Lost in Thought...

[Narifia]

Kurunzi and Ardilana looked to Decimus expectantly, wondering what kind of an answer their leader would give. Neither of them expected him to let Kivuli join, nor did they expect he would be nice about it either. This amused Kurunzi, and slightly interested Ardilana. Even Anasi herself didn't expect Decimus to be anything but his usual self, but that didn't stop her from giving him an encouraging and hopeful nod.

Decimus turned his gaze to Kivuli for a moment, pondering over the situation. In the end, he decided that it might just be in his best interest to let the apparition come along with them. 'It will be the perfect chance to size up his usefulness, as well as question him along the way. Not a bad setup,' he thought to himself.

He turned wordlessly and began to walk away, content with how the current situation was playing out. He muttered an almost inaudible "As long as he doesn't slow us down," and motioned with a flick of his tail for everyone to follow.

Breathless from the shock of Decimus' action, Kurunzi and Ardilana moved inquisitively to follow their leader. Anasi, just as surprised as any of them, grinned widely and gave Kivuli an encouraging wink and joined her retreating comrades.

[Kai]

There was acceptance, it seemed, although he felt it was not without attachments. Decimus had some form of alterior motive. Since it didn't seem to be threatening one, he followed, encouraged slightly by Anasi. Still unfarmiliar with the new territory, he tried to take note of the route to their chosen hunting grounds. He was so silent one could almost forget he was there. He did not speak, in fact he made no sound at all. He followed and waited to see how this situation would unfold.

[Narifia]

His hearing sharpened and honed by a lifestyle of always being on his guard, Decimus was troubled to find that Kivuli's stealth was at such a level as to nearly evade his ears. At the same time, he recognized that that could be an inherently useful trait.

Decimus flicked his left ear--a signal for Anasi, Kurunzi, and Ardilana to move ahead. The three of them moved ahead without a second thought, as Decimus' nonverbal commands were so natural to them that they were like second nature. Anasi took the lead, and Kurunzi and Ardilana flanked either side of her. They were in a scouting formation right now, merely keeping their senses on alert for even the slightest sign of prey.

Decimus brought up the rear, but he distanced himself quite a bit from his three comrades. His role was to be the eyes that covered their blind spots. Conveniently enough, it meant that it was just Decimus and Kivuli in the back, and since their hunting spot was still a bit of a ways off, it left Decimus with the perfect opportunity to speak with his new 'friend.'

Still wordless for now, Decimus glanced back at Kivuli and motioned with a flick and a point of his tail for Kivuli to fall in beside him.

[Kai]

Kivuli noted the beckoning gesture and followed. In a silent movement that seemed almost unnervingly hard to follow, he was beside the dark hunt leader. He was close enough that they could communicate well without alerting possible prey, but still a little distant. His eyes would scan the area and frequently return to Decimus in case he had something to say, but the others might not know that because it was very hard to tell which direction he was looking in. He seemed to be awaiting instructions.

[Narifia]

Decimus was silent for several moments longer, keeping his senses out for signs of prey as well as for his comrades and Kivuli. It was obvious by the way that Kivuli was regarding him that he was under the impression that Decimus was the leader. Well, he wasn't going to argue with that! There was definitely the established agreement that Decimus was of a higher "rank" than Kivuli was, and so long as there was that mutual understanding then there would be no problems.

However, Kivuli was misunderstanding who he should be taking orders from at this particular time. Mind you, it was through no fault of his own--he'd never hunted with The Four before so naturally he didn't know the rules.

"Relax," Decimus said in his quiet but deep voice, "We haven't reached the hunting grounds quite yet. What we're on the alert for right now is simply the chance of any stray prey popping up before we get to the grounds--it would save us some walking, at the very least."

He regarded him with the very slightest amusement, but even more seriousness, in his eyes, "Also, you're right to look to me as the leader here, but during the hunt Anasi takes charge. We're somewhat relaxed right now, but once we begin to near the hunting grounds we'll all follow her lead. She's the best damn hunter among us, so you'd do well to mind her."

With that last statement was an unspoken message attached--"How well you impress us here will help determine your place in this pride, if you have any at all."

[Kai]

Kivuli didn't say much at first, but did ensure that Decimus knew he was listening by looking towards him as he spoke, and nodding. It made him feel better to know Anasi was leading right now. She was the only one that didn't feel at least somewhat hostile.
He wondered how he would fare hunting with them. Kivuli hadn't done much group hunting. He had mostly been alone, with two others at the very most. They were probably going to tackle larger prey than he was used to. Mind you, he wasn't about to voice these concerns to Decimus.
He could sense an emotion he couldn't entirely identify. It was not outright malice it seemed, but he knew that the other male wasn't spending his time planning Kivuli a surprise party. He grew slightly uneasy because he felt as if he should talk and try to get to know some of them, but years of wandering alone had considerably degraded his conversational skills.

"I shall. Thank you."

Was all he could finally think of to say in response, and his eyes returned looking forward, but he was still guarded and alert.

[Narifia]

Decimus raised a brow at the short reply. Involuntarily his lip curled in a half-scowl that lasted a mere fraction of a second as he thought to himself about how damned unreadable Kivuli was. Decimus didn't like it at all. Still, there was no need to overreact. Not at the moment, anyway.

His gaze shifted and he kept his eyes on Anasi, making sure to stay aware of any small gesture or signal she was to make. He also kept his senses open to Kurunzi and Ardilana, just to be sure of them and their surroundings as well. As he focused on his three comrades, he broke his gaze to scan the area momentarily before looking back at Anasi again.

It was still a bit of a ways away from the hunting grounds yet. Without breaking his focus, Decimus asked bluntly, "Why are you here, Kivuli?"

[Kai]

His ears swivelled to Decimus' direction, but his gaze was still fixed straight ahead at Anasi.

"Your good-natured Queen invited me here. I was wandering with nowhere to stay, and she seemed quite happy to welcome me in. It is quite rare to find a monarch quite so hospitable as Your Majesty the Queen of this land."

It was a simple explanation, and vague, as his explanations tended to be.

[Narifia]

With the smallest hint of a growl in his voice, Decimus insisted, "That's not what I mean. To be clear, I've never seen you in these lands or in any of the surrounding lands before. My eyes miss nothing. But suddenly, and without any warning, you showed up one day out of the wilds. So why, when my eyes miss nothing, did I happen to miss you?"

There was the slightest edge of anger in his words--not outright anger towards Kivuli, but it was clear that it was unnerving to Decimus that he couldn't get a clear reading on Kivuli, nor had he known about the lion before he had been introduced to him by Narifia herself. Decimus was used to seeing and knowing all, and that was what had always made him such an effective and strategic leader. Nothing ever got past him... except for Kivuli. There was nothing and no one that he didn't seem to know about... except for Kivuli. The very thought that something as simple as one lion had gotten past him was almost maddening.

[Kai]

"I came from a very distant land. I did not reside in any of the surrounding lands any longer than was necessary, as I intended only to pass through and be on my way. As I would have here, but for the invitation from Queen Narifia."

Kivuli was surprised that escaping Decimus' notice seemed to be the cause of such stress for him, the agitation he was picking up on made him even more aware.

"I spent most of my time on the move. It is likely that I did not linger long enough in any one location for anyone to take notice."

[Narifia]

"Hmm. Is that so?"

Kivuli's answer seemed to appease Decimus somewhat. Still, it wasn't near enough to put his mind to rest. 'What reason does he have to wander so far from his homeland? Why didn't he stay in one place for very long? Was this intentional, or was he looking for a place like ours in particular to settle down into?'

Those were the questions in Decimus' mind, but strategically he let the matter drop for the time being. 'We'll see how useful he is in a hunt. I want to see first hand if he'll be worth keeping around or not... and if he is, I want to know why no pride ever has kept him around,' he thought to himself.

With a nod, he let the matter drop for now, satisfied that he would get to the bottom of things in fair enough time. They were approaching the hunting grounds just now, so the timing actually was working in his favor.

[Kai]

Kivuli was relieved that Decimus seemed satisfied, for now at any rate. He had been using the same answers to the same questions for so long now, it didn't take much thinking. However, He did not enoy lengthy interrogations.

He sensed a change in the overall mood. He felt a rise in the anticipation in the air. He knew they must be closing in on the pride's hunting grounds. He waited for Anasi's instruction, excited but tense. He wondered what his role would be in this hunt.

[Narifia]

Anasi caught the fresh scent of a nearby wildebeest herd, and her sensitive ears picked up the herd's sounds. They were grazing nearby. As they came within Anasi's eyesight, she crouched low and flicked the end of her tail upwards once.

Kurunzi and Ardilana picked up on the signal and responded immediately. They crouched low and tread swiftly and silently ahead of her--Kurunzi headed around the left side and Ardilana around the right. As they came as close to the herd as they dared to go without being seen or scented, they stopped dead and waited for Anasi's prompt.

Decimus fell into the same swift, silent crouch as the others. He moved ahead a little farther, flanking Anasi's left side and only slightly behind her. With a tail flick he motioned for Kivuli to cover her right side.

Normally, Decimus' position would have been right beside Anasi. However, it didn't seem as if it were any huge strain on the four to adjust to having a fifth hunting partner. In fact, the movement of the formation was so smooth it was almost as if it took no effort at all on their part to accommodate a fifth hunter. This was due, in part, to Anasi's calm and direct leadership of the hunt. It was no wonder why Decimus had spoken so highly of her ability only moments before.

[Kai]

Kivuli fell into formation, trying hard to focus and follow. He was impressed by their cohesion as a group. They seemed very practiced and precise hunting with eachother, but they were also easily adapting with him. He scanned the herd, which seemed wholly unperterbed. He was nervous, but as unreadabke as ever outwardly. He wanted to get this right. He would have to prove himself if he had a chance at making this new place a... no. He still wouldn't dare think the word. He didn't want to jinx it. "Just watch Anasi." He told himself.

[Narifia]

In her crouched position, Anasi was so still and silent that it was almost impossible to tell if she were even breathing. Disciplined in her hunting skills by a harsh life where food was scarce and friends even scarcer, Anasi had mastered the art of stealth. Decimus, Kurunzi, and Ardilana, similarly, were crouched stone-still and quiet. It was easy to see why the notorious Four had captured the fear and imaginations of the Pridelanders; these four lions, as they worked together, were a dangerously well-organized and deadly force.

Moments creeped by suspensefully as Anasi merely observed the herd. It was merely a small herd; perhaps broken off from a larger herd. There couldn't be more than fifteen wildebeest total. There were no lame wildebeest, nor were there any very young calves. It seemed like a relatively strong herd. 'No matter,' Anasi thought, 'Strong or not, there's always going to be one slower than the rest. All right, time to move in.'

Anasi flicked her right ear, and Ardlilana shot out from her position. She headed straight for the wildebeest closest to her. The panicked herd was on the move, stampeding away as fast as it could. Anasi's left ear flicked; Kurunzi's turn. He shot out in the same manner as Ardilana had, and ran to cut the wildebeest off that Ardilana was tailing, taking a snap at it as he did so.

The wildebeest was fast. He swerved and avoided Kurunzi's jaws and being cut off from his herd at the last moment, darting past Kurunzi before the large lion could separate him from his comrades. Ardilana and Kurunzi gave chase to the fleeing herd.

With a signaling roar, Anasi sprang out. Kuru and 'Lana separated and fanned around the herd, allowing Anasi to draw up between them. The herd was fast, and no one seemed to be slowing down; yet.

Decimus spotted a quick sequence of ear flicks that signaled him and Kivuli out. As the black lion shot out, he growled quick instructions to Kivuli, "They're going to wear the herd down. It won't be long before one tires out quicker than the others; that's the one that we'll target. Keep your eyes out for any wildebeest that seems to be tiring quicker than the others. That is why we are in the back; we're the eyes that spot what the front-line hunters can't. We are also the back-up; the muscle that provides extra assistance should the prey be too tough for those three to handle."

Decimus narrowed his eyes, keeping a keen watch on any wildebeest that might be slowing down, and added, "Most of the time, our eyes are enough. Anasi, Kuru, and 'Lana's power is more than enough for a wildebeest. Our muscle may not be needed, but prepare yourself regardless."

Decimus didn't have to waste any more breath to describe how strong the wildebeest of this herd looked. One thing was for certain; they would be well-fed tonight.


Continued On "A Matter of Business"[/i][/b]