A child's anger (Open)

[Tao]

TAO
---

Peace came with the setting of the sun. A time when everything seemed to relax in the night that slowly cooled the savannah, if not just by a few degrees, but thus could not be helped, only dealt with by every creature that hoped to survive in this terribly dry season. The night seemed to bring an energy about it, an energy that stirred under the clear moonlight that lit almost every stalk of grass in sight with a pale silver, a light more soothing than that of the sun's.

Although one thing on this night was not peaceful; if anything, this young lion was quite the opposite. Tao stomped back and forth through the dead grasses that snapped with every step he took in his angry sulking, his snarling quite audible for a ways around. Finally, Tao let out a terrible huff, much like a young cub's, and collapsed to the ground in a pathetic lump of pouting fur. Needless to say he didn't have a good reason for this, but even still his ways were childish.

For what seemed like hours, he simply laid there like a lifeless matt and stared at nothing but the dead grass in front of him, letting the rage inside him build up until it was almost too much to bear. This was until he heard the sound of movement not too far ahead of him. His ears shot up with new arousal as he carefully listened to every sound.. the swish of the grass as it parted.. the slight cracks of it as it broke under a creature's footfalls. Not just any creature, this was prey.
His stomach growled in hunger as a new feeling besides anger fed him, it was the lust to feed.

He slowly turned and shifted his body, carefully pulling himself onto his paws in a low crouch, his skinny belly just barely touching the ground below him. He slowly inched forward, careful to not make any sound that could alert this antelope, but even if it were to bound away, Tao's priority was to chase it down. The starving creature's neck arched downwards to sip at the puddle of water that was the only reminder of what was once a large watering hole.

The grasses parted ever so slowly as he crept forward.. just one more step.. he thought desperately as a large blade of grass gave way under his paw. The antelope's head shot up in an instant, and it quickly turned to make a getaway.

In one sudden movement, Tao sprang from the grass and shot after his running prey, taking out all his previous anger out on this one hunt, his legs seeming to move him closer and closer, his claws unearthing soil and rocks behind him. Just as he made a move behind the antelope, one of it's legs shot out and kicked right into his eye, quickly sending him to the ground in a retreat.
He panted heavily feeling his moist fur stick to him tightly like a hot, wet rug, a snarl sounding out clearly as the pain hit him, the vision in his left eye going red.. then black. There was nothing.

[Marini]

Embracing the cool, or at least cooler, night air, Marini planned on taking full advantage of this respite from the dry heat of the day. Soon she would sleep, but for now she prowled the area in search of something to eat. Her stomach growled, or at least she thought it was her stomach anyway. She was sure she could hear a snarl emanating from not too far away, although she made little mind to it as her she cast her eyes on a grazing antelope.

Pressing herself to the ground, intent on not losing this chance for a midnight snack, she stalked her prey as it unwittingly digested it's own fibrous prey. Although she was young, her hunting skills had been well honed and she was confident in her abilities. Creeping closer to her would be kill, she could almost taste the meat behind it's fleshy hide as she poised, ready to strike. However, at what would have been the opportune moment, a rather small lion pounced from his own spot and began to chase the antelope that seconds ago had been her prey. Annoyed, she growled to herself as she rose to her full height and watched the chase that unfold. It was the way of the world that one couldn't win them all and everyone else needed to feed to.

Watching the chase some more, she winced as the antelope kicked out and sent the young male crashing to the ground! The prey was lost, galloping off into the night, but more importantly the lion who had attempted to catch it was not moving. Was he dead, Marini thought with dread as she tentatively padded closer. Attempting to nudge him awake, she could see the injury to his eye. It was probably better than it looked, but a kick to the head could have been fatal. Luckily, he was still warm and breathing, and so she dragged him closer to the water hole, praying that he would wake up. Although she took countless lives in order to survive, she didn't like to see any of her own losing their battle for survival, even if she did not recognise them. This was certainly the case here, but she couldn't just leave him, right?

[Tao]

TAO
---

When he was struck to the ground, his red, blurry vision was the last thing he remembered before he was out cold and limp. Tao wasn't aware of the surely kind lioness that dragged him to the water.

Tao cringed as he awoke from his black out and seemed to gasp for air. Though thankful he was alive after recalling what had only just happened, the pain in his eye was almost unbearable, and he couldn't see from it. The first thing he saw with his other, though, was the little water left in the watering hole.

With his one good eye, he let himself study the moonlit puddle of the watering hole for a moment, relaxing as the light of it's gentle gaze reflected in his; his breathing slowed, and it started to dawn on him where he was. How did he get here?

Slowly, he shifted himself to prop up on one paw to get up, but feeling himself almost drained of energy he dropped back to the ground and sighed apathetically at himself.

After taking a few breaths he turned his head slightly to see another lioness there. He would've shrank back in fear, but he found himself too weak to move much more than to even make the small movement of turning his head or uttering one word.
He wanted to ask many things, but he couldn't find any will to speak, and so only a small whine was heard caught in his throat.

[Marini]

After dragging the young lion out of harms way, Marini almost left the stranger to come round in his own time, but she couldn't. Perhaps it was foolish, but nevertheless she remained by his side. That wound to the eye looked rather nasty, but then she had seen worse injuries occuring as a result of a hunt gone awry. She hoped that he wouldn't be permanently damaged, but then what did it matter to her? Very little, or at least it should have, but she almost felt a mothering instinct toward the stricken adolescent. In fact, she briefly contemplated licking the blood from his eye, but thought better of it. The last thing he probably wanted was to wake up to a strangers tongue in the eyeball, in fact she wouldn't like it at all!

Pacing around a little, she tried to ignore her still rumbling stomach and instead began to lap up at the watering 'puddle'. Thankfully, she at least didn't have long to wait for the lion to start coming around, although she wasn't aware of this fact until she picked up a thud, followed by a barely audible whine coming from the direction where she had left the stricken youngster. Turning to face him, she saw the fear in his eyes and padded her way over carefully so as not to frighten him further. Perhaps his fear was due to him being slightly disorientated, but nevertheless she didn't want to unsettle him further. She stopped about a foot in front of him, giving him a little personal space, as she addressed him.

"Welcome back to the land of the living", she offered before continuing. "How are you feeling?"

[Tao]

TAO
---

Tao's fearful gaze softened as he came around, feeling slightly more aware of his surroundings. This strange lioness had a motherly aura, which alone comforted him, besides the fact that she hadn't left him there vulnerable, though he himself did not know of this as of yet.

"H...How.." he mumbled in a ragged voice, "Who are you?"

He observed that this lioness was pretty, and also apparently caring, for if she were not she must've just found her way away from him, right? But she had not done so.

For a moment the pain in his eye had numbed, but with the dawning of his senses coming back to him, a new groan escaped his throat as the sharp pain struck him suddenly. He didn't remember feeling a pain like this before.. Only pain in his heart, but was that really so bad?

Tao was very confused with himself, and unsure of who he even was or where he belonged. He had no pride or family, and the only family he had was a judgemental father and a haughty brother who had both shunned him from whatever pride they had. Abandoned him for dead they said. "No son of mine is a coward! You couldn't even earn your own life if you didn't depend on me and your brother!" these were the last words his father had ever so angrily thrown at him before they put Tao to the ultimate test. The test of life or death, but they wouldn't be around to see the end.

Tao's one-eyed-gaze fell back to the bitter soil he laid on as he pondered these thoughts. Perhaps that's why he was alive now. He had depended on some one, a lioness he didn't even know. Would she have to help him too? Would she have to deal with his helplessness? No, I am not helpless! I will prove my father wrong! he thought with a new boastful pride, but as soon as the thought swam through his head it was snuffed once more. No... I can't prove anything..

[Marini]

Marini sat down in front of the young lion whilst still keeping her distance somewhat. Normally, she was extremely weary of strangers, but she didn't feel that there was too much to worry about in regards to this particular adolescent. Letting her guard down was probably a little risky, but then that wasn't the reason she had chosen to keep her distance anyway. He seemed rather nervous and was likely to try and bolt and injure himself further. He was certainly unlike any other lion she had met, but then very few adult or sub adult lions actually existed within her pride.

"Marini", she answered whilst keeping her voice as neutral as possible. She curled her tail around her back legs as she surveyed the lions injury once more. It was obviously starting to hurt now, a fact which didn't surprise her too much. Perhaps he would allow her to do something about that, but one thing at a time.

"So who're you then?" she asked, returning the prior question. She was growing rather tired of using 'young lion' in her inner monologue, after all.

[Tao]

TAO
---

With his pain still ever present, as well as his former anger, (though it had since ceased with this new pain) Tao couldn't help but seem a little pouty still. His one uninjured eye closed for a moment as he sighed in a moment of silence as the hot, gentle breeze caressed through his red mane.

His eye was starting to burn with its pain, but in attempt to ignore his pain all together, he focused his attention on this lioness. Marini, was her name. It was a pretty name, and a pretty name for a pretty lioness he supposed.

"M-my name is T-Tao.." he faltered in half shock and pain, as well as a smidge of embarrassment. Tao still felt guilty for monopolizing her time with his injury, but alas it was her choice to stay near him, right? Surely she wasn't too upset by this. At least, she didn't appear to be so.

With a wince of another wave of pain, Tao decided to bring up another subject in hope to fight it off. "You are from the Pridelands, yes? I know it must be nearby. Uhh.. besides.. you look like a sort of Pridelander," he fumbled, hoping that this had not insulted her if she were not from the Pridelands as he suspected.

[Marini]

((OOC: Wow, sorry for the wait. Things in rl got really rather hectic just there))
_______________________________________________________________________
Marini watched as the injured young lion stood in front of her with and expression that could almost be described as a pout plastered on his face! Either he was younger than he looked or was rather immature for his age and she couldn't help but be slightly amused. She only smiled warmly though as he spoke, anything else would likely offend him.

So his name was Tao? That was a rather unusual name that he had stuttered out there, but it somehow seemed to suit him. Upon his question though, she had a retort ready about actually being a hyena on vacation in some far away land or another, but caught herself. She winced as she bit her own tongue, but attempted to disguise it as another smile. Now was not the time for sarcasm, and his current location and her ethnic origin weren't really all that obvious! Best not to confuse him or upset him further, she decided before answering his question.

"You're in the pridelands Tao, you see pride rock?", she asked gesturing with her head toward the unique stone structure. Normally, Simba and Nala's regal presence would have graced the pointed pathway jutting out from near the top of the formation. At this time of night though, they were likely asleep, and on that point she let out a large yawn before answering the lions second question.

"Yep, I'm a pridelander, guilty as charged", she confirmed as she rose back onto her feet. She wondered where he had come from and how he had found himself here, but she thought better than to ask for now. Instead, she enquired as to his current condition.

How'd you feel now? any better?"

[Tao]

TAO
---

Tao turned his head to look to the horizon.. It was truly a great structure of nature, the pilings of well placed rocks set against a star-filled sky of dark blues and violets. The chirping of crickets and the few, lonesome early birds cleared his mind and eased his anger and pain.

"I do feel better, thank you," he said politely, his prior tone and traces of his pouty childish nature were gone, at least for now.

He found she was a Pridelander, but this didn't change his attitude (for it wasn't like he was some Outlander). Besides, he heard they were a very nice pride of lions, compared to some other notorious prides he'd heard of. He would've told her of his origins as well, except he didn't want to think of his father at the time. He was a bit acquainted with the Vinelanders, but they were not his family, and he wouldn't stick to their laws or boundaries anyhow.

With his wounded eye in a better state than before, he allowed himself to relax and stretch his legs by standing and stumbling a few steps to the puddle of water, taking a small drink.

[Marini]

Marini nodded. It was good that he was feeling a little better at least, although the unease in his voice and posture wasn't difficult to see.

Watching as the young lion took a drink from what little was left of the watering hole, she frowned. When were the rains going to come anyway, she pondered as she watched Tao lap up what he could. She wondered if things were any better where he came from, but for some reason it seemed as though it would be a rather bad idea to ask. It was certainly apparent that he wasn't going to share the information voluntarily, after all he'd had his chance, so instead she looked up at the sky. It was late and really it was about time that she rejoined the others. Allowing him to finish, she stood tall and smiled.

"I'd better be getting back before the others decided to look for me. Will you be alright now?"

[Tao]

TAO
---

"W-wait!" he said hesitantly after pulling his muzzle from the murky water, taking a step towards her. He paused for a moment for what must've seemed to be a moment of his own inner thinking, more hesitation on his part. Perhaps his hesitation would be the end of him someday.

His head turned slightly, as if to turn away from ever mentioning anything.. he just wanted to.. "Wh..what is it like? I mean," he paused again before continuing, "what is it like to be.. cared about? They would look for you?" the tone in his voice was almost pitiful to hear. He had never known anything really like it, even this stranger lioness staying with him and making sure he was alright was the greatest token of care he had seen in a while. Of course he did feel a little guilty of keeping her around longer than needed, but oh he just had to know.

[Marini]

Marini turned her head back to face Tao and raised her brow bone. How could any lion not know what it was like to be cared for? She had suspected that this young male was not affiliated with the pridelanders, but to have no pride at all? That was the only explanation for asking such a question anyway, and once again her heart went out to him.

Sighing, she performed a u turn and returned to the lion's side. She sat back down as she tried to think of a way to answer.

"To be cared for is to belong, to know that you will always have someone to rely on no matter what." She paused before continuing. "Do you not belong anywhere, Tao?"