Claws, Teeth and Family Fun

As her father's claw extended toward her, Vitani did little more that blink, standing firmly and unflinchingly in his presence. Her gaze, however, lowered toward what was essentially a weapon trailing across her cub-soft fur, and tracked its movement with analytical eyes. His movements matched to the words he spoke, and as that claw drew away from its final placement at the end of her muzzle, she nodded firmly and resolutely as she committed the lesson to mind. "Of course, father," she agreed, though she did allow the corner of her maw to twitch upward, more of a smirk than a smile, to show a hint of pleasure at his praise.

Her eyes shone under his approval, but not like an innocent cub's normally would - even in her current youth, there was a certain darkness that loitered there, the lingering of all of her parent's vicious teachings. Behind those eyes, there was no doubt she was already playing in her mind scenarios in which she could employ this learning - and many of those included those weak, sniveling Pride Land lions. This approval was nothing compared to the pride she would one day receive from her parents, as she finally fulfilled the very purpose she was being reared for.

The carcass was set before herself and her mother next, a signal that it was their turn to eat. With a silent thanks to her father through her eyes and a dip of her head alone, the young lioness cast a brief glance toward her mother before she bit into the carcass, steadying it with her paws as she tore off a chunk of meat. It was somewhat more difficult for a cub than an adult lion, but she managed without much difficulty. Whilst she ate, she kept her ears pricked for either of her parents to speak. She doubted this lesson would pause just because she was offered the chance to eat. So, as the next question was posed toward her, she drew back and shifted away from the carcass. Made sense to let her mother eat whilst she thought about and answered the question.

Before she could answer, and just as Zira finished offering her own small hint, Vitani's words were stalled. The snap of a branch had her ears pricking, and she rose to her paws, lips peeling back in a slight snarl. She was not scared of what might come - no one would mess with the royal family on their own turf as it was. However, if someone wanted to interrupt their lessons, why not include them in it? Despite this thought, she also knew better than to act without thought, so she merely stilled her expression and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the quivering undergrowth. Until a meek voice reached her ears, apologetic in tone, and the princess rolled her eyes as she sat herself back down as her brother slunk out to settle at Zira's side. "Interrupting again, Kovu?"

Deciding to leave whatever disapproval their parents would subject him to their own devices, she returned her attention promptly to her father, chin held high and tail flicking slightly at her flank - the only sign of what could be either annoyance at Kovu's intrusion, or anticipation for what might happen because of it. She liked seeing him shake in his fur, if she was honest. It gave her a further sense of belonging, knowing he could never truly best her, as he was intended to. "A team of lionesses would have the advantage of stealth, and if it was in the jungle, something large might struggle to move around. I believe the best approach would be to surround it when it has less free room to move, and go for its wings where they meet the body. If it can't fly, it loses that advantage, and it would likely struggle to reach anything on its back, making the attackers safer as well. From its back, a lioness or two could go for its eyes and snout. Though if it has a strong tail like a crocodile, we would have to keep a watch for that as well and be ready to grab it if needed."

Considering she had never seen a dragon before, and barely even heard of them much either, it was all a guess. No matter her teachings on weak points and hunting, battle strategies were still a work in progress. She was, after all, only eight months old. However, from what she knew, and what she was being told, she figured this blind shot in the dark was as good a guess as any. Besides, if there was one thing her parents would approve of less than an incorrect guess, it was a refusal or reluctance to try at all. She was not going to be one to chicken out, and it was not like her parents expected her to know how to fight a dragon. This was just a test, to see if she could come up with a plan in a situation where she was out of her depth. Any plan was better than none, and hesitation on a battle field meant death.

Speaking of chickening out... Though she still awaited her father's wisdom and approval, her gaze slithered almost slyly toward her false brother, and she eyed him like the predator she was born to be. Would her father mind her flipping their test onto the intruding cub? Only one way to find out. "What do you think, Kovu? How would you fight a dragon?" Sitting up tall, the cub smirked at the young heir, though she kept herself alert for any word or movement from her parents too.