Almasi trotted in a hurried fashion to the nearest river to wash off the body paint after having her fill of fun and a few naps at the games,shame it had to end just so she can get some dumb rank initiation test done. Not like she ever heard one needed for an ordinary rank, as tests were done for the more advanced ranks back in the old thieving pride, an initiation for such a bad place required doing some death defying stunt to prove your loyalty and all that crazy nonsense with an equally bonkers leader who always made up the tasks for it.
After a quick dip in the cold water making sure to clean off all of the team paint and a shake off, before running to go to the meeting spot where the whole hunting team would surely be beyond pissed off at the amber leopardess and probably tan her hide for it. For some reason, she expected to always be physically punished, but that might just be a past reaction from trying to navigate a confusing place with messed-up felines.
Upon her arrival there were many unpleasant looks given to Almasi while approaching the group,Ones that were slightly taken as rejection but she just gave them a attuide filled look back and a tsk ,while pushing forward to get to the one overseeing the test. A red pelted hyena was pacing back and forth with growing frustration as it was party lead, Marijani, who was less than pleased when Almasi finally approached her. “....You are late! Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting for you numbskull! I get that you are new and the games are going on but there are rules that must be followed when joining the pride” She growled marching up to the other in anger even if being shorter, “ Don't tell me you already forgot my name while having fun like A dummy!”.
“Heh! Sorry Marijani, it's kinda hard to navigate Ustamiliv when there are three prides staying here. The crowds are almost shoulder to shoulder, and it's so easy to get lost in them.” The amber Leopardess lied while going to sit down in front of the party leader,As she totally did not bet on a weird striped lion during the adult wrestling and lost, then straight after taking part in the high jump and nailing it before running off and becoming a little tired. “So what's this test all about? I've never heard of something like it, as back in the gang initiation tests are usually doing something dumb to show loyalty .
The red pelted hyena bared her teeth at such a lie and was about to tear the pathetic liar of a leopardess a new one for spewing it,when a paw was placed on her shoulder to prevent any stupid decision for being made as a grey pelted lioness stepped in to mediate the situation and spoke up quickly before being ignored.
“Marijani please! Let's not start any fights and just see if she can make up for being late by hunting down something harder than the typical rabbit assigned”.
“Alright Fine! Let's get this thing over with Almasi. You will be assigned to hunt a…..” The red pelted hyena paused for a moment to think up what animal is just as difficult as a rabbit and can be hunted solo, “A-ha! Your target will be a Dik-dik. Those little buggers are fast and can be tricky to find as they are solitary. Even more troublesome when in mated pairs. “
“Oh that's easy, I can be just as quiet as a snake! This will be over faster than a turtle race-”
The red pelted hyena chuckled while standing in the way of the leopardess to keep her from marching off too soon.“not so fast! It has been decided that an extra pair of eyes is needed to make sure you don't pull anything funny. Say like cheating the test by stealing someone else's dinner” she said before gesturing to the grey lioness with a paw to the lioness next to her,“ So meet Warrior captain Ngwedi! Who will be helping me out and keeping tabs on you.”
Almasi gave a shy smile and felt a tight feeling in her chest as the nervousness of knowing that a leader was going to be tailing her along with the loud mouthed hyena but quickly pushed it down. The rest of the team watched as they left to start the test a bit later than what was expected. But to make up for it she went straight into tracking down the signed prey while being tailed at a distance to watch her every move and any trick that would be pulled.
Trying her best to focus and memorise what her two mothers had taught when it came to hunting and surviving alone,hoping this will be an easy task so that she can have a good rest after such an eventful day. But that was a doubt given that karma always liked kicking her butt for being dishonest and stupid so only time could tell how things would go.
