Rufflan

Rufflan sprinted through the prairie, heading east across the land and towards the scattered rock outcroppings that made up their cavernous estate. The lynx called out in a trilling voice as he came closer, his stubby tail twitching behind him, "Layra, Tuini! I've found our next meal!"

Tuini & Little Tuft

A chuff came from the old lion laying next to the den's entrance. Little Tuft didn't bother getting up from where he was basking in the sun, but he did greet the exuberant lynx, "Something big enough to share with all of us?"

Tuini stepped from the den next, his shadow falling briefly over his napping uncle before he dipped his front end in an idle stretch, gave his thick mane a shake, and continued forward to meet Rufflan. The African lion dropped his head down, giving the smaller felidae a greeting nudge, "Alright Ruff, what did you find?"

Rufflan

He enthusiastically bumped heads with the bigger lion, his front paws briefly lifting from the ground as he reared up a bit to meet the lion's higher stature. After drawing back, the lynx peered up at his leader and answered, "A new wolf litter, and a pretty small pack. And they're just to the south of us, not far off." Rufflan's stubby tail twitched again and he looked in the direction of the Sonnet Forest, where he'd stumbled across the new family.

Tuini & Little Tuft

A smile graced his whiskered mug, "You did well, Rufflan. Tuft, Khala - alert the others, and let them know we're going for a hunt." The male stepped past the lynx and plodded a few steps towards the south, eyes searching the horizon for the distant trees of the Sonnet Forest. Rolling hills and tall grasses obscured them, but the lion knew of the woodlands Rufflan was referring to.

"Khala's not here." In the background, Little Tuft's voice rose, and was answered by a dismissive grunt from the younger Tuini. "I think she's out hunting, but I can stay behind and alert her of the mission if she returns before you do." Seeing a faint nod from his leader, Tuft parted his jaws and uttered a series of deep roars, calling to the rest of the Makucha.

Tuini, Little Tuft, Autumn Sun & Spotlight

An answering roar sounded back from Spotlight and Autumn Sun, and a few minutes later, the pair arrived at the cavern from a failed hunt of their own. After a brief bout of greeting nuzzles, Tuini again broke away from the group and moved a few paces to the south, with a growling stomach to motivate him. "We're hunting wolf this evening, to our south. Rufflan found a small pack, so it should be simple enough to take on." The lion turned about, sizing up Little Tuft, "I want you to remain here at the den. If Layra or the others return, let them know where we've gone, so that they can join us if they want."

The elder lion offered no protest, "I'll let them know." And honestly, he didn't mind. It gave him a few free hours to rest and continue basking in the sun, which is precisely what Tuft did as he settled down with his back against the dark rocks, and his tawny limbs stretched out beside him.

Tuini's gaze fell to the lynx, "Rufflan, lead the way."

Rufflan

The lynx's high energy and excitability were soon corralled and focused as he took the next part of his duties serious. Once the hunters were assembled, the lithe, long-limbed feline struck out from their Cavern home and began to head to the west, towards the Sonnet Forest territory.