[CHAL] Manly Men Doing Manly Things (Don & Brandr)

[Jovi of Shadows]

(This RP takes place before the Meta.)

Brandr had been away for far too long. Having been exiled via loss of holmgang was embarrassing enough, but now the lion had one final stipulation to pass before he could successfully return home. Well, successfully and with his dignity still intact. For as much of a boastful, impulsive lion that he was, there was still some shred of pride left in him that demanded he keep to his word and the traditions of his pride. He had lost a homlgang, and his opponent had decreed that he live in exile for one year and upon returning would need to challenge his way back in. Like some rogue! Ugh, it made Brandr sick to think that he had allowed himself to be beaten like that. And then to be subjected to such mockery had been a sharp blow to his ego.

But now was the time for him to rejoin his birth pride, and he was in high spirits. Eager to be back with his kin, to enjoy the mint and the n**, and the oh so many ladies he had missed in the past year. Of course, the roguelands had quite the diverse selection to pick from, but there was no lioness like a stormborn lioness. Mind thoroughly on the aspect of returning home, the dark lion roared loudly, issuing his challenge to any nearby reavers.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Don just so happened to be nearby, and luckily for Brandr, he was itching for a fight. Eager to rise to the challenge of the roar, Don answered it with one of his own. It was not hard to spot who it had belonged to, and the pale golden lion came forth to meet the dark one in combat. He might have asked if he was a challenger or not, as most were custom to do, but the dark lion was already preparing for the first attack. That was evidence enough, when Don was concerned. No holding back then, this guy knew what he was doing.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

It was Brandr who made the first move. Eager to get back to his homeland, the ex-reaver went straight into a forward assault. He was a large lion, stout and well muscled- and that made him confident, brash... unassuming as to his opponent's strength. There was no strategy to his way of attacking, just full-out brawl mode that had him striking at the other lion as directly as possible. Come to think of it, he didn't recognize this reaver. Was he new blood? Probably. That made Brandr all the more confident in his own abilities, and he went for a forward charge that was meant to knock directly into the reaver's chest. From there, Brandr saw the fight going one way- his way.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Don knew this sort of behavior. Not just from sparring and raiding with the Stormborn, as most seemed to be of the straight-forward fighter, but from out in the roguelands where Don use to call home. Many young lions fought like that, challenging more experienced one for control of a group of lionesses, and hoping that they'd get lucky through sheer force alone. Don had learned this early one, and had adapted to such tactics while having to repel them constantly. The pale-faced reaver skirted just out of reach, avoiding falling for the trap of staying in close quarters. As the dark male blew past him, Don reached out to slash at his exposed side. Lines of red bringing a smirk to his maw. If he played this smart, it would be all too easy.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Was it just him or did that lion just move out of the way? Ouch! Nope, not just him. Sharp pain from his side alerted the young Stormborn that he was now bleeding from his side, and his confident grin became a more wary snarl. So his opponent had avoided his first attack, big deal. Brandr wasn't so easily deterred away by a lucky shot, as he was calling this. So instead of changing tactics, the red maned monster whipped around to snap at the golden reaver. He had wanted to drag him down into the dirt and beat the ever-living piss out of him for marring his hide, but that didn't seem like it was going to happen- for it appeared as though his teeth merely clamped onto a bit of mane, and Brandr was already regretting that last move.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Predictable, young, and stupid. There was no mistaking that this lion had strength and some experience to boast of, but he was sloppy and easy to read. A few well placed steps and a thrust of his head and Don was out of danger from the snapping teeth. Instead of catching a vital area they merely latched onto the fluff of his mane, leaving Don with the opportunity to do some damage. His head crashed downward, Don's own set of jaws fastening themselves against the challenger's neck, and narrowly missing his face. Thus far they had remained mostly silent, save for the odd growl or snarl from either of them, and Don was in no mood for taunting. He usually never was, though it did occur to him that this may be one of those times where it was valid enough. Thus far, he hadn't even broken a sweat defending against this lion.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Brandr snarled in frustration, his crimson eyes now dangerously close to hatred with how close he was to rejoining his home. All that stood between himself and his goal was this pale-faced, rogue-blooded, jackass. It was with those kinds of thoughts that Brandr managed to tear himself away from the deathgrip to the back of his neck, feeling flesh rip and -oh god- chunks of hair being ripped from his mane. How dare he! Lions with bald spots in their manes did NOT get the girls, and hell be damned if Brandr wasn't going to get the girls! He'd been away for too long to let something like this happen! Not thinking on his next move, and not even knowing what it was going to be, Brandr rushed forward with claws extended- surprising even himself as he went in for a full body tackle. Oh, it was on. This guy was going to get his tail handed to him right after Brandr made him taste dirt!  

[Jovi of Shadows]

And taste dirt he did! The last thing Don was expecting was an amateur move like that, and he was mentally kicking himself for thinking this guy smarter than he was. With a hard thump he hit the ground, though he did not stay that way for long. Don was a clever lion, using his head to fight along with brute strength. Its how he'd survived for so long out on his own, with no one to look to for support or help if he was in over his head. And normally, a fight would have been over with the opponent pinned to the ground like this, as it would be easy to claw and bite at one's face and vital areas. But not Don. The pale-faced reaver was already thinking several moves ahead, watching the glint in the red eyes of the challenger, and knowing that he would come in for a bite before he'd take the opportunity to claw. So Don beat him to it. His head launched forward and struck with the force of a boulder as his fangs dug into the soft skin that connected Brandr's leg to his chest. Don struck, clamped, and gave his head a violent twist. It would not do to be stuck on the ground like this, and he needed this guy to move in order to get back up from the vulnerable position.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Saying Brandr jumped back like he had just been bitten by a viper was an understatement. Surprise and shock were the two foremost things on his mind, followed quickly by the severe pain he received from the bite itself. The dark lion looked bewildered, uncertain of what had just happened, but anger quickly took its place among those bewitched emotions. This challenge was not going to plan, and he was bleeding from more than one part of his body. He could feel it stick to his hide like honey, and could only imagine how it would look for him to drag himself back to a healer's den the moment he was allowed to rejoin. Embarrassing. And he'd had enough of that to last him a lifetime. With one final assault under way, Brandr rushed in with the intent of ripping the reaver to shreds. Just one opening! That's all he needed!  

[Jovi of Shadows]

The challenger had not acted quickly enough. Don was already partially on his paws, and instead of simply moving out of the way he kept his center of gravity low. He waited, prepared for the other lion's onslaught, and used the dark challenger's own force against him. Don managed to twist his body with the charging foe, tripping him and tumbling in the dirt with claws and fangs seeking flesh. Eventually the dust settled and Don's teeth found themselves latched cleanly onto the challenger's throat, his tongue tasting blood. He held him there for several moments, hearing him gasp out of what was either pain, surprise, frustration... or all three. Once he was sure the fight had left his opponent Don released him, and stepped back.

In the first thing said between the two lions Don grunted, "Come back when you're ready to fight like a man." It was an insult for sure, but that had been a pathetic fight. Don enjoyed bloodshed and violence like any other reaver, but most of all he reveled in challenge. This had been no such thing. And to add insult to injury, Don turned his back on the gasping, fallen challenger, not even bothering to look back. What a disappointment.