Relentless Enemies Page #4

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so, for today at least, there's no danger.

When the herd finally sets off,

the lions slip into place.

Only half the females are here today,

injuries from the last hunt

have taken their toll,

and the mother has gone off

to search for her missing cub.

Expert buffalo hunters that they are,

the Tsaro females don't always

get it right the first time.

The remnants of the pride are hard-pressed

to outmaneuver the young male

they have selected.

Now the real hunt begins.

Defiant young bulls,

determined to make it to their prime,

are filled with the confidence

the testosterone gives them.

The bull refuses to give ground

to this handful of irritating lions.

He will turn and fight another day.

The buffalo are moving east again,

out of the Tsaro territory.

It is their chance to cross off the island.

In their path, other lions, the Pantry pride,

look forward to their arrival.

These are the risk-takers.

Once a formidable hunting coalition

of eight lions,

this pride could take down a buffalo

whenever they were hungry.

Fortune smiled on them.

But then, one day fate turned against them.

They would take on even the largest

in a battle of the titans,

they'd take risks, frontal attacks,

wrestling the bulls to their knees.

They'd collapse their prey forward,

unlike other prides who will avoid injury

and stay well clear of the sharp hooves.

These were the bold lions of Duba,

to whom the slashing points of a bull's horn

were nothing more than an obstacle

to be overcome with brute force.

Their raids on this buffalo pantry

were like medieval duels

in which they seemed invincible,

but the injuries took their toll.

The pride withered away from eight to four,

and finally, after this kill, just three.

The Pantry pride is doomed.

By contrast, the buffalo are steadily

building in strength.

Within this seemingly chaotic mass

is a surprising, almost military organization.

Kinship groups like small regiments

making up brigades

in their clans and herds.

As they hone their weapons

against trees and shrubs,

they signal their aggression.

Constantly reinforced bonds

protect the young

and bolster their group strength.

The buffalo are more than just prey for lions.

Tsaro in action again,

coordinated and working as

a unit to fell a young cow.

But the fallen cow belongs.

It is her saving grace.

Time and time again, when the lionesses

separate her out of the herd,

her clan rallies to find her.

And it is here that the whole pride is needed

to distract and counter,

to face down the charging family

and to outflank the injured cow.

But not today.

Three lionesses haven't

shown up for the hunt

and the buffalo are getting stronger.

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