Roleplay - 7th of November

Linda looks up at the sky and sighs. The day's nearing it's end, and soon they'll have to part once more.

Ninja groans as he sees that it's getting late. He doesn't want to leave his beloved female but soon he'll have to. He has a long way back to the Jumaas but he may just choose to check in to a bolt hol instead of risking a journey home in the dark.

Linda lays down on her side. Maybe they can stay together just a while longer.

Ninja sits on his haunches next to Linda. He's decided to stay with her for a little while longer.

Meanwhile, things suddenly turn dangerous for Lancaster and Tank. The eagle owl takes off from its nest. Lancaster has seen the bird of prey suddenly take flight but he caught a second's glimpse of it and lost sight of the bird. He's unsure if it's launching an assault on them or at something else. Lancaster goes into defensive mode and covers his weakened brother with his body. He'll die protecting him if he has to.

Tank sounds a series of panic striken alarm calls as he sees the eagle owl take off. This could be it for him and his brother. There's no time to seek shelter so they could now find themselves in a fight for their lives. Tank is surprised when his brother Lancaster puts his life on the line to protect him. He's impressed by his brother's bravery but just as things were begining to look dire for them, Tank doesn't see the eagle owl any where. He sighs in relief. It appears it had targeted something else for its meal instead of them. They're very lucky and now should take advantage of this luck to get home safely. Tank peeps to Lancaster. He no longer has to shield him from the eagle owl, it's gone.

Jackie grooms herself, happily.

Snowflake also grooms himself.

Lancaster looks up at the sky then at the horizon. He sighs relieved that the eagle owl had chosen to spare them and lets off Tank. He's thankful that he and especially his weakened brother Tank were lucky to have escaped being spotted and predated. He offers his sholder to Tank again and helps him up shakily. The close call has left Lancaster shaken but he's confident that he and Tank should have a quieter rest of the trek home.

Tank is also shaken by the predator scare. He's thankful for his brother for bravely protecting him the way he did. Tank knows that if he were still alone the eagle owl encounter could've easily ended in a different or more tragic way. He's very proud of his brother's brave rescue and knows that this experierance will strengthen their bond and respect for each other. Tank uses Lancaster's shoulder as a support and copies his brother's steps. He sighs relieved that they're almost home.

Linda grooms Ninja affectionately, with the angle of the sun starting to make her eyes glisten.

Ninja returns the affectionate grooming. He pauses for a minute and looks into her eyes lovingly. The way the sun is hitting them makes them look pretty.

Linda sits up and resumes grooming Ninja. If only they could be together more often. If only they could be together without her having to face possible eviction.

Ninja resumes grooming Linda and affectionately grooms her neck. He wishes he could join the Willows so he could be with her for ever but knows that the Willow males would strongly disprove and could even kill him. Even though their love is forbidden and long distant, it won't stop Ninja from wanting to see his beloved female.

Linda continues to groom Ninja. She wants him to be there when the pups are born, but she knows both of their positions won't allow that. Maybe he can at least watch them grow up from a distance.

Ninja looks down at Linda's belly and sighs. He hopes the litter they fathered survives to emerge from the burrow. He wants to get a chance to see his pups but knows it'll have to be from a distance. He's an outlaw in this part of the Kalahari and every trip he makes to the Willows will become even more risky. He'll have to be sneaky if he wants to see them without getting caught.

Jackie climbs up to the bottom branch of an acacia tree and looks around. She's careful not to cut herself on the thorns.

Meanwhile Lancaster and Tank have reached an area where the Willow's scent is strong. Lancaster sighs in relief. The group must be very close by now and he's glad that he and his brother had survived the perilous journey home.

Tank sniffs the air. He can smell the strong scent of the Willows too. He looks around then spots a mob of meerkats through some vegetation. He barks estatically, excited to finally be home.

Bravo is unaware that Tank and Lancaster have returned.

Linda peeps reassuringly to Ninja. She won't let the pups be killed. She will do whatever it takes, even lay down her life, to make sure they live on to adulthood.

Meanwhile, Ariel is relaxing with her siblings. She managed to explore all of the previously unexplored parts of the burrow, and she's tired and hungry. Hopefully her mother will return soon.

Ninja relaxes feeling reassured. He begins to feel positive and has a feeling that the pups will survive and he'll get a chance to see them.

Linda lays against Ninja, feeling safe around him. The stress never seems to go away, and she feels Ninja is the only one she can truely trust deep down. She knows she can pull through if she really tries, which she is, but she still has her doubts.

Ninja feels the butterflies return to his stomach as Linda leans against him. He feels so happy around her and has forgotten about his worries. He rests his head against her. He feels even happier knowing that he helps to take her stress away even though deep down inside, he feels a guilty concious as he was the one who created her stress.

Linda tries to forget her worries. She should spend whatever time she has left with Ninja in peace.

Bravo picks up a familiar scent. He looks around, wondering what it is.

Ninja sighs passionately but there's also a sound of reluctance as well in his sigh. As the sun appears to be shifting to its setting point, he'll have to soon make his way back to the Jumaas. He's unaware of the drama that has been occuring back in his home group.

Lancaster looks to his brother Tank hearing his estatic bark then looks at the vegetation his brother is looking at and spots the Willows through them. He peeps relieved that they successfully and safely made it back home.

Fueled by excited joy, Tank begins pulling his brother, limping his way towards the Willows foraging party.

Linda notices the day starting to draw to a close and Ninja's reluctant sigh. She presses closer to him and grooms under his chin. She doesn't want him to leave.

Ninja wraps his arms around Linda in a hug. He churrs at her tender grooming then whimpers knowing that he'll have to leave her side soon. But for now, he decides to stay with her for a several more minutes.

Bravo spots Lancaster approach, but he has someone with him. He squints, not believing his eyes. It's Tank, and he's alive! He makes a loud bark of joy and runs over, unsure what his condition is.

Linda wraps her arms around Ninja as well, grooming him gently. She's unaware that Tank is alive and has made it back to the mob safely.

Ninja grooms Linda's neck gently. He's also unaware of Lancaster returning with Tank.

Lancaster peeps a tired greeting to Bravo. The long journey has left him exhausted but at least he can now rest easy tonight knowing that his brother Tank will be by his side when they head to bed.

Tank's eyes are wide in joy. He peeps an excited greeting to Bravo then lets off the support of his brother's shoulder to stand on his own 4 legs. He staggers a bit still feeling weak but insists that he'll be fine. All he needs now is good night's rest.

Bravo grooms Tank slightly in a greeting and checks Tank's snake bite. It seems to be okay. He's curious to know how he survived, but he can ask that later. He has his own problems regarding a sibling.

Linda churrs and grooms Ninja's shoulder.