[ORP]The Battle

[Tahja Estes]

Elly seemed satisfied with this, and had she perhaps been more educated in Egyptian traditions she would have known the depth of the damage that her initial attack would do, but if it got the job done then she would do what was needed. Just thinking about it had her grinning with wicked delight, her eyes narrowing with the toothy grin.

Matifu, beside the goddess, nearly shuddered at the sight. The deity was definitely hungering for a use for her power as she had suggested on the trip back. His other recruit(s) hadn't made it yet, but he'd managed to find one or two others that were supposed to be trailing them here.

He glanced to Laini instead, and then the new arrivals, the orange lioness seemed especially eager to get started as well. Her black pelted mate, Nukta, however, seemed a bit more reluctant as he kept pace a few steps back.

Matifu's muzzle brushed Laini briefly in encouragement. They'd fight for their home, and he was confident to win.  

[demonstration_evil]

Ilori did an odd side-ways trot towards his mother and father. It wasn't exactly that he felt safer beside them... it was nice that he was able to know that he had backup. He only wondered where his brother was... but he was sure he was around somewhere.

He certainly felt his mother's antsy-ness as he came closer to her. Of course her sense of justice was likely enough to be enraged by the whole situation... "It'll come soon enough mom." He told her with a small smile, trying to put his usual light-heartedness into their situation.  

[PhiferWolf]

(( Tahja, yeah, forgive me for that. ))

"Your welcome soothes me, Johari, I simply wished I knew where my mate was in such times as this."

Azra stepped forth with the group and looked out around them. Not too far off, another sight she would not have imagined herself seeing. Yet another winged divine being. She was aware of Gods and Goddesses, but since her relationship began with Athrun, he was the only one she knew. To see another was still out of the ordinary for her. She looked at her with amazement and admiration. Perhaps one day, she will be able to see what it is like to fly side by side with her mate and no being taxied around like a helpless cub in the maws of its parent. The orange lioness stepped toward her, then took two steps back. Something about talking to a Goddess, one that looked so... aggressive, was something she was very hesitant about. Even during the times Athrun, someone she knew so much about, she was afraid when his powers became full bloom. She must find another time when the air was not so tense to seek her out.

Anyone who saw her touch her belly just now could have gotten that hint, hopefully, they don't start any rumors or anything. She would rather have Athrun find out through her maw than anyone else's. She could only hope that this battle was fought quickly and finished just the same. She must be sure that all survive, their litters (if they have any) were born, and their pride was a safe place for them to live.

Her violet eyes looked up into the sky, slowly glancing down to the horizon, speaking to the side.

"Athrun... I pray you, make haste with your return."  

[laefe]

((I guess it's okay to join this? XD; I put him in his mortal form, Muroki and Chamchela could probably see through it though. *Shrug*))

Light gray fur, marred only by the traipsing of white heiroglyphics, slid across the sands that seemed as familiar to the lion as air was to the lungs of any other. His tail flashed back and forth against his legs, irritation boiling behind eyes the color of the sky.

His large paws betrayed some of what he truely was, but the male made sure that his mortal form was nothing like the immortal one save for the things he couldn't remove from himself. All that remained of the snowy, blood colored god of the lonely were the curse markings and the single earring that dangled in the faint breeze at his left ear. The orange sparkled in the slowly passing light.

Silently, Athrun stood beside Azra. Still larger than her, he could see faint traces of what was bothering her and let a slow frown cross his muzzle. This was no place for a pregnant lioness to be, anywhere near the war that was brewing.

A silent sigh was heaved, his rib cage expanding a bit as he took a few steps and inclined his head to Muroki, eyes sparking with anticipation for what was to come, what was to be.

The vultures that had taken over the lands of the pride he'd once watched grow and thrive would be hard pressed to ever wish themselves anywhere near these lands again once Athrun had his say. Once the entire pride had their say. It would all be over soon, at least he hoped, war wasn't something he enjoyed. Often it was the cause of many of his 'followers' pains, a pain that the god disliked.

War wasn't a kind bed fellow.  

[Tahja Estes]

((No worries Phife, and yeah Laefe, that's fine.

To clarify a few points, though, guys: 1: As it says in her first post Elly's wings are hidden. The only ones that would know what she really is right now are those that, well, KNOW Elly XD or Athrun as a fellow god. The idea is to catch the vultures off guard.

2: Johari, Safiya, and Azra are actually no where near the group getting ready to go fight. They're at a den with the cubs, watching the sun set.

*cracks knuckles* Let's kick this party off. *goes to type post*))  

[Tahja Estes]

The goddess just glowered as she watched the rest file in and join the lot of them. Athrun's mortal form caught her interest briefly as she recognized him for what he was, and briefly, as well, she wondered if her grandmother would come. Doubtful. Teuli didn't have any powers to really contribute and she was miles and miles away. She probably didn't even realize the war had begun.

Elly would have not much to say to many of them until the sun set and the battle had been fought.

She straightened as something caught her eye about an hour later. Without a word she cast a glance to Muroki, then smirked and turned, moving off at a swift pace.

As the goddess closed the distance to the temple her steps hid no aggression. She was stalking prey, and it was all she could do to keep from voicing her anticipation as the rush hit her full force.

Before the vultures on the lower levels keeping watch knew what was happening, Elly made a leap. It was no ordinary leap, for even as a god she couldn't jump such a huge distance without aide, but as nearly all of her kind was gifted with the magic of flight it was still as good as childsplay.

All hell broke loose moments later, and those waiting behind would feel the ground quake with the force of Elly's first attack. It was utter chaos and she loved it! Birds screeched and panicked, sand flew in all directions, nests strewn and tossed about. Her own vocal roar echoed throughout the upper halls, and black buzzards, corpses and injured alike, could be seen being thrown from the upper chambers, forced out by the violent winds (two, no, three tornadoes, small but no less deadly) in the young diety's control.

The final battle had begun.  

[Successful Edit]

((Note - DWers of old believed their kings were demigods, that their aspect of the Sun, Jua, at times used them as vessels. It's purely a spiritual thing and I'm not claiming Muro is a god or seer~))

Muroki had led those in his fighting group to their position, one of a pawful of such groups. They lay on their fronts at the ready on a nearby dune and watched over the edge as the young goddess struck the first blow to the Temple's invaders. His eyes were narrowed to golden slits against the sand but they blazed anyway, full of anger. Jua was in him, as the old Dawnwalkers would have said. He was a vengeful god. Scorching and fiery in war, rather than life giving and warm in times of peace. If the Temple had to suffer the sting of a sandstorm, so be it, it was like using dreaded leeches to help purify a wound. Horrid but useful.

As soon as the tornadoes that the goddess raised were over, he let his eyes open further and was the first to stand, and roar a lone battle cry. Then he was speeding towards the door appointed to his team, beloved Kainda running at one side and a recruited cheetah called Uri spiriting easily on the other. They'd chosen a side door, one that wasn't so easily noticed, and Muroki found his first little group of confused vultures in one hallway inside.

He and his fellows pounced at the grounded and confused birds and took vengence with fang and tooth and claw. It was darker inside that the dusk outside, for no human torches had blazed in the corridors for a thousand years. They came as shadows and left trailing blood and feathers. Onwards and downwards - to where the slaves were kept.  

[Kimaria]

Yuma had lain in the same position since his arrival, eyes half-lidded, nose pointed in the direction he would soon be heading. His tail lay unmoving behind him, his forepaws side by side. He held his head proudly, though with the passing of time his neck sank a little from weariness.

He watched the light fading, watched the shadows lengthen and then fade as the sun began to lose its strength to dusk.

In fact he was almost dozing off when Elly moved. He watched her, knowing full well what would happen now. His whole body tensed, muscles clenched, jaw tightening. He snarled, revealing shards of white teeth that were all too ready to sink into feathered bodies.

Birds screeched their panic and anger and as Elly made her first attack the silent building became alive.

And then Muroki's roar filled his ears and with a bark he leapt to his paws, charging towards the temple at full hilt. His paws drummed in unison with his heart. He was small, yes, but he was fierce, though at that moment he was running alone.

He looked up just in time to see a vulture diving for him, it's grotesque talons reaching to pluck him from the safe ground. Yuma skidded to a halt, jumped to the side and all but threw himself at the bird. Wings crashed into him, knocked the wind from his lungs, but his teeth latched on and held strong.  

[Tahja Estes]

The chaos inside didn't stop simply because Elly's initial attack was done. The girl was on a rampage, but was still just one being. Though she was doing plenty of damage it was still going to take the rest of the pride to win the fight. As she waited for Muroki to lead his other warriors in she kept up the assault. Brown paws smacked birds aside, batting more right out of the air. Fangs flashed, sinking into exposed necks and flinging corpses about. Her wings, now fully exposed, also smacked birds away where they could, acting almost as shields. As feathers scattered the birds would no doubt wonder if this being was a goddess and not, in fact, a demon.

Inwardly, Elly was only temporarily enjoying the thrill of her first "battle", and simply wouldn't allow herself to think of anything but the goal at hand.

Kill the birds. Clear the temple. Win back the lands. That's what goddesses and gods did, protect their prides, protect their people. If they gave her something to fight for, so be it, she wouldn't question it. It meant she had a purpose, something she'd began to feel was sorely lacking since she hadn't seen Mrost again.

------------------

((Will post for Kirara, Matifu, and Nukta tomorrow/later today.))  

[laefe]

((Ahah. Thanks Tahja. XD; I was a little confused on the positioning of the whole thing. My bad.))

Blood seemed to boil in his veins, his very eyes burning for all the world to see, though it was only an illusion. Athrun's fur stood in a ridge upon his back as he paced towards the Temple he remembered from years far gone. The stench that filled his nose seemed only to make him all the more angry.

His paw hit the edge of the temple and his illusion was gone. The large male lion was now a huge god, his fur glistening white as he leaped into the battle. Flashes were all a bird would see before it was knocked down or ripped into by tooth and claws.

As the fighting commenced a change could be seen in his body, from his fur to his stature. Slowly, though to the buzzards he was dealing with it may have been like lightning, Athrun's fur was shot through with black and suddenly became ebony. Just as suddenly, his wings appeared, glowing with a feral green light as howls began to rip through the air.

Shooting off like a dart, Athrun took to the air, free of the worst of the birds so he could see what to attack, his black fur shimmered and rippled with white hieroglyphics, his wings casting a pale green glow over everything that came near him.  

[Successful Edit]

Down in the chambers underground, where the Egyptian humans, dead two thousand years now, were sealed behind the walls, slaves lay dead as well. Many had been mobbed by huge gangs of birds in the enclosed space days ago or even killed by a lion whose loyalty was truly with their avian masters. Some had been sent away before hand, to be slaves elsewhere, traded away or kept. One had even escaped weeks ago, finding the newly formed pride when she was out on a hunting trip.

And some now fought for their freedom as the birds were confused and their ranks thinned, and roars came from the floor above.

Takasika didn't know where Hisani was and in the back of his mind hoped she'd managed to sneak away. But he had other more immediate worries. He was busy keeping himself on his paws and cooly killing each of his attackers one by one. If he went down and too many attacked at once, beating wings and beaks and talons would have been too much.

At the other end of the room, where the ramp to the floor above was, came a shout of his name. Muroki had come as he'd promised. Taka was glad but knew that most of his fellow slaves were gone. Escaped to freedom or taken to be slaves elsewhere or shredded. As one of the birds near him was felled by a heavy blow from his king's paw, Taka knew which of the three groups he fell under.

He was one of those who'd got their freedom.  

[demonstration_evil]

"Oh man..." Ilori said quietly as soon as the fighting started, "Here we go..." He ran with them as quickly as possible. He wasn't as interested in the birds thenselves... all he could think about were the slaves. Forced to work while he had been able to grow up so happily... no, he had to go as quickly as he could, and that meant no fighting right away. He just had to dodge past the vultures... and he was still young and small, so he could get under the larger lions and sneak past.

"Come on... come on..." Ilori told himself over and over again as the birds divebombed him. He was getting too close now, and that meant that he didn't have anyone to cover him anymore. Which was starting to leave him all alone in a very, very vulture-covered area. "Uh-oh..."