Sisters of the Hunt - A Poem

[Narifia]

I'm taking an Intro to Poetry class this semester, and one of our assignments was to write a poem about family (in general, not specifically our own family). I began thinking about the roleplay here and the familial ties between lionesses on the hunt, and from there I took inspiration and began to write!

I know this isn't exactly a roleplay post, but I thought I'd share because it is tied loosely to the plot of the roleplay and features a few notable Outlander lionesses, plus a secret character who is the speaker/narrator of the poem

Sisters of the Hunt

Part I

Sunset over tawny plains, honey on the breeze,
The cool fragrance reminding me of your warm embrace.
Mother, are you watching me? Mother, can you see?
Your little cub grows up tonight—a lion she will be.

I never thought I'd make it here. With my sisters will I stand?
At the end of this long night, will it all have gone as planned?

Greeted by the watchful stars I take my first humble step
Onto the great promontory where my pride sisters await.
Smiles light up their faces, pride is in each gaze,
They say encouraging words to welcome me to the final phase.

I never thought I'd make it here. With my sisters will I stand?
At the end of this long night, will it all have gone as planned?

Anasi leads the hunt tonight, with care she picks my place
Next to strong-willed Aunt Shetani, a master of the chase.
Flanking my right is Lana, who will flush the prey right out.
Old Auntie Azra brings up the rear, a painful grunt in each step.

I never thought I'd make it here. With my sisters will I stand?
At the end of this long night, will it all have gone as planned?

Hunt mistress flicks her tail tip slightly; the signal to begin.
I follow Aunt Shetani's lead and move ahead and in.
Towards the sound of gazelle braying in the distant night,
We five fan out in sure formation, silent as the stars.

I never thought I'd make it here. With my sisters will I stand?
At the end of this long night, will it all have gone as planned?

Part II

Lana stalks around and finds her place among the brush,
One lone gazelle the target that Anasi picked to flush.
Shetani and I crouch in silence as old Azra takes her place
On the side opposite Lana, where her fierce roar begins the chase.

Startled, screaming, the herd begins to move
Scattered, seething, all the bleating rattling my ears
Lana separates the target from the chaotic herd,
Fast on his heels; not fast enough to bring him to the earth.

That suits her fine, that's not her goal. Azra joins the fray!
Herding that fine gazelle in towards the center line.
Shetani makes a break for it, jaws snapping at its legs
It bleats and kicks—a thankful miss! Shetani rolls out of the way.

It's coming straight on, what do I do? I look to hunt mistress,
Anasi gives a single nod, the time has come at last!

Part III

Gazelle is in my sight
Darting off to the right
Anasi gives a roar
It shies towards the center once more

It's coming straight on
Now is the moment
Legs lend me strength!
Gotta dart forward
Gotta get in close
Gotta avoid those hooves!
One passes by my eye—too close!
I duck my head way down,
I swerve a little, turn around
And leap, and barely catch
Its thick throat in my jaws.

It throws its head violently, oh gods I can't hold on!
I clamp down harder, cannot lose
Or no one eats tonight.

Part IV

Pride sisters come to save me! Anasi jumps right in,
Azra, Lana, and Shetani; a unit, we've become!
The gazelle goes down in protest, but he knows his time has come.
With one weak bleat, he draws his final breath and then is done.

Panting, shaking, I look down at my first kill
With joy unbridled, I'm still reeling from the scary thrill.
I look up at my sisters, they all look at me with awe.
Anasi pads over to the fallen prey, and takes her paw
And beaming, dips it in the blood of the limp gazelle.
With a smile just like mother's, she says that I've done well.

“Sister of the hunt, a cub you are no more today,
But a lioness who has provided us with prey.”
Hunt mistress anoints my cheek with the precious blood,
And now I cannot help but think

I never thought I'd make it here. With my sisters I now stand.
And family we will always be, forever in this land.

Note: This poem is a rough draft and may see a revision in the near future. Critiques/suggestions are welcome!

[summerrain]

Me like.

[Narifia]

Ty Summer ^^ Do you see anything that I could improve on? I got a lot of great suggestions in Workshop/Class Review, but I was wondering if you guys--who actually know something about TLK fandom--would have different kinds of suggestions.