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.