Legal Disclaimer: I own none of the original characters however all the other lions in this story are my creation and therefore belong to me. If you would like to use any for your own work please feel free to do so but email me first.
In Ketu's mind a simple plan was forming. In order to reach the plains the lionesses had to pass through a narrow neck of rocks formed out of the cliff line on this edge of the Pridelands. Where the rocks converged was a perfect place to ambush and catch the ignorant hunting party unaware.
With a swift glance to the rest of the group he communicated his intentions as he flicked his head towards the approaching party. He saw his brother's appreciative appraisal of the leading lioness and bared his teeth silently. Obviously his brother needed telling that that particular beauty was already spoken for...later. As one the group slid into the savannah grass, Ketu taking the lead as was his right. Keeping low they reached the narrow passage well ahead of the lionesses and without comment assumed positions that would ensure that there would be well and truly no escape. Ketu was the last to settle himself, choosing his hiding place carefully right near the end of the opening. They would jump the lionesses as they were nearing the end and he would ensure that there was no chance of them getting through.
****************************
Nala stalked at the head of three other lionesses, besides herself there was Chetu and Dasa, the latter was a very skilled huntress, there was no-one else in the pride who could match her for the first initial burst of speed once the prey had been targeted. A young adolescent lioness had also been brought along for what was only her second hunt as Nala wanted to give her more experience in a smaller party where she would have a bigger role to play. It had not been necessary to have the usual larger number of Lionesses in what was doubling as a scouting group to see if the big game had returned.
No-one noticed Liata, the youngest lioness drop someway behind the others as her attention was diverted by a sudden smell on the wind, she had not yet been trained to the skills of co-ordinated group hunting, crucially: pay attention to your leader as Nala trained her senses ahead her pads flexing against the ground to detect any vibrations that might signify the arrival of the heads. As a consequence of her wandering Niata was someway behind, and lost in her own thought, as the three elder lionesses entered a narrow passageway up ahead.
Even with her every sense alert Nala failed to detect anything out of the ordinary as she led the way into the narrow neck between the cliffs. For Chetu however, it was a different matter, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and inadvertently sheathed her claws. She was Nala's unofficial second-in-command but still looked to the Queen for guidance, trusting her judgement. As Nala's manner seemed normal Chetu didn't comment, even though the feeling of uneasiness remained.
Silently and with their usual grace, the lionesses paced through the passageway. Nala finally picked up a sense of unease as she neared the exit. All was too quiet, even the wind seemed to have stilled in anticipation of something. But what? Nala hesitated and glanced around, the light was lost in this narrow path, long shadows were cast from the overhanging rocks. Anything could be lurking in the depths they created, or crouched behind the many scattered boulders, fallen from long ago. Indeed something was hidden as Nala realised all too late when a large male lion leapt out in front of her before she even had time to blink, he crouched in front of, penetrating eyes never leaving her face as he successfully blocked her path. Nala was at first too shocked to react, then she started backwards, turning as she remembered the others and attempted escape back the way they had come. She soon saw that would be futile, they were surrounded. Ambushed. She cursed herself for not
realising it. Out of nowhere had come more lions, leaving the lionesses on the floor encircled, trapped and out numbered. From where she stood Nala could see another, fully mature male poised above and to the left of her and a single lioness guarding the way they had entered. Nala saw the a potential weakness there, the lioness was at full weight but surely could not withstand the combined charge of Nala and her party. As the circle closed in she saw their time was running out. She indicated the lionesses subtly to the others with a slight incline of her head. They had been watching her carefully for any sign of action.
Nala settled back on her hindfeet and waited, it was not for her to take the lead, the three lionesses had hunted together countless times before and they each knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and had their routine worked out. Not for nothing was Dasa so swift on the charge from a crouch, she charged the single lionesses with force driven by desperation and fury at being caught. Nala and Chetu followed a split second later and together they sent the lioness flying even as she set herself to meet their rush.
Ketu sprang to his feet as suddenly before his eyes he watched his prize and her party escape. There had been no indication of their sudden charge from where he had been standing. The speed of their rush surprised him, he realised the full power of Nala's form as she fled the canyon. He was not too dismayed by their going, it was all part of the thrill of the chase, he hadn't lost her yet by a long shot. With a load roar he and the rest set off in pursuit. None of them knew if they had all the members of the original party, that figure was ambiguous, but they had three very fine lionesses in their grasp now!
Not since she had run with Simba from a pack of hyenas could Nala remember having run so fast and with such desperation. How she longed for the powerful, imposing and beloved appearance of her mate on the rocks ahead can only be guessed. As fast as Nala was she couldn't maintain her pace for long and after a short distance the wind left her and she drew up short, her lungs gasping for breath as she forced her exhausted body back into a tired run. Through her paws she could feel the approach of her pursuers. Why did they chase! Desperately she tried to stay near Cheta and Dasa in the faint hope they could fight them off together, but even that proved impossible as Nala quickly realised that the big male from earlier, the first to appear, had singled her out. Running hard alongside her he cut across her path and succeeded in driving her away from the others. They were alone. He ran alongside her as she ran slower and slower... Ketu knew it would not be long now. He was
impatient and for the fun of it could pin her at any time...
So caught up was he with Nala, surely she was teasing him! He failed to notice another lioness, one who had observed all turn and run just as fast for Pride Rock.
In Ketu's mind a simple plan was forming. In order to reach the plains the lionesses had to pass through a narrow neck of rocks formed out of the cliff line on this edge of the Pridelands. Where the rocks converged was a perfect place to ambush and catch the ignorant hunting party unaware.
With a swift glance to the rest of the group he communicated his intentions as he flicked his head towards the approaching party. He saw his brother's appreciative appraisal of the leading lioness and bared his teeth silently. Obviously his brother needed telling that that particular beauty was already spoken for...later. As one the group slid into the savannah grass, Ketu taking the lead as was his right. Keeping low they reached the narrow passage well ahead of the lionesses and without comment assumed positions that would ensure that there would be well and truly no escape. Ketu was the last to settle himself, choosing his hiding place carefully right near the end of the opening. They would jump the lionesses as they were nearing the end and he would ensure that there was no chance of them getting through.
****************************
Nala stalked at the head of three other lionesses, besides herself there was Chetu and Dasa, the latter was a very skilled huntress, there was no-one else in the pride who could match her for the first initial burst of speed once the prey had been targeted. A young adolescent lioness had also been brought along for what was only her second hunt as Nala wanted to give her more experience in a smaller party where she would have a bigger role to play. It had not been necessary to have the usual larger number of Lionesses in what was doubling as a scouting group to see if the big game had returned.
No-one noticed Liata, the youngest lioness drop someway behind the others as her attention was diverted by a sudden smell on the wind, she had not yet been trained to the skills of co-ordinated group hunting, crucially: pay attention to your leader as Nala trained her senses ahead her pads flexing against the ground to detect any vibrations that might signify the arrival of the heads. As a consequence of her wandering Niata was someway behind, and lost in her own thought, as the three elder lionesses entered a narrow passageway up ahead.
Even with her every sense alert Nala failed to detect anything out of the ordinary as she led the way into the narrow neck between the cliffs. For Chetu however, it was a different matter, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and inadvertently sheathed her claws. She was Nala's unofficial second-in-command but still looked to the Queen for guidance, trusting her judgement. As Nala's manner seemed normal Chetu didn't comment, even though the feeling of uneasiness remained.
Silently and with their usual grace, the lionesses paced through the passageway. Nala finally picked up a sense of unease as she neared the exit. All was too quiet, even the wind seemed to have stilled in anticipation of something. But what? Nala hesitated and glanced around, the light was lost in this narrow path, long shadows were cast from the overhanging rocks. Anything could be lurking in the depths they created, or crouched behind the many scattered boulders, fallen from long ago. Indeed something was hidden as Nala realised all too late when a large male lion leapt out in front of her before she even had time to blink, he crouched in front of, penetrating eyes never leaving her face as he successfully blocked her path. Nala was at first too shocked to react, then she started backwards, turning as she remembered the others and attempted escape back the way they had come. She soon saw that would be futile, they were surrounded. Ambushed. She cursed herself for not
realising it. Out of nowhere had come more lions, leaving the lionesses on the floor encircled, trapped and out numbered. From where she stood Nala could see another, fully mature male poised above and to the left of her and a single lioness guarding the way they had entered. Nala saw the a potential weakness there, the lioness was at full weight but surely could not withstand the combined charge of Nala and her party. As the circle closed in she saw their time was running out. She indicated the lionesses subtly to the others with a slight incline of her head. They had been watching her carefully for any sign of action.
Nala settled back on her hindfeet and waited, it was not for her to take the lead, the three lionesses had hunted together countless times before and they each knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and had their routine worked out. Not for nothing was Dasa so swift on the charge from a crouch, she charged the single lionesses with force driven by desperation and fury at being caught. Nala and Chetu followed a split second later and together they sent the lioness flying even as she set herself to meet their rush.
Ketu sprang to his feet as suddenly before his eyes he watched his prize and her party escape. There had been no indication of their sudden charge from where he had been standing. The speed of their rush surprised him, he realised the full power of Nala's form as she fled the canyon. He was not too dismayed by their going, it was all part of the thrill of the chase, he hadn't lost her yet by a long shot. With a load roar he and the rest set off in pursuit. None of them knew if they had all the members of the original party, that figure was ambiguous, but they had three very fine lionesses in their grasp now!
Not since she had run with Simba from a pack of hyenas could Nala remember having run so fast and with such desperation. How she longed for the powerful, imposing and beloved appearance of her mate on the rocks ahead can only be guessed. As fast as Nala was she couldn't maintain her pace for long and after a short distance the wind left her and she drew up short, her lungs gasping for breath as she forced her exhausted body back into a tired run. Through her paws she could feel the approach of her pursuers. Why did they chase! Desperately she tried to stay near Cheta and Dasa in the faint hope they could fight them off together, but even that proved impossible as Nala quickly realised that the big male from earlier, the first to appear, had singled her out. Running hard alongside her he cut across her path and succeeded in driving her away from the others. They were alone. He ran alongside her as she ran slower and slower... Ketu knew it would not be long now. He was
impatient and for the fun of it could pin her at any time...
So caught up was he with Nala, surely she was teasing him! He failed to notice another lioness, one who had observed all turn and run just as fast for Pride Rock.