Marrana: Wrath of Oshun

o\ Dismay /o

Hope was at a disadvantage with the only experienced hunters opposing her, so she went out to try and teach her younglings to hunt better as dawn broke over the horizon bringing the continuous pungent smell of rain, humidity, and mud with it. None of the younglings were hungry or interested, and they all refused to leave the den area, even to follow their beloved leader. She grew impatient with them as the younglings stood there looking at her. Hope continued to pace back and forth before Hobble, a youngster with a limp, approached her. Hope plopped down and stared off into the distance; she didn't want those other lionesses around her or the younglings if they were causing disarray. She licked her muddy paws profusely before looking over at Hobble, who nuzzled her. She didn't understand her anxiety, but like a cub, all she wanted to do was comfort her. Any hope of a successful hunt wouldn't return for another 41 days and even then cubs were likley to come back with her.

Due to this Hope was unfazed, but for the time being, her aura lightened with the land, bringing the other younglings closer together, even as their ignorance continued to resonate with another problem at hand. Hope was just one day away from becoming a mother, but she was unable to leave the pride to give birth as there were no dens nearby. She stood up, looking at the towering acacia tree in front of her, and began digging through the moist dirt just beneath the trunk in an attempt to make a safe den. The youngsters had no idea what she was up to, but they cheerfully rushed to her aid.

Meanwhile, the rebellious lionesses cantered together, not seeming to regret what they had done, and ventured beyond where they were familiar in search of Behati, ending up back in the area they had left her. The scent was mildly fresh, as were the muddy footprints, but she was nowhere to be found; they stood there perplexed and concerned. They roared out together, looking in different directions, ringing out their calls up to 2 miles away. Behati stood near motionless, licking her puncture wounds and flicking annoying flies and mosquitos out of her ears and face.

Regardless, Behati heard their call and rose her head from her disdain and cantered towards the call, the expanse was empty with little life in sight, being under some stress she didn't use much energy getting back to her associates. They were reunited not long after, with not even the old sent of hyena keeping them apart. The two lionesses were grateful and greeted her with nuzzles and licks, but Behati just stared at them. She grumbled as the lionesses purred in delight. The crushing weight of death weighed down on her heart. She turned away, Her head slouching back down to silently grieve for everything she had lost before getting here. The rain started to drizzle down once more.

Prior to this pride, she had lost everything, and in a fit of rage, she hated prosperity unless it was her own. Everything they did was for naught; all they did was love her and give her what she deserved. She couldn't let go of her past while dangling off its cliff, but she still needed to survive.

They sat till dawn became day, one of the lionesses fell asleep until another smaller lioness approached them, the other lioness snarled recognizing them, and hobbled back with a wrinkled nose. The youngling had recognized their scent and had followed it; she stayed behind the others, turning her back to them and taking a few steps before walking back up to the unwelcoming lionesses, who each time bellowed and clawed in their direction. The territory was dangerously small, and they were on the outskirts, far from safety. Even as a youngling, she understood the value of togetherness and the stress that came from a divided pride. It was the reason she was here; she would not let it happen again so did what she had to convince them to come home. She saw their rejection, her face softened in hopelessness before going straight and snarling wildly bellowing at the lionesses likley for their lack of gratitude. Hobble knew nothing of their past or why they did this but felt it was her job to snap them out of it trying to discipline them out of turn. 

The smaller lioness made a valiant attempt, leaping at one of the lionesses and wrapping her arm around their neck, but the force of the other lioness shoving themselves backward instantly broke them free of the youngling's grip with minimal damage inflicted. Hobble regretted her decision after being tackled into submission by the other and being bit in the scruff pulling at the skin, she struggled for her life, her hearing impaired by the sounds of furious lionesses batting at her head and finely hooked claws digging into her skin. She roared in agony, mud splattering her lightly dotted fur. Hobble batted the female several times, kicking her legs against the other's belly. They distanced themselves from them, but it appeared to be out of pity for them rather than pain. They had endured scratches and bruises as they hunched over Hobble, snarling at her and keeping her in the dirt. She had no choice but to comply.

Behati looked on, her head raised and tail lightly twitching appearing unsure at first but Hobble deserved everything she got for assaulting her only friends; they protected her, passively accepted her, and lovingly showed her the most love and care whilst trying their best to keep her peace. She tried her luck by walking up to the ordeal and looking them in the eyes, to which they respectfully backed away. Hobble raised her head subtly, not daring to wrinkle her nose. Behati's nose was filled with the stink of mud, the stench of weakness, she watched the hopeless being become crouched before slowly rising to her feet and sprinting home. Behati returned her gaze to the lionesses, butting heads with both of them thus finally returning her love in thanks. Her shoulders relaxed as they smushed their mud against her, and their hackles spiked, but no aggression was issued between the three. These females were once part of the same flock and only loved and cared for one another as a result, a bond that was never threatened or broken by what is now a restored social unit.