The days passed into weeks, the weeks into months. Yet for the lionesses of Priderock, time did not matter anymore. What might have been two days seemed to feel more like two years. For night and day they were forced to hunt for the ever hungry hyenas and their king.
It had been months since it had last rained, and long ago did the watering hole shrivel into oblivion. Even the mighty river had shrunk nearly to nothing. Over heated herds of hippos constantly fought over the deeper areas. Proud beach masters covered with blood from cuts received from adversaries during fights against the different areas of the river, while the number of calves dropped drastically.
Crocodiles were now lurching in every inch of the waterway, making even just trying to catch a sip taking life into one's own paws or hooves. Many of the remaining young from prey animals had been lost this way. Yet, like what was now the case with the hippos, the crocs had begun to move away from their watery home and towards what they hoped to be better lands.
Most of the larger herds, such as the elephants and the great mass of wildebeest, had already moved off. The dead grass and lack of water no longer large enough to supply the masses. Most of the zebra's had followed in the wake of their larger herd companions, as was the striped equines usually do when migrating. Leopards and cheetahs had long fled, daring to trespass on other's territories as they followed the larger prey animals.
Antelopes, though much fewer in number, had yet to leave, but it was apparent by the way the bucks kept testing the air and leading their herds farther away from Priderock that they were soon to follow the wake of the other hooves animals. Most of the smaller animals, the mice, meerkats and what have you, had stayed though and providing most of the meals now.
Yet, dispute the sudden decline in competition, the lioness pride was bringing in fewer and fewer kills. Making sure that they got first take on whatever meat they might find, before delivering it to the ungrateful hyenas. The huntresses were worn out by the constant scavenging and lack of food and water. Still though, they remained strong, knowing that soon enough there would be nothing left, and hoping that day would come soon. When they could leave, and move to new grounds.
Nala had slowly grown larger over the course of time. Muscle was hard to gain with the lack of a real diet, but she was still strong and swiftly becoming one of the better hunters when allowed to take part in a hunt. Not yet an adult, and to old to be counted as a tasty meal to hyenas, she found her self often being dragged along on a hunt to learn from watching. The pride simply did not having enough time to teach her by experience. They couldn't afford to miss out on a kill.
As time continued to wear on, the remaining herds scattered into the wind. All that was left was the strong and defiant ones, such as young bucks and foolish does who were fleeter of foot and sharper of horn and hoof than they might appear to be. The lionesses were forced to try their luck on the healthier, fighting animals, and finding little success.
It was just chance, that they stumbled upon a wildebeest. One of the older bulls, he had been strong enough to stay without much danger. His curled horns more than a threat, and his powerful limbs could deliver a kick strong enough to break open even the hardest skull.
The pride had watched this one for sometime, watching the old bull's movements and trying to find any flaw. So it befell, on one day they seemed to have found it. Having dropped into the rift that had once been filled with water, the wildebeest had gotten close to the water's edge to drink when one of the few remaining crocs, all small enough to live off of less food, had leapt out. Crushing jaws had come from now where and clamped down on his leg. Yet, the bull was experienced, rather than completely panic, he lowered his antlers and gored at the predator while leaping backwards. Outweighed, and getting more than a good share of nasty, painful gashes on his head, the croc had done something few of his kind do, he released and retreated.
The bull stumbled painfully from the gully, yet he was not completely finished, even though his foreleg was badly wounded. He moved off a few paces away and began to browse about on the nearly grassless landscape, where the lioness hunting party found him.
They surrounded the bull, teasing him by coming in close only to dodge out of the way at the last moment he offered charge. He stumbled, many times, and so the pride moved in to finish the job.
Karasi moved in front of the large bull, taking the dangerous job of baiter. She was strong and able, and had always taken that job in the past, leading to many a successful kill. Sarabi swung around the back, Sarafina at her side and the two lunged forward. The surrounded bull released a cry and kicked out behind him, narrowly missing Sarafina's head although his main focus was on the sooty lioness before him.
The pale lioness dropped back with a hiss, stumbling a few paces away while Sarabi swung around on the other side. Shakila and Keyah moved in on opposite shoulders, Asabi bringing up at his left haunch with Uzari and Gzifa circling around. All eyes followed the bull, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake such as a stumble.
The bull halted for a moment, allowing the pride to drive close before he tried to back up. His gait faltered as his weight moved onto his foreleg, and he stumbled. Karasi took that movement to charge in, leaping for his face with exposed fangs and claws. The bull however, was not on his last stand. While wounded, he still had plenty of fight left him. As the sooty lioness moved the wildebeast caught himself and charged forward, bucking his horns and catching her full in the face. Karasi hit the ground just as the enraged animal's hooves dropped on top of her.