Pests

[gerbil]

After living in the Outlands all her life, Nina had become accustom to things that she disliked, yet as she lounged outside the termite mound that was the Outlanders' home, she found herself hissing and huffing at the little pests that walked around her paws, her bed, and her home. Reaching out, she slapped her paw down, rather hard, crushing a termite that was making a bee line for her chest. "Die little pests!"

[/color] she hissed, lifting her paw, to only watch as the termite she had thought she had killed, scurried away.

Almost ticked off enough that she started to make a move to stand, Nina ended up just sighing and flopping back down to the ground. She had been hunting earlier, while the heat wasn't so bad, but now, it was very hot and the heat was starting to make her sleepy. That, and her hunt had been unsuccessful, with all she had seen was prey from Death Valley but that wouldn't keep Tau in fighting spirits. It took more energy to eat the stupid beasts from the valley than it took to catch them.

Sighing once more, Nina slowed her breathing and closed her beautiful green orbs. Her head was against the ground and she had her ear pressed to the ground, least anyone try and sneak up on her, she could pounce. Along with being able to hear others approaching, Nina could hear her own tail, lightly thumping against the ground. It was something she had done since she was a cub, in order to fall asleep during the day, with ease, she would lay on her side, ear against the ground, and tail lightly thumping. It was her way of reassuring herself that she could protect herself when the other lioness were still out hunting.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

Tau looked at the place he called home... It worked... For the time being. He was getting rather fed up with this place, but he had the information he needed, thankfully to Rune, the lovely Leopard who had helped his own Pride since he came to this land. Kiara and Kovu had taken the Pridelands, Simba and Nala had stepped back, already set to gain back that ownership. Tau knew that he could attack now, he could take the lands for himself, have Kiara for his little pet. He wanted to make the Pridelanders pay and why not make Kiara the mother to some offspring? Nina's children would one day rule the Pridelands, but right now, it would still be a while.

The two had just become King and Queen, they were on edge and watching the Pridelands clearly... Tau knew he needed to let them settle, to think everything was good and going to be fine. He walked into the mound, had caught a rabbit in order to feed his love. She had failed in a hunting party, but she was tired and he knew it was hard. A few of the other lioness tried to flirt, but he just growled before he dropped the rabbit not far from Nina. "Wake my love... I was able to catch a rabbit for you." It was not much, but he would do anything for her, weather it was small or large. He looked at the other lioness who had followed to a certain point and growled. "If you are hungry, go and try and catch you something... Are you so worthless?" The lioness turned and got out of the mound.

[gerbil]

The sound of approaching paw prints caused to Nina to slap her tail against the ground in anger at whoever dared to interrupt her rest. She knew she would have to get up soon, if she wanted to catch something for Tau before some other lioness did, winning a glance from the leader. Yet, the voice that spoke, following the sound of something soft and limp hitting the ground caused her to bolt up.

"Tau! You shouldn't have,"

[/color] she purred, looking down at the rabbit before her, before looking up at the lion that was her mate. This wasn't how it was suppose to be, Tau wasn't suppose to be bring her meat, but the other way around. "Eat,"[/color] she offered, nosing the rabbit back toward him, already slowly rising. "I planned on going hunting again before the sun sets to see if I could catch a fattened beast."[/color]

Of course, hearing Tau defend the meal he had caught her and force the other lioness away only made Nina smile. Sighing, she purred as she butted her head against Tau's shoulder. "Thank you, my dear. I will go out and hunt. Relax, enjoy the rabbit,"[/color] she chuffed, nuzzling her head under his chin, then slowly drawing her neck and back under his chin and against his mane covered chest. They hadn't been together long, but it was still very nice to have someone looking out for her, though it should have been the other way around. Nina shouldn't have returned to the mound without food, but several days of not eating had taken their toll on the young lioness.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

Tau had not expected to scare her, but he knew her well enough that she was always wary and cautious, even in what they called home. He wished she would settle some, she had a pride that protect her and himself, she did not have to worry, but she did anyway. As she bolted up, he smiled at her and could not help but chuckle slightly. "Tau! You shouldn't have," He glanced down at the rabbit and then smiled. "I felt lead to." He said to her, catching her eyes as she looked at him.

"Eat," He watched her nose the rabbit and set down on the ground, looking at her for a moment before she rose again. "I planned on going hunting again before the sun sets to see if I could catch a fattened beast." He gave her a look of scolding, though not a bad one. "You can not hunt without energy... Eat." He said to her, glancing back at the others who were speaking outside their own den.

He felt her rub her head against his shoulder and he leaned his head over, rubbing against her own shoulder. "Thank you, my dear. I will go out and hunt. Relax, enjoy the rabbit," He chuckled slightly, feeling her go under his chin and then pushing slightly against his chest. He cared so much for her, loved her in fact and it was one of the first he had loved. Besides his family, he had never cared for anyone, he barely cared for the pride he ruled over.

"I found another rabbit before I got this one... Go out tonight with the lioness and catch something for everyone." He said, pawing the rabbit towards her, licking the top of her head.

[gerbil]

After being told twice to eat the blasted rabbit and hearing that he had already caught himself a rabbit before bring this one to her, Nina reluctantly reached out and took the rabbit beneath her paw, rolling it toward her. "As you wish, my dear,"

[/color] she purred, lowering her chest to the ground once more, paws crossing over the body of the rabbit, while her jaws went to work on the head.

She had almost laughed at the look Tau had given her, one that should have frightened her, but even after the short time they had been together, Nina seemed to know when the lion was playing and when he was being serious. His look had been one of mock scolding, though his words bit at the fact that he seemed to know when she was needlessly pushing herself, or flat out running herself into the ground for the pride they called home.

As she feasted on the rabbit, she paused shortly after he spoke the last sentence. She nearly hissed openly at the idea of hunting in a group with the other lioness of the pride, yet she didn't. She had been raised by Wyren to hunt alone and be dependent on no one but your mate. This meant putting faith in the other lioness that either were too weak, or too lazy, to bring back a meal to Tau bothered her. Yet, if she allowed herself, she might have found that she had fallen into the 'too weak' category. Instead, she pushed those thoughts away and began forming a plan on who she would use and who would be the ones to carry the prey as far as they could back to the termite mound. "You seem to have been distant lately . . . I haven't seen you around the mound for the past couple of days. Is everything alright?"[/color] she questioned, actually worried about Tau.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

He watched her for a moment, making sure she took the rabbit and smiling as she did. He nodded slightly as he watched her take it. "As you wish, my dear." He smiled at her purring and as she lowered herself, her allowed himself to lay down, mostly on one side, letting himself relax for a chance. He watched as she worked the head of the rabbit and he looked out the entrance of the den. He figured she could take his two sisters. They were young, but strong.

He glanced back over to her for a moment, smiling at her before turning his head back towards the den entrance. He knew he had some very... disobedient lions and lioness who liked to try and come into the den and take things, like meat. He had had it happen to him and others had to, which had caused for many to gain their own scars on their bodies. He also knew many who thought they were stronger then him and his family. Which reminded him... Would he send Simba and Kovu to the Outlands or assign his brother to control this land. He did not know at the moment, but he would figure that out later.

He looked at her after sending out the last part, knowing she had been taught to hunt on her on, but a Pride worked together and he had given a look that he knew all to well. "Prides work together... That is how they do things and we need that team." He knew this all to well. He had hunted for months while his mother was carrying his siblings, then when they grew, they all hunted together. It would help Nina to get a plan drawn out on how to trap a beast. "The other Lioness will listen to you because you are Queen and if they don't, I will deal with them." He said, glancing over as another lioness had been listening in.

"You seem to have been distant lately . . . I haven't seen you around the mound for the past couple of days. Is everything alright?" He looked at her for a moment and smiled. He took in a breath and then glanced back out the main den entrance. "Nothing important... Rune and I have been scouting the edge of the Pridelands." He said to her. Rune was the Leopard who had helped him and his family from the beginning, giving information about the Pride and Simba.

[gerbil]

As she made quick work of the rabbit, Nina found herself wrinkling at the statement Tau had stated bout Prides working together. He was right, but she hadn't been born in a pride, had just her mother and a lone lion that came and went when he pleased. She hadn't been with a pride for long, bout as long as she had been with him. But she nodded, keeping her anger to herself. She had no reason to be angry with Tau, it was more anger focused toward the Pridelanders that had sent her mother away. "I am adjusting as quickly as I can, my dear,"

[/color] she stated, keeping the venom from her voice as she cleaned her paws.

Finally, he said something that caused her to hiss at him. "If I have a problem with the lioness, I will deal with it,"[/color] she stated, knowing he didn't mean to upset her, thus she calmed herself before speaking once more. "If I am to stand by your side here, in the Outlands and in the Pridelands, than I must be able to hold my own against our pride. The other lioness will just have to get over that you took me as your mate and not them,"[/color] she said, following his gaze to the other lioness.

Honestly, she wasn't stupid. Nina knew that there was always a chance that any lioness in the pride could have Tau with them for a time, but it was always the same. Tau had chosen her to stand beside him as his Queen, and he would return to her at the end of every day and the beginning of every morning.

"What have you seen?"[/color] she questioned, knowing he would tell her or he wouldn't, but she asked with the hope that Tau would confide in her. She wasn't happy that he had taken Rune out and not his younger brother, as the young cub always seemed to be interested in learning how to grow and be strong, yet always seemed left to the doting lioness of the pride. Yet she didn't say this, for that wasn't her place. Tau's brother was growing into a fine lion, that would one day rule over the Outlands, or rule under Tau in the Pridelands.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

He watched her quickly eat the rabbit, which was good, she would have strength for a good hunt tonight, but he saw the wrinkled not nose at his statement about working together. He knew she had not been born in a pride and neither had he, but he knew the importance and he knew she would learn. He wanted her to see as comfortable as she could with the pride and when the Pridelands were taken they would have more lioness hopefully who chose to stay, but then again, when he sent out Simba and Kovu, they could follow, which would give him a reason to worry. He was hoping some would see Simba fall and Kovu and not want them around, but then again, things may happen. ”I am adjusting as quickly as I can, my Dear.” He turned to look at her for a moment and smiled. He knew this, he just hoped that soon, she would come a bit more relaxed.

After he spoke about the lionesses and how he would handle them since he knew most thought they were all powerful, he heard her hiss and snapped his head towards her. ”If I have a problem with the lioness, I will deal with it," He did not argue about it, just nodded to her. He would probably still hear about it the trouble and be sure it was address to the whole pride. ”If I am to stand by your side here, in the Outlands and in the Pridelands, than I must be able to hold my own against our pride. The other lioness will just have to get over that you took me as your mate and not them," He chuckled and nodded. She was right, but he knew that a Queen could not handle everything, but he was happy she was ready to discipline those around her.

He was happy she wanted too defend herself, in a Pride, it was needed the most and she would have the most rule over them besides himself. He glanced out at the other of the pride and everyone seemed to be just sitting there, speaking amongst themselves. "What have you seen?" He looked at her for a moment. He knew that she did not like Rune all to much, but he was a source of information and someone he would chose to help them when he took over the pridelands. ”The lioness hunting, they all seem like they are getting use to Kiara and Kovu ruling… It will be awhile be they settle down… Everyone is too alert to make a move on them.” He said to her and then turned his head to look outside. ”I am thinking about taking my brother tomorrow, I did not want to take him until I was sure it would be okay… If the lionesses are out there and see use on the edge they will not hesitate to attack.” He knew that these lioness were protective and he observed that many seemed darker and much more rigid, which would answer about the last outlanders pride. ”They are a strong pride… Two prides brought together.” He did not know what to do about everything, the pride was no where as large as Kovu’s and Simba’s.

[gerbil]

It seemed that no matter what she said, Tau kept his cool and either shrugged what she said off, or chuckled it off. Both of which were good and irritating at the same time. Sighing, Nina slowly began to lift herself from the ground, stretching out her lean body out, placing her rump in the air and curling her tail up til it was almost brushing against the back of her neck. She groaned as she lifted herself once more, and sat back on her rump, tail lightly flicking back and forth near her paws.

"I always heard that Kovu's mother had created a strong Outlander pride, that she was a powerful lioness that had stood against Simba and Nala,"

[/color] she stated, gazing out over the pride that Tau had gathered. "No matter what the end result of that battle was, Zira's pride was strong and able. They knew what they were doing and still think like Outlanders. So it is no surprise that they are wary still. So you are right, we must wait and bide our time."[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

He knew his cool seemed to irritate her and it was just something he could do and they always seemed to hate him for doing it, especially his other pride members. He watched her finish the rabbit and with a swipe of his paw, sent the bones towards other lioness who attacked the nearly stripped rabbit. He laughed at how pathetic they looked, but then he looked back at his mate who set back down on her rump. Her words came to him softly.

”I always heard that Kovu's mother had created a strong Outlander pride,” He nodded slightly. He knew this, Kira was a powerful lioness from what Rune had told him, but what surprised him the most was the disloyalty of her daughter and the loyalty her daughter had to Kovu. ”that she was a powerful lioness that had stood against Simba and Nala," He nodded, but it did not matter how strong she was… She was a lioness who stood toe to toe with Simba and Nala and yet, she still lost. ”No matter what the end result of that battle was, Zira's pride was strong and able.” He nodded towards her and then looked outside for a moment. His pride was strong, but they were small compared to the pride of the Pridelands. ”They knew what they were doing and still think like Outlanders. So it is no surprise that they are wary still. So you are right, we must wait and bide our time." He looked at her for a moment and then set up himself.

”Yes, Zira was strong, she was smart too… But look at what happened to that pride… They did not abandon her when she fell, no, they did it before… They are loyal to Kovu… When we attack, they will not leave Kovu, just as Kiara’s side of the Pride will not leave Kiara… They will go and we will still have to worry about them later.” It was not him to worry, but he knew the risk all too well, but he also knew that if he could defeat Kovu, it could also push Kiara’s side away from him and Simba would feel needed to take back over and give Kovu a few years before they became King and Queen again over the Pride.

[gerbil]

Nina could only nod for Tau had a very good point. Even once they took over the Pridelands, the lions and lioness under Kovu and Kiara rule would simply split and go with whichever leader they wished to go with, because they followed out of love or respect. Even if Kovu and Kiara were sent away, that would just be creating a new breed of Outlander, which could one day stand up against Tau and herself. She sighed as she slowly lifted herself once more from the ground.

"I believe I will go hunt now,"

[/color] she stated, already looking out at the gathered lioness, looking for Tau's sisters. "Before the beast get restless with the night."[/color] Before she left the mound, she moved close to Tau and nuzzled him once more, before turning and nodding Amara and Ebele away from the other lioness. The two lioness were one of the few that she truly enjoyed being around, simply because they were so much like Tau that it was easy being around them.

With the two lioness ahead of her, Nina moved quickly toward them, pausing only when a lioness began to stand and seemed interested in moving toward Tau. This caused her to pause and hiss, nodding as the lioness sat back down and returned to chewing on the rabbit born Tau had thrown to them. That was how it should be, the other lioness knowing their place, but it had been a younger lioness that had stood. Thus before she left the termite mound, she turned back to have one last look at Tau, then disappeared out of the mound and began looping away on the hunt with her two lioness.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Army Wife]

Tau knew he was right, knew he held a good point and knew that once they took over, the lionesses and lions would leave and go with Kovu and Kiara. Sure, they could possible trap a few and make them stay, but he knew better then to think that. There was really no point in taking them now or ever. They would come around when Kovu and Kiara could not longer take care of them, or rule them. He set there for a moment and looked as she rose. "I believe I will go hunt now," He nodded towards her, looking towards his two sister, knowing they would make him proud. "Before the beast get restless with the night."

He nuzzled her slightly and watched as she went on her with, meeting with his sisters quickly and then following behind the two sisters. His younger brother headed over towards him, and then a lioness tried to come towards him. When he heard Nina's hisses, he smiled. She was growing more confident with her power over the others and that was a good thing. He spoke silently with his brother and then sent him on his way.