With the promise of warm weather and green pastures on the horizon, the continent was once against bustling with life and the young lioness was intent to make the most of it. The woman had slipped away from the den she shared with her sister as the day was only just beginning, allowing her to make it to her destination by early afternoon. Her journey had been efficient, but she felt the toll of her exertion as she drew to a stop just within eyesight of the watering hole and the distant blurred figures that mingled around its edges. Jaws gaped open, tongue lolling past her teeth as she panted; it was not yet summer, and the temperature was tolerable enough, but her dark coat did the feline no favors on this cloudless day. Indigo hues squinted at the blurred figures before sweeping to the landscape, seeking something that might be useful to her; a place to hide and rest for a moment, before she proceeded with the next step of her hunt. Her immediate vicinity offered only some low brush, and the lioness made her way to their sparse branches and lower herself to the earth. For now, she would wait, observe, and catch her breath. +5 Use the terrain to your advantage

Willoughby ,

hmmm. if she was going to have a re-match with Sherlock one day, she had to make sure her endurance and speed was much better. they had almost tied, but that wasn't good enough. she wanted to do better. be better. for her pride. for herself. Willoughby kept this in mind as she darted toward the watering hole. it was a great run! once she was there, she slowed to a trot. she kicked up dirt as she walked. there was a faint scent of lion here, but who? wasn't any pride she was aware of either.

Willoughby felt herself suddenly exposed and spotted foliage to hide in. her own coat wasn't doing her any favors either. she wanted to bring back something for the Cove - maybe food? - so she crept closer and closer to the unknown lioness. unknown to her too, until she saw the blues staring at her. "oh!" she blurts out uselessly, the foliage big enough for both of them but she was not going to share unless permission was given. she backed away, feeling embarrassed she hadn't seen the woman.

"I'm sorry - I didn't see you there" a smile crept up on her face though. that's why the lioness was there, wasn't she? "um, do you mind if I... you see, I was going to hunt. and there's hardly any cover" her head dips "b-but I won't force my presence. if you want me to leave, I will."

she speaks

^{code by wallflower. manip by mono}

pathfinder - practice speed 1/2 - 5 EXP
pathfinder - use terrain to advantage 1/2 - 5 EXP
@Tuathla - hope you don't mind me?

The meager offering of shade was not enough to completely alleviate the heat that had gathered in the dark silk of her coat, but it was perfect for camouflage, and as the moments stretched longer, the young lioness felt a semblance of ease return to her form. Indigo hues remained focused on the waterhole in the distance, eyeing the distant silhouettes of the prey creatures as they ambled back and forth and around its shallow shores. Being the primary watering hole in the area, Tuathla was not surprised when the scent of another feline wafted in her direction, but given her current state of repose, she was not entirely expecting to be approached. Her arrival was heralded by the sudden exclamation, and Tua’s focus was momentarily stolen as she turned to look at the woman. The petite feline was already backing away, seeming just as surprised as she to have crossed paths, an apology spilling from her lips. Before the woman finished speaking, the dark lioness shifted to the side to make room for the other, and she patted the ground next to her. “S'okay. There’s plenty of room here,” She invited before glancing back to the watering hole, feeling somewhat more optimistic. There seemed to be quite a few options gathered around the water, but Tuathla knew from experience that just because there were a lot to choose from didn’t mean a hunt would be successful. Especially not if she was on her own. “I was looking to hunt too. Maybe we can join forces?” She suggested after a moment as she tilted her head back to consider the stranger and her reaction. @Willoughby +5 Use the terrain to your advantage

Willoughby ,

kindness was a rare thing in this life. she couldn't help the bright smile as the stranger moves over, patting the ground to join. Willoughby shoots her a grateful look before crouching down, making sure not to rustle the foliage too much and scare off any prey options. when she was fully hidden from other animals, she glances toward the lioness. her explanation to hunt was met with an offer to help. she couldn't see a reason to deny the other woman.

"thank you" she begins, her eyes drifting to the watering hole "I'll be happy to hunt with you. we'll split it evenly." she adds in, giving a slight nod. but what to choose? there were a few good medium sized prey, but that took more than two females to take down. maybe something smaller? she could see a good vantage point, a good ambush point... but ultimately it'd be up to fate.

she looks back at the other, lifting a brow. "if you want to pick something, I'll chase it toward you. we can cut off the escape?"

she speaks

^{code by wallflower. manip by mono}

pathfinder - practice speed 1/2 - 5 EXP
pathfinder - use terrain to advantage 2/2 - 5 EXP
@Tuathla

The petite feline accepted the invitation graciously and settled beside her, and the warm smile that Tuathla wore expanded into a toothy grin when the woman embraced her suggestion that they join forces. It made sense after all, since they were both on the prowl for a meal, the alternative was them getting in each other’s way and perhaps both of them losing out. At least this way their chances of success were higher – hopefully. “Excellent,” she enthused, her voice low so that it wouldn’t carry to whoever’s attentive ears might be listening down by the waterhole. Indigo hues returned to the scene that stretched before them, squinting through the thin branches of the brush they crouched behind. The suggestion of the other woman was met with a silent nod of agreement and she would review the silhouettes of the distant creatures before tilting her head towards the other woman. “It’s too far to tell for certain, but around the east side of the watering hole looks like it could have potential.” She suggested with a nod in the direction of which she referenced, before turning her eyes back to the lioness to see how the suggestion would be received. @Willoughby | wanted to be vague to accommodate the RNG, hope that works for you! <3

Willoughby ,

she follows the woman's eyes, spotting something that looked a bit easier to grab. with a nod to her, Willoughby would wander off. she kept to the stray foliage that littered the area, making sure to be as quiet and as inconspicuous as possible. once she was close enough she would use her speed again, trying to direct the prey to the woman so she could finish it off.

closer now, she crouches and moves toward the watering hole. a lot is riding on this, so she tries to make it count. with a vicious growl, she breaks the gathering up and singles out something before darting after it, directing it to the patch of foliage she knew the woman was waiting in. it was good running practice, all things considered, so even if they couldn't bring down the prey... she didn't have any regrets.

she speaks

^{code by wallflower. manip by mono}

pathfinder - practice speed 2/2 - 5 EXP
pathfinder - use terrain to advantage 2/2 - 5 EXP
@Tuathla

HUNT REQUEST
— RESULTS —

Rolled Prey: Flamingo
Number of Prey Animals: 2

Hunting Party Stats: 1 Adult, 1 Yearling [+2 dice for Adult, +1 dice for Yearling = +3 dice]
Lion Hits: 2
Prey Dodges: 1

Lion Successful Hits: 1

LIONS HAVE WON!

dice were rolled in discord by @Gunner ★. you can play out the remainder of the hunt however you’d like.

Blue-purple hues watch attentively as the peach-haired feline makes her way towards the watering hole, and Tuathla tenses in sympathetic anticipation of the strangers approach of the flock. For a few moments, she loses sight of the other completely – probably a good sign given that the lioness was trying to approach without frightening their quarry. Then, in a flurry of movement she witnesses the lioness dart forward, her sudden appearance cleverly handled so that she startled the flock in Tuathla’s direction. They were a blur of pink feathers and frantic wingbeats, and the Donnelly burst from her hiding space towards them. Birds were tricky—that pesky flying ability meant that she had only seconds before they were utterly out of reach. So, she hurried, and within seconds they were overhead, and the lioness was left with only one opportunity for success. She leapt then, jaws outstretched, and was both surprised and fiercely pleased when she was successful in grabbing one of the creatures by the leg. She pulled it down with her, but as she landed, she found herself in an awkward position – only its leg was clutched between her teeth -- the rest of the flamingo was still quite alive and very unhappy to have been caught. So she was buffeted by wings and beak, and Tuathla squinted against the onslaught, unwilling to let go of their well-earned prize, but hoping that perhaps her hunting partner might be able to tap in. @Willoughby

Willoughby ,

to her surprise, she startled a flamingo flock in the other's direction. rushing after the pink birds, she was happy to see the other lioness grapple with one, tearing it down to the earth. Willoughby was quick to assist, knowing that this would bring food to the pride she called home now. and also, evenly sharing, to the other's pride too! she went for a killing bite, snapping the flamingo's neck effectively.

it lay dead in the grasp of the woman.

"are you okay?" she asks, worried about the beak and flailing the prey had done... she didn't want her partner to be hurt. but she couldn't help the bright grin. "we did it though! good job!" she praised easily, beaming from edge to edge of her lips. she tried to do a little dance but felt too exhausted by her run. she'd have to do more training to keep up. her endurance wasn't the best after the trek to Amaryllis.

she speaks

^{code by wallflower. manip by mono}

pathfinder - practice speed 2/2 - 5 EXP
pathfinder - use terrain to advantage 2/2 - 5 EXP
pathfinder - take part in a rolled hunt 1/2 - 5 EXP
@Tuathla

Thankfully, the other woman had not been far off, and soon their quarry rested lifelessly at their paws. Tuathla dropped her grip on its leg then and lifted her blue-purple eyes to the other, sharing a lopsided smile as she panted. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” She replied, almost dismissively; there was a modicum of pride that refused to acknowledge the rather undignified way she had been assaulted by the flamingo, but she was touched that the stranger expressed such seemingly genuine concern. Tuathla glanced back down at her assailant, and her hips reclined to the earth. “They’re bigger than you’d expect, when they flap their wings like that.” She commented wryly, a breathless chuckle escaping past her lips before she lifted her gaze once more to the other, and nodded agreeably to her assessment. “Right back at you—I never would’ve been able to get so close to them without scaring them off.” She returned the praise easily, eying the woman’s peach-hued tones with something kin to appreciation. The hue blended into the golds of the plains much more easily than Tuathla’s dark mahogany, but there was something to be said for the other’s skill and technique as well. Either way, she was glad for their success and she would push the bird towards the other. “Here, you first.” She suggested, a friendly smile dawning over her freckled expression, the endorphins from their success buoying her mood. @Willoughby