Take Over

For weeks now the two young males had been watching, waiting for their opportunity and now it was time. They were now strong enough to take over the pride. Signalling his intent to his brother Moto stood up and started forward with Javier following behind. As the reached the pride a battle royal ensued The lionesses desperate to drive them off knowing if they succeeded vast changes would occur. Far in the distance Soto heard the roars and growls as the take over ensued and rushed to protect them. The fight was long and hard with some fatalities. Soto received wounds that would take months to heal as he was banished by the brothers, his life now as an outcast. Luckily for him Zanidar joined him with her cubs of nearly a year old She and they would keep him fed as he slowly healed. Back at the pride the brothers set about their gruesome task all the cubs were hunted down and killed without mercy. Now the lionesses would soon be ready to mate again and it would be their blood that the offspring would bear perpetuating their line and increasing the size of the pride. Life in the African Savannah was always cruel and hard the brothers would face many challengers in their time. Food always an issue once the migrating herds moved on. Now a time of little the pride suffered and grew weaker. The only saving grace was the buffalo not without their risks. Valiant fighters who protected each other forming a ringed barrier around the more vulnerable, ready to fight to the death. With very young cubs the lionesses needed food to feed them and desperation drove them on, finally they made a good kill none would go hungry for a few days. In the distance the clouds gathered rain falling far up country at last reaching them and with the rain the vast herds once more returned and life teemed. Now was a time of plenty and the pride recovered their health. For seven years the brothers ruled supreme yet in the background there were many waiting their own time. Two males in particular Janto and Batso sons of Soto watched and waited eager to take over until at last it was their time and turn to roust the pride males. And so the never ending cycle started again until the next time.