+5 Practice hiding your scent

The muck was perfect, he saunters from the shadows of the night moon - his golden pelt stuck out like a sore thumb, but not anymore. He would let the swamp swallow his beautiful pelt in all its dirty glory. He continued to walk the swamp until he gets to the river, his head goes under. Deep breath - eyes closed - ears folded back against his head. He submerges for a few minutes, legs peddling him under the current as he made his way to the other side. But he doesn't raise out of the depths quickly, no, he emerges from the river like a crocodile sneaking up on its prey. Slowly, calculating, easing until he was on his belly. The mud swallowing him from his weight as he rolls. The lagoon scent was gone from his pelt by now. He stays there - at the embankment for another hour as he watches. Would this work? One could only think it would, so he would pray it would.

Eina

Eina had made it a habit to stay close to Kimagure's whereabouts, even if it didn't mean having her in sights at all times. So long she knew the general direction the lioness would be, she felt at ease, which was the case at the moment. She was slowly growing to accept the lioness probably had no active plans to hurt her or put her in danger. However, the thought of abandonment often ate at her mind. She wasn't too emotionally attached to the lioness at the moment--they hadn't been together quite long--but it didn't mean the cub would appreciate being dropped off and left again. She needed Kimagure if she was going to survive. She had grown used to a constant gnaw of hunger when isolated from others, but the moment Kimagure had won her over with a meal, Eina needed the ivory lioness to want her around. The cub hadn't felt so good in ages, and a full belly was pure bliss. The dark cub could rest easy knowing Kimagure was at least going to keep her fed, and not only that, but help her learn how to obtain her own food that wasn't remains, some of which could be days old.

Her tail was raised curiously as she sauntered through the wet, somewhat muddy ground. Her nostrils flared slightly as she took in the scents around her. She had not quite seen an area like this before, and her curious mind was eager to process everything that surrounded her. Somewhat overwhelmed with the stimulation, Eina didn't quite pick up on the nearby male. It didn't help given his scent wasn't all that apparent as the cub tipped her muzzle up to observe an overhead bird passing by. When it was gone, she continued her hike, stopping here and there to really take in the details of unique looking plants and insects.

OC: Permission from Split was given to mention Kimagure was somewhere nearby ⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr

+5 Practice hiding your scent


He had his eyes closed for a bit, resting as he let the mud set onto his golden body. It was now murkier, dark, and hopefully smelly. The flutter of weight within the dampened earth caused his eyes to jitter, they were not totally open all the way through, he peaks - some mud was in his vision but so be it. Nose gentle took a breath in, a child, but where? Very slowly he lets his eyes roam until finally, he sets his sight upon the darkly colored child. Oh dear, they were so close but out of reach of his body. Vasilis did his best to stay still - his mind easing so his heart would not jump from its chest. Vasilis didn't want to scare the babe, he was a lover of children and this situation was bad for the both of them. If he exposed himself now the child would run off scared for sure without looking back. If he wanted and the child found him before he could give himself away - the idea that he was stalking the child for worse ideals would be spread so fast, which he didn't need. He was in a crappy situation for sure.

@Eina

Eina

As she continued her exploration, Eina minded her surroundings, the best to her ability. As she scanned for any points of interest, her curious eyes did, yet unknowingly, gaze over the nearby male, only for him to be missed. Her movements would pause, occasionally, when an interesting sound would present itself. Her attention was definitely caught when a gruff, guttural sound stood out. Her dark head swiveled quickly until she could see the bird in the trees. A strange one it was, a bill large and curved, even stranger when Eina noticed the bill seemed to extend to the top of its head, like a helmet of some sort.

"Whoa," She whispered softly to herself as her paws carried her in a trot beneath the tree, close enough to see smaller details, though not too close to scare it off--she could never get that close to begin with, he was so high in the tree. She observed the black-and-white feathers of the avian, only to return to the pronounced bill. With a bill that massive, surely its food tended to be large. What sorts of prey did those sorts of birds consume? Rodents? Maybe even smaller birds?

Perhaps if she watched it long enough, she'd get the chance to witness it finding a meal. Deciding there was likely no immediate dangers lurking, the cub sat back on her haunches, dedicating most of her attention on the creature in silenced curiosity.

@Vasilis ⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr

+5 Practice hiding your scent


The child reacts to something in the tree's, his eyes flutter, looking up but the mud didn't help to see what he was looking at or whom. The soft 'whoa' made him gently, and very painstakingly slowly, move his head to better see where the child was going. That was when he noted it - a bird in the tree - and Vasilis wanted to spring up and call out to his advisor, but the mud kept him from finding out if the creature was really HIS advisor @Tambua or just some other bird. So for now, Vasilis would remain in the muck - watching and retaining from any movement. The child sits, his eyes hood over more as he relaxes - she seemed to be intently watching the bird as it sat way up there, and so far it didn't speak so perhaps it wasn't Tambua but someone else?

T he bird did not miss the way that dark furred cub gawked at him from below. He could tell it was more so out of curiosity rather than hunger, and it best remain that way for the cub's sake. His piercing red gaze cast down directly to her, his brows tightly knitted and his plumage ever rising. Children. Such capricious things. Unpredictable in such a predictable way. What a shame that nature was wasted on such innocence. Of course, he knew nothing would truly happen to him. If not for his master's presence hidden somewhere about, then for the claws that dug themselves into the branch he perched upon. Though he lost his visual upon the golden king already, he could still feel the oppressive nature of form amongst the brush below.  He continued to watch the cub, who in turn watched him back. It seemed as though she was waiting for something. Waiting? The hornbill grinned to himself. If this child was waiting to witness something, perhaps he would give her a bit of a show then.  Tambua hopped along the branch he sat until he reached the edge of it. With an air of grace, the avian leapt from one end unto another branch just across the way. His gaze shifted from the young lion. He was focused now. Sat upon the sturdy trunk of the tree was a small reptile. A lizard, small and meaningless even to the likes of a servant like the Ndiaye. Its life would be taken in exchange for giving life to the bird. Tambua set into a careful saunter, his clawed feet gripping careful yet firmly to the thick branch.  Closer… Closer… TW: Minor graphic depictions Until finally. Strike! Tambua snapped like a spring, his clawed foot shooting out from beneath him and clasping around his prey in a crushing vice grip. The green scaled beast opened its maw in a silent scream, its head thrashing in protest as Tambua squeezed harder. The lizard writhed, clearly in pain yet still very much alive as it desperately snapped at the appendages that imprisoned it so. "speech" @Vasilis  @Eina

Stock Image | Manip by Eerien00dle

Eina

Eina still had not noticed the hidden male nearby. His scent was undetectable to her, and visually, he just wasn't that obvious. It surely wasn't helped though by the fact her full attention was on the intriguing avian. When its eyes locked onto hers, she held her breath for a moment, silver eyes wide with anticipation. She didn't want to scare it off at the risk of missing something interesting.

And there it was. The strange-looking bird was on the move. It was perusing something. It took the charcoal cub a moment to notice the doomed prey, but when she did, she took a moment to predict the bird's movements. She wasn't entirely corrected in said predictions, but it was a show to witness. A small gasp hissed in her throat as the lizard was now trapped in a prison of clawed toes. It caught its prey! Eina stretched her legs, leaning forward for a better look. How patience paid off!

"Good job." She muttered a passive praise to the avian with a satisfied half-smile, happy with her observation. Words, while meant for the bird, at the same time weren't entirely directed to such, for the cub didn't have an idea that anything but lions could communicate as they did with one another. For all she knew, she was praising a creature as primitive as a mosquito--driven by instinct and the need to survive, and only on that. Despite the main 'show' being over, Eina continued to watch the bird, less strictly now, as she dropped into a relaxed lay. It was always interesting to watch others, even non-lions, hunt, though she was sure eating wouldn't be all that unique.

@Vasilis, @Tambua ⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr

+5 Practice hiding your scent


He listened with his ears, something was moving and by the sounds of it, it was the bird above as he hopped around the branches. The flutter of wings told him it was for sure the bird. Still unsure if it was actually HIS advisor or not he ignored the situation, for now, and boy was he glad by the fact his eyes were closed. Because by the sounds of it the bird had caught something. Words of @Eina had made him curious though as he peeks. YEUKKK he wished he was not so curious to see all that happening now. Sneer pulled his lip up as he pinched his brows down to make a face of pure disgust. But then again such was the life of birds and other creatures that ate meat right? He had no room to talk as he himself has had many smaller reptiles and fish to eat while getting around the fact he couldn't hunt bigger game.

Feeling the ache in his body for laying so long - he felt it was best to start slithering himself backward into the water - time to mimic a crocodile and stretch out his limbs. Remaining on his belly he agonizingly moves inch by inch back into the murky depths of the water behind him. When he has his back end hitting the water, his movements become more smooth and waits until all that is left to be seen is the top of his head from his nostrils and part of his head. Eyes finally able to float upright to see the bird. AH! It was @Tambua! Well well well. He lurks in the depths - watching the pair as the child seemed intent on keeping their sights on his advisor. Good.

Eina

Satisfied at her observations, Eina stood, claws flexing as she stretched slightly. She felt that she had ventured far enough from Kimagure, and she desired to fall to closer range. Despite Kimagure's intimidating appearance, she was a source of safety, the cub believed. Being away too long was bound to make Eina feel a little uneasy, for the thought of a dangerous encounter, all alone, was not a nice thought. She smiled, feeling rather happy she got to witness the bird's hunt. It had been an interesting sight. Failing to notice the tan male, she made her way to return to her guardian. Her paws carried her in a walk, which had evolved into a trot within a second.

-Exit- ⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr