The Young Seem All Too Innocent {MudBug}

[dragonqeen1010]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=height,400,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,background-image: url(http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n479/dragonqeen1010/Elaiantablestart.png);] On big paws much to large for her body a cub stalked across the ground with big light brown eyes fixated on her prey. Watching its tail move she suddenly fell to her belly tense with ears back almost afraid she would be caught. When it didn't move again her head pricked up and again with hesitant steps she continued forward. In the mind of a child this was all but a game. She was a powerful hunter of spots creeping up on a bigger animal she would take down then bring to her father as a trophy. Thats what the game was anyway. A simple game of predator and prey played by all the children of the tribe because though it was a game it was also a lesson. Creeping across the ground trying got keep quiet, pouncing, grabbing things, this was a lesson of survival. Once she grew into her pig paws, long tail and huge ears this kitten would become a huntress with sharp claws and the longest teeth compared to body ratio of any cat. Killing was in this childs DNA and this was a game now but later it would be a dance of life and death. Finally only feet away she crouched again and like a spring she coiled and jumped. Launching forward with ears back Elaina landed front paws first on the bigger mass of lion cub she called her brother. Trying to wrap her paws around Course's big shoulders the little kitten bit onto his ear and pulled. Growing it was all play but that didn't mean she wasn't trying to win. To the hybrid the lion was her brother just as Yuke was. He had spots like them and was young like them, so what if he was a bit bigger. For the only few months of her life he had been there. Nursing with her, playing with her, sleeping with her, and when she woke and fell asleep he was always there. He smelled like mom and dad and was so warm to cuddle up to that Course had become her favorite of her siblings. “Got'cha!” She growled between her teeth triumphantly. Sneaking up on a sleeping big brother to this little kitten was the same accomplishment for her as her father wrestling Streiter and winning. ---------- Words: Notes:I think I am going to enjoy these two very much!

[MudBug]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=height,319,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/10gidxe.jpg);] Watch my moves! Read my mind! "Hear my voice!" "Got'cha!" A shrill growl, and the pressure of paws on his spine jerked Course from the dark abyss of sleep. Before his rational mind could take over, instinct pulled him to his feet in a flash of honey colored fur and rabid eyes. As he wheeled on her with a sharp look of impending wrath, a paw came up in the air, claws unsheathed, ready to attack the fool who'd startled him. Claws gleaming in the sunlight, his mind began recalling the name that belonged to the face that he was just seconds away from tearing to shreds. He blinked rapidly, his scowl morphing into a look of frustrated confusion. Slowly his paw came down, claws retracting back into their flesh covers. He moved his gaze away, shaking away the last bit of his grogginess. He pretended to simply be annoyed, but there was a worm of guilt crawling in his gut. He had no doubt he had scared the living daylights out of his little sister - there was no point in pretending she wasn't like a sister to him. Still, he scolded her for her foolish playing. She could have easily gotten hurt, had his claws been just a second faster than his mind. "Elaina! Why must you do that? Do you have any idea how close I came to tearing your pretty little face right off your skull? Don't sneak up on sleeping lions, got it?" Content that she'd learned her lesson, his tone turned lighter and more playful. "We wouldn't want you sneaking up on a real meany, now would we? Can't have someone hurting you, not this early anyway. I don't like having to kill before breakfast," he said with a playful growl, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He reached a paw out to scratch in the crook of Elaina's ear, almost like a tickle. "Speaking of breakfast, what do you say we see what there is to catch, hm? It's early, maybe some birds by the bank? How's 'duck a la mud' sound?"

[dragonqeen1010]

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[atrb=background,http://i42.tinypic.com/adn76s.jpg] "Speech" The cub was just playing around just like she did with all of her other siblings and even Course when he was up for a rumble but the way he reacted to her surprise attack truly frightened her. Ears coming back flat against her skull when her back hit the ground she hissed. Her belly was to him and her paws came up with claws and a shriek escaped her. “Course!” she cried out. As he paused Elaina looked at him with big eyes and a terrified expression. Her eyes that had been on his big claws drifted to his own trying to find her big brother and have him find reason. This was her big brother. Elaina didn't even know this lion wasn't her blood, her young mind had no idea of this information and simply classified him as family because her underdeveloped mind didn't have enough information to figure otherwise. Brothers don't hurt sisters right? Once his claws were hidden and paw down the little spotted cub crawled away on her belly glaring at him her tail flicking back and forth. Sitting down a few feet away with shoulders slumped and head down she wrapped her tail around her self rather ticked. “I was just playin'!”

[/color] she snarled at him standing up with hackles raised and eyes on him. Ears back and lips showing little sharp baby teeth she continued to growl at him, “you couldn't tear off my face anyhow cause I'd bite off your nose first!”[/color] Childishly she snorted and turned her head away as she sat down again giving him her back.

Once he seemed happy with having scolded her like he was daddy his voice softened. “Pfft,”[/color] she rolled her eyes as a smile trickled to her lips. A tickle finally broke her short burst of anger and she turned to give his eyebrow a loving lick. “You wouldn't kill nobody![/color]” With a giggle she rubbed her head against his shoulder before her attention was grabbed by a little beetle scuttling for cover. Jumping at it the bug landed under her paws but when she opened them it ran off again causing her to jump a few times in hopes of grabbing it.

Hearing him again she straightened and trotted back over with a shy look. “I'm not good at hunting... Momma says I will be but,”[/color] trailing off she shrugged. Elaina always seemed to get to excited and act before she should then she didn't go for it fast enough. Only a few months old the cub was still trying to learn all the world had to offer.

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Words:441
Notes:Oh! I don't know if you know but the picture you have for Course is a little to old for him. This is how a three month old lion cub looks.


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[MudBug]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=height,319,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/10gidxe.jpg);] Watch my moves! Read my mind! "Hear my voice!" Course watched her flail after the beetle, and cast her a caring glance as she walked back, defeated, to nudge him with her kind face. "I'm sure you'll be a brilliant huntress, someday. The trick is-" he stalked after the beetle as he spoke, noting the darkness to it's left...waiting. "-to use your prey's instincts, against it!" The beetle shot for the shadows, but Course was ready. He leaped to his left, and caught the bug in his talons. It never had a chance. He brought the slayed little beast to his sister, and placed is at her paws, with a smile. The faint sound of wings hitting water reached his ears, alerting him to more noteworthy prey nearby. His kind smile faded into a look of intensity, as he turned away from Elaina. He brought his nose up to better meet the wind, tasting the scent of fowl in the air. "C'mon, sis. Let's practice, for real!" He darted into the open, standing just a few yards form the tide, surveying the scene. A mother and her ducklings drifted just a stones throw from where water met dry land. He sauntered forward until the waters lapped at his paws, just a tad too big for his body. He turned to give Elaina a knowing smile, and a corny wink, before he dove into the frigid bay. A raspy breath leaped from his muzzle before he could adjust to the cold, but soon he was steadily stalking his prey, the water washed up nearly to his shoulders. "Let me show you how it's done," he whispered, to no one. With a shrill rawr, he threw his weight into the air and toward the ducklings. As he predicted, instinct propelled the mother duck directly into his line of fire. His claws unsheathed, he pounced into her breast and sank his teeth into her neck. She barely had time to quack in fear.

[dragonqeen1010]

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[atrb=background,http://i42.tinypic.com/adn76s.jpg] "Speech" Feeling defeated, the kind words from her brother lightened the young girls heart. Watching intently with her big eyes, she stood up when he pounced, with excitement running through her veins. Though he had caught it and she hadn't the cub didn't care, and the thought didn't even cross her mind. She was happy for him, and showed it with a lick to his fluffy cheek. Sniffing at the beetling he had put at her paws she giggled in her shrill little voice. Batting at it she'd send the carcass flying only to jump on it before kicking it off again. Wings on water caught her attention and straightening up she listened attentively. Little mutt stretching up her neck Elaina tried to spot the birds with out luck. She sniffed the air, smelling the ducks sent a tingle down her spine to her toes. Excited the spotted cat bounded after her brother in jumping steps, hardly able to contain her excitement. Once they spotted the mother and her babies, she became all business. Ears erect she stalked to the waters edge but wouldn't touch it. She had always hated cold, wet, icky water. Her brother winked and smiled, but she could hear his sound of discomfort caused by the water which only deterred her more. Pacing the sand she watched him and the ducks following them on the shore while they moved. Course acted and Elaina watched but then she spotted a chance. In fear the ducklings raced for the shore and hardly had time to react before the kitten was upon them. Pouncing on one it was crushed beneath her paws, then she grabbed another by the neck while the others ran off. Bounding after them they plaid a game of cat and mouse for a bit before she was able to snag her third duckling by its tail feathers. Carrying the screaming ball of fur back to her other kills she dropped it only to watch it try to get away again. To her this was a game! She jumped in front of it sending it the other way, but she just kept getting in its path. Swiping out a golden paw she knocked the little thing in the air but it just got right back up again. ---------- Words: 380 Notes:yeah.. I know it sucks.

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