*Closed*

[Korax]

On the plains of Africa, life could be hard on the best days, for those unable to carve out a niche, it was near impossible. The various tribes were almost constantly at war, lion fought zebra, hyena took on wild dog and the ever watchful tribe known as man simply studied. This harsh life would take an even harsher turn for one young male lion named Dem Roughmane, recently kicked out of his tribe for trying to flirt with one of his father's lionesses, Dem was looking to build up a tribe of his own. But times were tough, not only were the different animals at war with each other but many tribes fought their own for resources, creating raw chaos. Dem was unable to fight the older lions and without a tribe of his own he wouldn't last very long. In desperation the young male began to look outside of his people, not caring if it meant the females he picked up might not bare him children, he needed something to build on.

Keeping his sharp eyes out Dem prowled the bush, having found am old water buffalo kill he managed to eat his fill before the owner returned. With only a crude spear to call his own, Rem would not like to try and test his metal against larger and better armed tribsmen. For now the lions stayed low in the tall grass, looking for his chance to behind building his tribe, he didn't care what he had to do so that he might survive.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

She had longed to go to Africa for such a long time now. And hearing about a scientist going to Africa, that was a close family friend, she jumped at the chance. Sure she would have to carry her own bags and make her own way, but she wanted to. It was what she always wanted. Her name was Gabriella or Gabby for short. She had watched iwth fascination watching these anthros. She remained hidden and sketched the one lone male. She asked the scientist what was wrong adn the scientist said simply that he was too old and would not be back in a pride that his mother was in. He would have ot make his own.

So Gabby begun to tail this lion. Taking several sketches of him. Gabby stood at a simple 5'6 and was as human as they came. She wore a straw hat and her blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Her blue eyes watched him and she smiled.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

Suddenly Dem heard something, his ears twitched before he leaned his head up and sniffed at the air, he had been trying so hard to remain unseen that he hadn't been keeping an eye out for others. It was the mistake of a rookie hunter and one that the lion cursed himself for, he would have to do much better if he was going to survive at all. The scent that came to his nose was alien at first, it was sharp like metal and carried an odd flavor that Dem had never known before this day. Whatever it was he could tell it was alive and possibly female, once he got beyond the outer layer of of the scent it became easier to tell what the creature was. With a low rumbling huff the lion stood up out of the grass, no longer hiding the young catch stretched up to his full height, an intimidating 6'5. Being a young adult he didn't quite have the raw bulk that most male lions had, living on his own contributed to that as well, but the cat was packed with lean, powerful muscles as he scanned the grasslands. Then he spotted it, the origin of the odd smell. Though Dem had never seen one himself, he had heard stories about the tribe called 'humans' there were everything from horror stories to humorous tales of the creature's foolishness. Keeping his spear clenched tightly in his right hand, the lion stared down the humans, sniffing the air constantly as he tried to get a better understanding of what they were doing.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

She was all alone. She was just following the lonely alpha. She watched him and blushed as he was listening. She winced as she had snapped a stick under her weight. She moved onto her stomach and looked up. She thought she was hidden in the tall grass of the grasslands. She didn't realize he was looking right at her. She put ehr sketch book into her sachel and began to move back. She knew she was going to be in trouble if the lion spotted her.

Gabby continued to move back crawling. Being quiet. She watched him. It had been a while since she had washed with soap and hot water. She bathed in teh river like everything else. Her scent was purely hers. She looked at him and canted her head and bit her lip.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

Watching the human she seemed to just freeze, Dem studied her for a few moments and after a bit of thought he realized that there was no reason why a human shouldn't be part of his tribe. Sure she may not be as strong or fast as some of the other tribes, but if half of what he heard about humans was true, she would have several other uses. Slowly the lion began to stalk forwards, keeping his spear low as his eyes locked on the little woman, moving with a sleek feline grace as he closed the distance with shocking speed. Dem was ready to break out some speed and chase the little female down if he needed to, but first he was going to try the direct approach, after all if he could get her to join him willingly he wouldn't have to watch the little human for possible escapes and betrayals.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

Fuck. She was deep in it now. The lion knew she was there. She would have to think fast. She didn't want to offend him. So she stood up and began to talk to him calmly.

"Oh oh ok...I am sorry. If you can understand me, I am sorry, I didn't mean to stalk you. But, listen, I have never seen one of your kind. You are truly a magnificent creature." She smiled adn looekd at him and held up her hand and blushed softly. "So I will leave you alone." She began to step back very slowly watching him getting closer and closer.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

Listening to the fear and reverence in her voice, the power Dem felt from it took the lion's breath away for a few moments as he stalked right up to the human, looming over her. "I understand." He stated in a fluid voice that seemed to just roll off his tongue "You have nothing to fear from me...not yet at least." with that the lion crouched down a bit to look the human in the eyes, curious to see how different they were from the sharp slits common to feline eyes. He then glanced down, trying to guess her body shape through her clothes, looking over his possible mate very carefully. Finally after a rather awkward silence he reared back up to his full height and looked down at the human female "What is you name? Do you have a name?" once he was sure she wasn't going to run he would tell her his offer, then if she ran she would become part of his tribe anyways.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Of course I have a name. It is Gabriella, or Gabby for short." She looked at him and put her hands on her hips and smiled. "So you must have a name. What is your name?" She looked him back into the eyes. She saw his eyes shifting to the amount of light, just like a real cat. She smiled adn then looked at him move around her and raised an eyebrow and chuckled not sure what he was doing.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"I am Dem Roughmane." The cat replied as a soft smile began to spread about his muzzle "But I did not come to just talk." as he spoke the cat's tail began to flick back and forth, as if he was stalking something and was about to pounce. "I want to make you an offer." Dem flexed his hands, making sure his claws were retracted just in case he needed to grab the human, he was going to have no accidents on his watch. "I have no tribe. I am not strong enough to take one, so I must start one." He stepped around the topic a bit, like a fisherman trying to tempt a fish to take the hook instead of running away with the bait "You Garbriella. I want you to be my mate and help me start a new tribe." there was a tone to his voice, he made sure to phrase it like an offer to give the illusion that the woman had a choice, when in reality her choice was made the moment he got within arms reach.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Nice to meet you Dem." She smiled and then looked up at him and laughed. "You didn't come, you just caught me watching you." SHe laughed and shook her head and watched him move around her. "I am listening." She nodded. "I have noted as such." She said adn then crossed her arms and then began to laugh. "Sorry, I cannot be your mate, but I am sure you will find a suitable mate." She smiled and patted his arm and then turned and began to walk away. She smiled and continued to walk in her khakis and her sachel tapping against her thigh.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

As soon as she turned around the lion broke into a sudden run, he was on the human in seconds as he scooped her up into his powerful arms, going so far as to toss the little woman over his shoulder. "I am sorry to say it was an offer you could not refuse." The lion said with a deep rumbling tone, seeming extremely pleased with himself as he turned about and began to walk off with his prise. Dem had been staking out a territory for quite some time and while it wasn't the greatest, it was easy to defend for a small tribe and that was all that mattered. The lion took his catch to a small cluster of trees that hid a large thicket inside, here he set down the small woman "This is out den, your's, mine and any other members I find for our tribe." he explained before crouching down and letting out a deep growling rumble "Now, what do you say little Garbriella?"

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Well then why didn't you say so you rude lion." She barked and began to pummel at his back and soon threw her head back and screamed out in outrage. She struggled and shook her head. She struggled and sweat began to matt and cover her body. She soon went limp agianst his arms and panted and sat down and looked at him and frowned. She then pulled a cantine out of her sachel and began to drink.

"I say you have tricked me and I have bitten off more than I could chew.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Perhaps." The lion stated in a calm manner as he leaned in closer "First we have to see how much you can bite off." there was a not so subtle subtext in his voice as he flipped his tail about and used it to rub along the woman's inner thigh. Just because the lion was a brute did not mean he was thinking of his pleasure alone, he hoped to one day train Garbriella to respond to his touches favorably instead of with anger.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

She frowned adn looked at him. She slapped his face hard. She had balls and she would not be treated like a peace of meat. "Control yourself." She said. "Look, I know you are desperate, but I do not want to be your mate. I am not even your kind. Can humans even carry a offspring of yours?" She canted her head and looked at him and frowned softly.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

The little woman raised good points, all of which Dem had considered before "We will have to see. I have thought about these same things, but thinking about them does not change the reality. I need a tribe and you are the beginning." the lion then placed a hand on her hip as his tail continued to rub along her inner thigh. "You are quick to judge, I noticed you admiring my body. Can you honestly sit there and oppose me without even seeing what I have to offer?" Not that Dem planned on letting his new mate to run away, but the happier he could make her the less time he would spend fighting her. As he spoke his hand slowly moved across her hips, rubbing her stomach as the lion felt out just how strong Garbriella was, if she did ever bare him children he wanted to know just how strong they would be.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

She shoved him again. "Stop it." She looked at him and frowned. "I do not want someone who takes from me what they want. I want to be courted. I am not a wild beast." Gabby looked at him. She crossed her arms and then leaned back and sighed adn drank some more water. She was starting to cool down and she was happy for that. She leaned back and shut her eyes and inhaled and shook ehr head a bit and looekd at him raising an eyebrow.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Courted?" The lion looked confused for a moment before huffing "I suppose humans do have mating rituals to." the cat backed off a bit, though it was clear he wasn't letting the woman go any time soon. "Garbriella. I would like to know how humans court. Would you tell me?" Dem wasn't really interested, but he noticed that the woman wasn't resisting him so much as his methods of advancing on her, the cat was going to give her time to explain herself and try these human ways.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"Yes I will. It is very romantic. The man finds ways to spend time with the girl without forcing her to be with him. And if they click, the man eventually proposes, and then they get married." She smiled adn then leaned back and then looked at him and smiled adn crossed her legs. "Courting usually entails some form of dating like an outing or something like that. Do you understand?" She looked at him.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

The lion gave a low huff at this "It sounds like you want to escape. Why? I am more than any human man." Dem stated as he tried to find a way to get the woman to stay here. He growled a bit as he watched her, thinking to himself that perhaps a lioness full of teeth and claws would be easier, they at least understood what was supposed to happen when a male grabs a female. "What would I have to do to convince you to stay?" Not quite willing to force the human to be his but unwilling to let her go, the lion was willing to strike some sort of deal for the moment.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"But I am not sure I love you. I cannot be a mate to someone I odn't love." She looked at hima dn smiled. She looked at him and canted her head. She shrugged. "I am not sure." She said quite simply. Gabby looked at him and smiled sadly. She looked at him and continued to watch him wondering what he would think now and say.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

Thinking about it for a bit the cat came to a grudging conclusion "Live here, no mating until you are ready." he said slowly, before the large cat set himself down on the thicket to stretch out his long body. "Just stay. Even without children a tribe can always use an extra pair of eyes and I know humans have good eyesight." At least from what the stories told him, Dem couldn't be sure of anything really, but he was willing to make a compromise for the sake of survival.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

"No where near as good as a cat. In dark, I cannot see." She smiled and looked at him stretching out and rubbed her chin. "Then I will stay then. I realize how far that took you and how hard it is, but I really appreciate it, thank you." She smiled and looked at him. She smiled wider and canted her head and watched him.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

It was a start at least, Dem wasn't really sure why he picked the human, certainly she was more trouble than she was worth, on the other hand he had never known another to look him over so. Perhaps it was just the vanity talking but Dem wanted her to stay close to him and see that he was indeed worth marveling at. "If you need water I can take you to a spring." Africa was infamous for it's ability to dry out, no one knew this better than the animals who lived there and Dem wanted to make sure one of his tribe wasn't going to dehydrate over something so silly.

 

[loneiysong]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

She smiled and chuckled. "I could use a refill." She stood up and waited to follow him. She pulled on her sachel and walked with him. She then moved beside him and put her hand in his. As long as he was trying, she would try herself. She smiled and watched him raising an eyebrow. Reaching out, she stroked his mane and chuckled.

"As a kid going to the zoo, I always wanted to do that." SHe laughed softly.

 

[Korax]

RE: Pride of the Pridelands(Korax and loneiysong)

On seeing his captive acting friendly and open, Dem felt a surge of hope as the big cat shot Gabby a toothy grin "I certainly don't mind being petted...but best not to try that on too many predators." standing up the lion gently held the woman's hand and then began to guide her. He slid through the bushes and trees, selecting a path that would be easy on the little woman until the heavy brush opened up to a hidden pool of water, a crystal clear spring that bubbled up from the earth.