lunges first for Almasi, taking no particular aim except vaguely for the facial region. If she can slash the throat, wonderful. If she can rip out an eye, perfect. No preference as long as blood is shed. This horrible obsession is in no way inherent to hyenas: Hawai is a special case.
Run?.. The thought crosses Almasi's mind but she can't get her paws to move other then to hunker down and quiver. A hiss escapes her at the charging hyena seems to go for her first. She bites back trying to get hold of the hynea's cheek while the monster's jaws get hold of her shoulder area and rips into her without much of a problem. A pained squeal escapes her while her paws lashes out trying to get free from the hyena. GReat.. She is going to be SO traumatized once this is over..
What in the world is going on? Hyacinthe can only stare dumbly as the hyena sets upon the other cubs, suddenly wishing he hadn't disobeyed his own mother. Yet, Hya isn't a pride-raised cub and has seen, for his age, his fair share of violence. He could run - and indeed, he should. But Almasi's squeal holds him where he is; what does he do?! Paws dancing in indecision and a strange mix of terror for himself and terror for the fate of the other two, he finally lets his paws take charge; Hyacinthe turns for Elimnyama and the two girls.
Miali continues to scream piercingly until Hawai is actually upon them at which point she suddenly heeds her father's warning and turns on her heel. But in the instant the hyena picks Almasi to attack, a sudden flash of anger rises over her crushing terror. Anger on her sister's behalf. It's very brief but fierce and it gives her a second of courage that carries her though lunging at the hyena's face. Her small teeth, cut on her poor siblings' flesh, aim for Hawai's sensitive eyes above all else, and though she doesn't growl or indeed make any noise at all, inside Miali's heart and mind are raging in a torrent of brief, passionate fury. ... Elimnyama in the meantime has closed the distance, but at exactly the wrong moment a dip in the group makes him lose his footing abruptly. He goes down, his landing punctuated by a cry of pain as a few of those small, jagged rocks that line the river's shores break his fall. But almost instantly he is on his paws again and running. His anger is slow to arrive; all that is in him now is terrified desperation. Desperation to save his children.
Hawai ceases to laugh as she gets down to the real, swift work of slashing and blood-letting. Hyacinthe and even Elimnyama are entirely disregarded in those first few beautiful moments of unrestrained carnage. She rips into Almasi with glee, cutting wherever she can as fast as possible. The only snag results when tiny teeth collide with her cheek and, in their infantile ferocity, progress quickly to her eye, opening a gash near it that causes her own blood to run into vision and then into her sinuses. Hawai reels back and rounds on Miali with a murderous snarl. The lion is getting closer. Lucky there was so much distance between them at the start. Hyena teeth fall on the grey girl cub and rip wherever they can. In her desire to avenge her eye wound, Hawai grows a little too focused on her attack on Miali and Elimnyama is for a second or two entirely forgotten.
Almasi bites and chomps down as hard as she can on the hyena's cheek while her shoulder is ripped into and out wounds offered thanks to getting slammed about and such. When her sister attacks she's at least dropped when the hyena goes fot Miali. She hits the ground with a thud and wails at the feeling of the harsh fall, and her ripped open shoulder. Though her cries are soon quitened as she watches wide eyed as the hyena attacks her sibling and there's nothing she can do about it.. The red girl attempes to get up but can't move without more pain running over her form. So she lays there unable to do anything but watch with stunned fear as tears steam down her cheeks.
Desperation is the emotion of the second it seems, for it too, rings in Hyacinthe as he charges, unthinkingly, towards the attack. The distance isn't as far as it seemed before and, in fact, is altogether too quickly closed. Hyacinthe doesn't think or really notice that Almasi has been released and Miali turned upon instead. No, thought doesn't play an important role in the youngster's head any more. A ball of dark-brindled fury launches itself into the fray, claws unsheathed and teeth bared in the stupid assumption he can land such instruments upon the hyena - to be honest, the hyena's limbs are about all he can see and focus on.
A sudden sob leaves Miali and her fury instantly subsides as the first shock of pain from Hawai's teeth hits her. She's not angry now! She doesn't want to fight anymore! She just wants to get away! But almost in the same instant the father figure arrives on the scene. The anger that left Miali seemingly has flown into Elimnyama so that when he finally reaches them he is blinded to anything but the desire to see the hyena killed. Even little Miali is forgotten for the moment - for presently she dangles from the hyena's jaws - and Hyacinthe is not seen at all as Elim' with a roar aims to ram himself headlong into Hawai's unprotected side.
Hawai lets out a snarl that is muffled by Miali's presence in her jaws as she is struck by the full force of the lion. Both would-be killer and cub go rolling away, possibly right over poor Hyacinthe, and Hawai releases Miali in an instant allowing the cub to go flying in whatever direction fate decrees. Pain shoots up her spine and through her ribs from the impact but even as she hits the ground she does so running, well-aware that a single second's hesitation will result in her death at the lion's teeth and claws. Spitting and snarling ferociously, Hawai scampers quickly away through a great deal of pain, making for the temporary shelter of the distant forest. If there's any justice in the world, her heart reflects stormily, then that lion's children will die of blood-loss or infection .. or at the very least suffer permanent bodily damage.
It's just as well; Hyacinthe would have missed the mark. Both hyena and Miali do go over him, the impact sending the brindled boy rolling a short distance away. Half dazed, but mostly dizzy, he lays on his back a moment, a jumbled mess of paws, staring uncomprehendingly at the sky above him. Unobtrusive and unnoticed, he seems content to merely lay there until the world stops spinning.
Almasi catches sight of her father running towards them, she the thought of getting stepped on crosses her mind, but at the same time she can't move. A whimper escapes her as she watches, scrambling some to try and get up and only manges to move a few feet before falling right over and lays there watching wide eyed as her sister goes flying and then the hyena fleeing. She caught sight of something else that went flying but isn't to sure of what it was, nor does she care at the moment as she doesn't know where her sister has gotten to. She's starting to get dizzy though, her shoulder and other wounds still bleeding a good amount. Her eyes half close while her head sinks down to the ground and she whimpers out wanting her mom what about now.
Poor Hyacinthe. But Miali really doesn't have the attention to spare for him right now. Her world is a simple, fettered world of hurt and fear. Tossed around like little more than a ragdoll she doesn't open her eyes until she feels herself finally stop moving. Numerous wounds of varying severity are bleedingly sluggishly all over her small body, staining ugly currents of crimson into her grey fur, and there's a particularly sharp pain in one of her ankles, the one she's apparently lying on as a matter of fact. For Elimnyama the fight is not over. The hyena he can see is making its retreat, and a large part of him wants nothing more than to follow and rip her worthless body down. He even takes several galloping strides in pursuit before at last the recollection of his daughters brings him to an unwilling stop. He is left to stare intensely after Hawai for a few moments and then suddenly he turns around and dashes back to the site of the attack. Immediately he is frantic again. His daughters are both lying motionless - and so is some other cub that seems to have appeared out of nowhere - and for the longest time Elim' can only gaze at them in horror, not knowing what action to take. "Almasi! Miali! Girls!" He cries out suddenly and then drops down in the grass next to the one who's nearest - it happens to be Almasi. "Almasi.." He can hardly swallow around the lump in his throat and he shakes violently as he lowers his face to gently nudge the cub's cheek. Please be alive.. God, he'd give anything.
Almasi is alive, her sides heaving as she breaths, which is rather ragged at the moment. Her side she fell on is throbbing, something's broken for sure. A faint whimper escapes her at the nudging, eyes half open to peer at her father's face but her vision is mostly blurred. "..pa.." The girl offers softly wondering if she's dreaming. "..urts." And big time, she still wonders where her sister is, unable to lift her head and find out where she might be.
Eventually the world does stop spinning and gives Hyacinthe's mind a chance to catch up with current events. He rolls onto his stomach, unphased save for the brief tumble before, and certainly far from hurt when compared to the two girls. Shaking his head, he notes the disappearance of the hyena and the state of Elimnyama. Tossing aside the care that Elimnyama might not like his presence around, Hya leaps to his paws and joins the battered crew, eyes wide, nostrils twitching at the scent of leonine blood. "Are they...?" he questions to no one in particular, only partially catching the words Almasi utters. If Elim wasn't around, he might come closer, but as it stands, Hyacinthe is out of his league.
(continued)