Taa Quests Redo: Two

The cub just stared up at Taaburbuuryet with large eyes. The sand cat stared back with a blank expression. She had no interest in this scrawny cub and truly, she expected that the furball would not last long. Taa did not feel remorse for the child's plight, her old pride had laws that were considered at best, many cubs ended up becoming food. But she could try doing something. She didn't know if the Clan would accept the cub as her own membership took a long time of patience and tolerance and she often had to prove herself worthy of being considered one of the hyena. But if the cub was not accepted or died then it would be food. The prospect was enough. The cub was still as Taa carried it off. When it got the courage to speak the black lioness was silent. She could not understand the words and after several attempts, the little bundle in her jaws went silent.

The Clan was curious about what their lion-hyena brought. Instead of a tail or a bone...she brougth a lion cub. The hyenas eyed the little bundle of fur, most were wary while a few showed hunger. But a growl from Taa kept them back...for now. The Matriarch was on her feet when Taa came to a stop and sat the cub down. A paw on the tail kept it from running as the Queen carrion dog studied the little scrap. First giving it a critical look with her eyes then leaning down the sniff it over. Once more the cub tried speaking, but once more Taa couldn't understand so she said nothing.

The cub was afraid. The lioness who found him was strange, she didn't even talk from what decided due to her lack of silence. But what was worst was that instead of helping him find his mother, she literally took him into the jaws of death amongst the filthy scavengers. Death was going to happen for sure. It was knowledge that hyena liked killing and eating lion cubs and even full grown adult lions gave them a large berth, their power was not from claws...but from their jaws which could easily cripple a lion's leg. The child was warned to keep from hyenas at all cost...but now he was in the carrion dogs' den.

The Matriarch decided to spare the cub's life so far. If any of her number tried making a threatening move, the hyena queen was quickly there to give out some harsh punishment. After nearly killing one of her followers, the Clan understood that this lion cub was off-limits...for now at least. The cub was left at the den to play with the hyena cubs who eyed it. They were too young, but almost understood that lions were enemies. It was instinct that had been bred into their being and bones. They didn't need to be taught to hate lions, neither lions need to be taught to hate hyenas, it was there. There was one dark cloud. The cub was willing to eat food caught by a hyena, but there was trouble when it came to the type of food. For a while there was plenty of prey animals and the cub was happy to take its share. But when the prey animals became scarce, Taa turned her sight onto her old prey...other lions. That was where it was going wrong. The young lion cub refused to eat meat that came from lions, no matter what Taa did. The black lioness was confused and tried many times to convince the little one. Cannibalism was okay if it was the only option you may have. But the cub still refused and before Taaburbuuryet's eyes, began wasting away. It wasn't long before his body became nothing but skin and bones. Death was not far behind and the cub was gone. When Taa came upon the corpse she sniffed it and nudged it with a paw. But that was all. She knew it may not approve of eating lion and now it could serve a different purpose. She carried it to where a group of hyena yearlings were playing and flung the small carcass to them, then turned. As she was walking away she heard the sound of a pelt being torn, bones being crushed. But she felt no remorse, no guilt. It was all nature's way.

Taa Quests Redo: One

The black lioness carried the bone across the desert and into the neutral grounds. In the Outlands, a bone was a big deal for it could end up being the only thing between life and starving to death. To Taa, it was a gift. The black lioness was well fed since her alliance with the hyenas, the pack were usually successful with hunts or stealing kills and when Taa watched the pups she could expect food being brought back. To keep the interaction going smooth, Taa decided to bring tockens. On one occasion she may bring the tail of a zebra, or she might bring a piece of hide that would help the young hyena kits strenghten their teeth by chewing. This time, a bone would be a good gift, especially for one hyena in question. One sweep of her eyes told her that the pack was relaxing. All curled up in piles of spotted, gray-brown fur. A few hyenas lifted their head when Taa appeared amongst them, a few eyed the bone with interest. Taa ignored them and went over to the hyena that this bone was for. The female was one of the matriarch's daughters and was expecting. She lifted her head to watch the black lioness approach, her dark eyes blank. Taa came to a halt in front of the hyena princess. Blue eyes locking upon dark eyes. Slowly the lioness leaned down and sat the bone down then with her nose she lightly nudged it close to the expecting mother. This bone was the greatest treasure because of what was inside. It still had its marrow which would nourish the hyena's unborn pups. There was silence at the densite, but the hyena gave a small yip and used one of her front paws to bring the bone closer. It wasn't long before her strong jaws were crushing the bone, easily breaking away the hard outside for the desired center. Taa felt a rush of satisfaction but her growling stomach quickly diverted her attention to the matter of food. The Clan would need to hunt and she was feeling ready to put in her aide to help bring food to the bellies of the carrion dogs, as well as herself. She felt an urge to hunt her own kind, the urge...for lion flesh.

Taa headed out with some of the clan, in her jaws was a bone. It was old and yellowish white from age. It wasn't worth much, but yet the black lioness knew freshness of a bone did not matter when it came to luring animals that were suffering from intense hunger. She led her small troop back into the Outlands and to lay her trap. She found a good spot and sat it down then a commanding beep told everyone to hide. The location she chose was enough to prevent the sun from making her dark hide uncomfortable. It didn't take long for the bone to attract attention. A jackal appeared, but the fresh scent of lion and hyena quickly sent him running. No problem there, a jackal was a good snack or even just a plaything. Taa was waiting for the best reward yet and her efforts were instantly rewarded. A lone lioness was walking, her figure thin from lack of nutrition. Her eyes were darting around, overly cautious, but also hopeful for any sign of food. Taa watched as the lioness caught sight of the bone and hurried over, clearly brought over by the prospect of food. Taa watched her a bit then moved like an ebony snake. The other lioness sunk her teeth into the bone, but at that last moment she felt teeth sink into her spine. The cackles of hyena reached her ear but it was too late. The last thing she saw was a scrawny black animal before her vision was overcome by true blackness. The lone lioness and hyenas studied their catch. The black lion poked at the corpse with a large paw. Frowning slightly. It wasn't too thin, but not the plump as a lion that has been eating well. Taa didn't care. To her this lioness was no longer a lion, it was merely food now. The carrion dogs didn't seem too phased by what they had witnessed, or what their food was or used to be. For a scavenger, food was food. As long as it could be eaten, then they didn't care what it was or where it came from. But it kind of felt nice to be the better of lions, to have some power over the large feline that often stole their food and killed their young. Taa sunk her teeth into the dead lion's scruff and began the long process of hauling the carcass back to the densite. The other hyenas were there by her side, but they mainly fooled around.

The main pack whooped in joy at the sight of food. Taa had once more proved herself worthy of being amongst them. It did not take long before the pack and lion were gathered around the carcass and they soon began to feed, once more enjoying the benefits of this truly odd establishment.

Lion Amongst Hyenas

Taaburbuuryet walked through the Outlands, her large paws making barely any sound on the dry ground. She was heading to one of those place, the spots of neutral territory not owned by any lion pride, it was generally a free for all though rogues usually were there for the plentiful prey. But the black lioness was not interested in prey. She came for a different reason, the reason that came from a large cave that reeked with the stench of a lion's bitter enemy...hyena. Taa came to a halt then sat down. It wasn't long before the hyena pack returned, but instead of aggression, they were calm. A few even went up to sniff the black lion's pelt as if wanted to be certain it was she. To the hyena pack, Taa was a member. It did not matter that she was a lioness, it had taken some time and plenty of patience, but after simple tolerance, the pack slowly began to accept her. It was enough that the hyena cubs could be left in Taa's care. The lioness would let nothing touch these cubs and many lions and leopards, as well as a few jackals had fallen under her claws and teeth. The matriarch approached the dark lion and sniffed her. Taa looked the large female in the eye. There was a slight tension, but no violence. Taaburbuuryet was equal to the hyena queen, but she also respected her and knew that things could be different if the hyena wished it. After the greeting ceremony was over, Taa settled down amongst the pack. Their strange cackles were no longer strange, nerve-wracking, or annoying. She thought their language to be much like hers, sounds with body language, words were not important. The hyenas also learned from their odd member. They were fascinated by her desert lion build, so much unlike the Desertlands lions, but most of all...she was much like them in communication. Taa did not speak much lion tongue, instead she used clicks, beeps, and her body. To the hyenas, this was such a wonderful thing, having a lion that understood their ways. True to any outside hyena this would be something of a shock, and they noticed the odd looks from other animals. But to the pack, it mattered not. Taa was an official hyena and member of their Clan and nothing would change that, if anyone protest then they would feel the wrath of the black lioness and the teeth of fifty hyenas. If blood had to be spilled...too bad, at least the pack would be safe and food would be there.