Oh was it nice to spend a morning away from the pride. Through the fields Vysemala prowled. The small brown woman was keeping low to the ground, moving carefully and observantly around the open air expanse of land. She would leave her options open to a hunt if the right animal, and the right partners, presented themselves to her. Otherwise she was merely happy to have some quiet. She loved her sons, she loved the pride, but this brief glimpse back to a normal life where she could wander and roam was needed. She would return refreshed, happy, and if she played her cards right with a story to delight the boys and entertain Jewel with.

(AW-could do a hunt if someone wants, or just a random thread)

Habit woke her in the morning. Usually the heat lessened in the morning so the thick-pelted female could marauder around in the most comfortable fashion. However, little about his cold could be called comfortable. Her toes clenched and she stumbled along until she was warmed up. Then she paced as normal, with mutters and growls under her breath, scaring away game with her abrupt chases just as she sought, in the same manner, to relieve her hunger.

It was probably going to be carrion again today. She just wanted one. warm. thing. One food that had recently been alive, that could warm her as it went down her throat. All she wanted. She spotted something... lower, and larger, and more deliberate moving than usual, and though it was rather smaller than her it was definitely a lioness on the hunt. This was interesting. The best prospect for sating her own appetite, whether through whining or stealing, and Walpurgis quickly and noisily switched directions to tromp through the morning chill toward the other female. "Ya huntin'?" she huffed out, her hollow voice muffled by eminent exasperation. This was a smaller lady, well-blended into the fields. Walpurgis was not any of these things. She was red and black like a spine thriller. She was obviously not a winter wraith, but... like any horrible creature, she was insistent on pursuing where she wasn't wanted nor invited. She stopped to wait an answer, her sides heaving and spewing smoke before her snout.

@Vysemala

Vysemala froze up, one paw hung like a statue in the air. Something was making noise as it approached her and it became clear that whatever this was was headed right for her and not going to pass her by on either side. Tentative she flattened her ears to her skull and braced for a second, breath held, until @Walpurgis emerged in her own unique glory embodying the bull in a china shop motif. Yes- you joining? Vysemala's voice was quieted but she at least put her risen foot back down on the ground. The question hung in the air while her blue eyes sized up the larger, rather intimidating, figure that had happened upon her. I can chase something towards you? Can you make a kill? She continued, assessing that sneaking might not be this woman's strongest suit... less she was purposefully trying to ruin Vysemala's hunt moments ago with her tramping and noisy approach.

The answer was YES. Walpurgis grinned, happy that she guessed correctly and also maybe that she would get some food. Her onyx jowls hung open, spattered with gruesome red markings that were innocent of real blood. As ever she was broad in expression, wearing emotion on every black sleeve. "I wanna hunt!" she sorta repeated. She wasn't sure if it was an Official Hunt she was joining, if it was a thing that was organized, if it was a place she was supposed to be. Those things were complicated to figure out. But she did know she wanted to hunt.

This female was very soft and ladylike. She looked quiet. Like she could disappear real easy. That probably meant she was a competent hunter. Ladies were supposed to be. And ladies didn't tend to like her but maybe Walpurgis could be nice and manage to not be disliked until she had eaten. She puffed herself up very straight and square, attempting to appear the image of a competent ranger. "I bite it real good! Where is it?" Look at her go she was eager she was strong she totally had this. @Vysemala

Ok. She had someone on board with her. Someone large. That meant they had a chance of taking down something with more meat on its bones, more food for them at the end. Get low to the ground. You’ll know it when you see it. Vysemala said with a deep chuckle and turn away to slink off towards some of the gathering animals she could scent on the passing breeze. Hopefully there would be something in and amongst them willing to run right into the waiting jaws of the excitable lioness @Walpurgis.

The quiet lasted a moment before thumping hooves began to sound on the ground and a small Thompson’s Gazelle broke from the fleeing herd. Vysemala chased it, flanking just to the side trying to drive it in the direction of where she’d left her hunting partner. She held her breath as she ran, trying to eye up where and when Walpurgis was going to leap so she didn’t get in the way…

Get low to the ground instructions whistled past her tufted ears as she continued to look around. She thought the prey was going to be coming at them right now. Since they were talking about it, it must be nearby. But she couldn't see it. Which was weird. She usually had good eyesight. Belatedly she lowered herself, bending her joints so she could still pop up quickly. Her tail lashed, annoyed that she didn't understand why she was doing this. "I never know what that means," she complained. "I dun know anything even when I see it." Other lions could just come up with new ideas like from thin air. Walpurgis didn't know how they did it. Where they got that ability. She needed to be told everything and she didn't hate that as much as she hated being told exactly nothing and then being blamed for getting it wrong.

This shit was bringing back memories. Inadequacy. Being left alone. Her tail continued to lash and she chanced furtive glimpses above the grass once the lady was gone. She didn't want to be abandoned. Or worse, snuck up on. It wasn't easy to sneak up on her but maybe this broad would try. Stupid new lady. Telling her shit. Then going off to hunt without her. Yeah she could see the herd now sometimes when she stood high enough. Didn't know how @Vysemala thought she was going to bring anything down without her. And look, they were running. She spotted the lioness snapping along the flanks of one of them. She could spot a lot of things since she had forgotten to lie low and was instead standing in an angry huff. Therefore, the lone gazelle saw her and sprung away well before reaching her spot, but the sight of fleeing prey compelled her to give chase. From way behind. Wow this had not worked well at all. Better make up for it by running so fast she could hardly see where she was going.

Ok. Didn't go exactly to plan that was okay. Vysemala saw the gazelle swerve and she dug some paws into the dirt to execute a quick turn. Her speed dropped down while @Walpurgis surged ahead. Heat soaked up against her skin, her mouth draped open gasping for air all the while the huntress pushed and began to pick her own speed back up. She couldn't match the blinding pace her hunting partner was putting up but she could try to flank just enough to steer the gazelle, get it to swerve and maybe give Walpurgis a chance to leap at its shoulders.

Go go go! Vysemala chanted. Subtly, quiet, it was all long gone so she began to whoop and holler to the sky, voice tired and winded but utterly joyful. Field breeze on her face, thundering of running feet on the earth. Soul and life of the world, the drum beat of living creatures rising up to great volumes. Fear perfumed the air, soon hopefully to be joined by blood.

Savanna grass whipped by her. Their dry, withered ends tugged against her tangled pelt, getting their seed heads mingled in with her furry grease. Walpurgis was a natural predator and also a natural pollinator. Her peripheral vision receded into blurs. Her speed increased. It was hard to gauge the distance between herself and her prey. One stride, land, fall behind; surge back, rush, advance. On one of her surges the gazelle was suddenly very close. She leaned out, committed to a snap, and with one stretch of her neck its haunch was bloodied but she stumbled, landing hard (she had somehow not expected the ground to come so soon) and after a tumble she sprang back up but it was gone. The world was still blurry and confusing. Her heart raced, gums bloodied, she was hungry but where?

"I LOST IT!" she bellowed while spinning around in a circle, trying to find either her hunting partner or her escaped prey. Had to keep spinning until she found something that would stand still.

@Vysemala

Tired Vysemala would emerge from the grasses into view of the spinning @Walpurgis. Breath was hot, billowing up from her wide open mouth. She left her jaw hanging slack and her tongue rolled out the side of her mouth, lapping at the air and oxygen trying to revilatize herself. It happens. Her striped face, somewhere behind the panting and heaving, held a joy and delight. That was fun though. We'll have to try again sometime. She aimed to come up towards the pacing , more frantic seemingly, Walpurgid and aimed to reach across and nudge her head against the sturdy woman's shoulder. C'mon calm. Hungry bellies sucked but losing prey was part of the gig.