Hunted (Private)

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

A large male made his way through the grassy area, he was older now, wiser and slyer. He shook out his full mud coloured mane, the thick tendrils covering his shoulders and curving into his underbelly between his paws. His unusual coloured eyes were sharper, more alert. His shoulders were well built and broader. He lowered his head, growling to himself as he glared ahead of him. Ezekiel stepped forward, prowling towards the grazing antelope when his  paw caught on a gnarled tree root causing it to snap noisily. The antelope snapped its head up; instantly alert and before the lion could move the prey had fled. "Goddammit." He snarled to himself. The loss of his sister had destroyed his patience and tolerance. It took a lot to calm his fiery temper, he was just lucky his mate was up to the challenge.

[Deleted]

Thankfully Wasana was in the grass nearby, ready with her poisoned dart. When the antellope fled she puffed and the dart flew true, finding its mark on the antellope's rump. "Well done, my love!" she called. "I got it!" In a few minutes the antelope would be dead, but in only seconds it wouldn't be able to walk.
Wasana waited for her husband to help her up from the grass. Ever since they'd left home she'd become a travelling shaman and healer of some renown. They were welcome wherever they went, and whenever they arrived in a pride the leaders would put on a banquet for them. This, in combination with Wasana's unique hunting technique and her huge 'appreciation' for food, had turned her into quite possibly the largest lioness on the African plain. Certainly the largest she'd ever met in all her travels. But despite her huge belly and thick, folded tail, neck and legs, her extra weight actually complimented her pretty round face and seemed to bring out the shine in her golden eyes. Nevertheless, her size made its own set of challenges, not the least of which was moving between prides. "Would you mind dragging it back here?" She said. "My legs are still quite sore." In truth, she could not wait to find a place to settle down.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Of course." Ezekiel replied, his tone softening noticeably when he heard his life partners voice. He padded to the carcass and sunk his teeth into it, rather violently before dragging it over to where Wasana was waiting. He let go and it dropped with a dull thud onto the ground before he carefully nudged under Wasana and helped her stand. "We'll find a cave or something as soon as we've eaten. It is getting dark after all." He said, nipping her scruff affectionately. "I think Mchanga from the old Pride said there was one a little North of the marshlands; which is of course where we are now. So it shouldn't be much further." He said, standing over Wasana protectively and peering around the area for any sign of the cave.

[Deleted]

"Thank you so much," Wasana said, once Zeke had helped her stand. She looked at him looking around and then leaned into him, pushing him over in the process and landing on top of him. "You're such a good mate, my wonderful Zeke. You protect and care for me so well. I love you." She put her chubby arms around him - as far as she could reach around him and her significant brisket anyway - and hugged his muscly body, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation. As much as she wanted to settle down, solitude had its benefits.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel smiled and wrapped his paws around her neck, nuzzling into her contently. "I love you too." He murmured, starting to lick her face, before he rolled onto his side, knocking her off him as well before placing a paw over her and gazing at her thoughtfully. "Can't we just stay here tonight?" He whined, half playful, half serious.

[Deleted]

"Hey... Careful!" Wasana said as Zeke threw her aside. Throwing around the weight of seven regular lionesses was no trivial matter. But when he suggested they stay here for the night, she grinned. That meant he was relaxing. "That sounds like a wonderful idea," Wasana said from her back in the grass, her huge pale-furred stomach exposed to the sky. "So long as you agree to keep me warm if it gets as cold as last night."

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Don't I always?" He purred, as he shuffled closer to her and rested his head against her belly with a grin. "We could always go under a tree or something where it's safer then we won't be exposed when we sleep." He suggested, flicking his tail towards a large acacia tree.

[Deleted]

"Alright," Wasana said. "Do we eat first? Or would you mind dragging the wilderbeast all that way? That way I won't have to carry it in my tummy," she said, and grinned, using her paw to run her claws through his mane.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel shivered a little at the touch. "I'll drag it, because then we can eat in peace too." He smirked gripping the prey in his teeth and starting to drag it towards the tree slowly.

[Deleted]

Wasana kicked her legs and rolled over with difficulty. Sometimes Zeke forgot to be a gentleman. Nevertheless she could fairly well keep pace with him as he dragged the carcass towards the tree. By the time they Escher it the sun had set below distant mountains, and she eased herself down with a sigh. "You'd better go first, dearest," she said. "I don't want to leave you hungry again."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel chuckled a little. "It's fine, sweet. I'm not hungry yet; I'll just go hunting again later if I do get hungry and there's no food left." He replied, laying down beside her and nestling his head in his paws, staying as close to Wasana as possible.

[Deleted]

"She licked his nose, then said, "Thank you, Mister Wonderful," then stood with difficulty and waddled over to the carcass.
The sun was well-and-truly set by the time she was full, and she sat back with a contented sigh. Her stomach was huge, and ached like crazy. "I'm such a hippo," she said, carefully stepping backwards and lying on the grass, being careful not to lie on her stomach lest she squish its generous contents. Instead she lay on her side, and said to her mate, "I'm sorry, honey. I don't suppose you'd mind giving me a tummy massage? Sometimes I wish my hunger had an off-switch."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel smiled fondly at her, "You're not a hippo." He replied before obliging with giving her the massage like she asked.

[Deleted]

"You certainly have the touch, love," Wasana said, closing her eyes and enjoying Zeke's attention. "I might not be a hippo, but I think I could safely be confused for one now. Why are you so patient with me?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Because I love you so much." He replied without hesitation, he hated when Wasana worried about her weight.

[Deleted]

Wasana smiled ruefully. "And I love you too." She did not fail to notice the tone of annoyance in his voice. At some stage she would explain to him that when she complained about herself, what she wanted was for him to reassure her that she was a worthwhile human being. But not tonight. "Thank you, honey," she said. "That's much better. Will you settle down with me? It's already getting cold." She patted the grass beside herself.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel nodded and shuffled closer to her before lying down on his haunches; he rested his paws over hers and placed his chin on her back, nuzzling into her to get comfortable. "Warm enough?"

[Deleted]

"Very," Wasana said, pulling him close into her fur and licking the top of his head. She sighed contentedly. "You make my life worth living, my love.
"So, where are we headed tomorrow? Remind me again of our next destination?" He had probably told her a hundred times, but it was easy to forget when one had travelled so much.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"We don't have to travel tomorrow if you don't want too. I feel far enough away from where I lost Lai to rest for a few days." He said in a whisper, the anguish evident in his tone.

[Deleted]

Wasana held him closer, stroking his head and mane. He'd never spoken to her about it, about what happened exactly, though she had ideas. It made her uncomfortable. She wanted to share in her mate's suffering, but having asked before, she knew his response might not be so pleasant. So she just held him. "If you wish. I could do with a rest anyway. It'd be nice to be just the two of us, not trying to go anywhere or do anything. Just resting out here alone." Then she added, "Is there anything you would like to do tomorrow, in particular?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel nodded his agreement. "It would be preferable spending time with just you." He then shook his head a little, "I don't want to do anything." He was about to settle down when a nearby chirp of an hawk chick alerted him and he sighed heavily. "I miss my little birdy." He admitted, using Lailah's nickname for the first time in a long time.

[Deleted]

"I miss her too," Wasana said, choking back tears. "She was my best friend, from when we were cubs. But I'm so glad I have you." She snuggled into him, putting her paws on his muscular shoulders and gazing up at the stars. "You make me feel safe... do you think she's watching us? You know, that star there," she said, pointing, "I never noticed it before Lail passed. Isn't it bright, and beautiful?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

"You mean everything to me." Ezekiel said softly licking her cheek before he raised his gaze to the sky and managed a weak smile. "It's bright and beautiful like her, I think she is watching us. She always tried to even though I usually tried to watch over her." He then lowered his gaze to Wasana; suddenly serious. "If we ever have cubs, I want to name our first born daughter Lailah. Can we do that?" He asked.

[Deleted]

"It's a beautiful name," Wasana said, licking his ear. "I only hope our daughter is as beautiful as she was. And if we have a boy, we can call him Lailo. It's a good hunter's name anyway. 'Lay-low'?" She grinned at her own joke.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel chuckled and rolled his eyes, "THat was pretty clever." He complimented her.

[Deleted]

Wasana's grin turned into a smile at Zeke's compliment. "Thank you," she said. "Now, I don't know about you, but that tummy massage did me the world of good. I'm going to go have a bit more, then go to sleep. Would you mind helping me up?" She licked his nose.

[Ruby_Fehu]

He snapped out of his thoughts and nodded before standing up and nosing at her so she could stand up.

[Deleted]

Wasana went to the wilderbeast carcass and started eating, and did so many times over the night. By the time morning came the carcass was all but gone, and Wasana lay on her side in a fitful sleep, full of nightmares. She had her paws around her bloated stomach and was whispering, "No... daddy, no... it's late... I want to sleep... my legs... uh... it hurts my legs..."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel, who was always such a light sleeper stirred a little when he heard Wasana mumbling. With a yawn he raised his head and peered down at her. Just like he used to with Lailah, he begins to nuzzle her to try and calm her down. He still didn't quite know the full history of her cubhood.

[Deleted]

Wasana opened her eyes, seeing light of the day and her mate, and relief washed over her like a wave. She turned and hugged Ezekiel to her. "I'm so glad you're here," she said. "How are you? Did you sleep ok?"