Prickles in the Mud

Taiga had agreed to become a part of Tojo Kai. It was an interesting notion, something new. The lioness had made sure to let Hattori know that she would be spending the majority of her time in the little koi garden with the kittens, but she was more than willing to help train anyone in fighting or hunting if needed. That was how she joined forces with Asahi, one of Hattori's yearlings.

Taiga the cave lioness padded silently through the dense underbrush, her ears twitching at every sound. She kept her body low, muscles tense, ready to spring at any moment. Beside her, Asahi, the wolf pup, moved with surprising grace for her age, her sharp eyes scanning the forest floor.

They were on a mission to find porcupines. Their quills were invaluable, perfect for making needles and pens—tools essential for survival and communication. Taiga didn't know the territory all that well. Having recently come to this part of the world, she hadn't yet had time to explore and get to know her surroundings. That didn't matter much today. Today, she had a specific goal. Porcupines.

Taiga glanced at Asahi, who was sniffing the air, trying to catch a scent. Her enthusiasm reminded her of her younger days. The young pup was intent on learning hunting and healing. Porcupine quills would play into both of those skills. They had to hunt the porcupines to gather the quills used for healing. They went hand in hand.

As they moved deeper into the forest, Taiga's thoughts wandered to the last time she had encountered porcupines. They were elusive creatures, more nocturnal than diurnal, and they required patience to find. She knew their habits well enough to predict their movements but locating them was still a challenge.

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Taiga knew this was the time when porcupines would start to stir. She motioned for Asahi to follow her lead, and they shifted their focus to areas with dense foliage and thick underbrush—places where porcupines liked to hide.

Suddenly, Taiga's ears perked up. She heard a rustling sound, distinct and deliberate. She signaled to Asahi, who immediately went still, both their eyes fixed in the direction of the noise. Taiga crouched lower, her muscles coiled, ready to pounce if necessary.

She moved forward slowly, each step deliberate and silent. The rustling grew louder, and she could smell the distinct, musky scent of a porcupine. It was close. Taiga's heart quickened, not from fear but from the thrill of the hunt. She motioned for Asahi to stay back. This was delicate work, and she didn't want the pup to get hurt.

Taiga crept forward until she saw it—a porcupine, busy foraging. Its quills glinted in the fading light, a clear warning to any predator. Taiga knew she had to be careful. One wrong move and she could end up with a face full of painful quills.

She studied the porcupine's movements, waiting for the right moment. It turned its back to her, and she seized the opportunity. With a swift, calculated leap, Taiga pounced, pinning the porcupine with her powerful paws. The creature struggled, but Taiga's grip was firm. She avoided its quills, knowing exactly how to handle it without getting hurt.

She hoped that Asahi was watching and picking up on the necessary skills to do this herself in the future. Taiga quickly dispatched the porcupine, making sure not to damage the valuable quills. Once it was safe, she called Asahi over. The pup approached cautiously, sniffing the porcupine with curiosity.

"And we have a porcupine," she said to Asahi, humor in her low tones. With the creature dead, Taiga let the girl inspect it. There was no risk of getting poked unless she tried to. They had achieved their goal, but there was still more work to be done. Taiga started extracting the quills, using her claws and teeth with precision. Asahi watched intently, eager to learn.

The process took time, and the forest grew darker around them. Taiga remained focused, her movements steady and deliberate. She had done this before, and each time it required the same level of care. Porcupine was decent eating, after all. You did have to get past the quills first. She'd done alright this time and had received only a prick or two to her paws as she held the beast down. By the time she was finished plucking the quills away, the pair of ladies had a pretty impressive pile. It would definitely last the pack for quite some time.

Wrapping the quills up in a scrap of oiled cloth, Taiga gave the bundle to Asahi to carry. The lioness picked up the mostly naked porcupine and the pair set off for home. They would have their quills and a nice snack to boot.

WC- 810
Total-1075/1500

"Speech!"