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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:40 am
This was it.
The moment he had dreaded from the day he had been banished from his homeland. The day he had been caught out by his father. His father had shown him mercy that day. Kimeti could have killed his son and probably should have. Yet here he was, returned again.
Father had mercy for me that day, Kidondo thought to himself, and so I shall return the favour.
All along he had spoken of this attack, of the duel that would take place between father and son. He had never pretended to be confident. In fact he knew this battle was tipped in his father’s favour. His father had not travelled miles, he had been eating well and he was not haunted in his sleep like Kidondo had been.
Besides that, Kimeti was not past his years. He was strong and he had experience with fighting. Kidondo did not. He had only his desire to help to fuel him, the desire to protect those he loved. He had to protect Kimeti from himself now, even if…even if…
He shook his head, brought himself back to focus on what he had to do. He had been going over this plan in his head again and again. He would go to his father, plead with him to see sense. Kidondo was not too proud to beg. He would do what he had to do if it meant saving his father from a terrible fate. He had to see sense! And if not…well then Kidondo was no fool. If his father could not be swayed they would fight.
The clash of two Firekin titans was a terrifying sight, but even more so when the two lions were determined to fight to the death.
Behind him the chaos of battle erupted. He picked out the angry roars of some lions he knew well. His heart went with them and he winced as if those fights brought pain upon himself. He had brought this. He had brought anger and hatred and blood to these lands.
But from the blood and ashes would rise a new phoenix, more brilliant than the last. From the despair would come hope. He would not abandon them and he would not go down without a fight. He would share in their pain and he, with their help, would create something greater than before.
He would bring back the true spirit of the Firekin.
Change was painful and the Firekin were stubborn. These events could not have played out any differently and Kidondo knew it. It helped ease his guilt.
Kidondo half-ran, half-slipped down a dune and made the last long run to the dens, where he hoped his father was. No doubt the King had already been alerted by the sounds of fighting ringing out behind him. Even still, he’d announce himself.
He slid to a halt and roared. The dust clouds began to settle, revealing him completely.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:17 pm
The peacefulness of the desert...shattered...
Kimeti was far from being unknown of the fights going on on his lands. No, the King was far from being unknowing of the situation at hand. How could he be when two young lionesses ambushed them himself. Though young and and unexperienced the two, obvious, sisters were well trained and had managed to get a fairly decent hit upon him. None-the-less, the King had been merciful. Despite the obvious attack on his life, neither of the adolescents were prepared to actually take his life. With a good admonishing, Kimeti had let them go and hurried to aid his fellow pride members.
Unafraid of showing his self to the traitors and ambushers, Kimeti perched himself upon a dune not far from the main pridal den. Golden eyes blazed with an inner fire and blood rushing through his veins pumping him for battle despite his bleeding paw, the King stood stout and strong.
Gazing out into the desert, Kimeti searched, ready for the next opponent ready to take him the King was surprised and tormented to see a red form approach him. Despite the time seperated, it was obvious who it was. There was no doubt. "Kidondo." Kimeti growled under his breath as his son slowly approached from the hot desert. The heat rose and blurred out the approaching opponents form making his approach seem all that more impressive, but Kimeti wasn't fooled. Despite Kidondo's large form, which he inherited from Kimeti himself, the King knew how much of an advantage he had over his son. Afterall, there was no way this treason could be overlooked. Yes, he allowed Kidondo to live before, but this....this was unforgivable.
Wanting to make sure his son, knew he accepted whatever challenge he dared to bring, Kimeti heaved a large gulp of air and let his lungs dispel a roar that would easily carry through the desert. This was meant to challenge Kidondo, warn everyone what was about to ensue, and that any interference would not be forgiven. Kimeti wanted to deal with it himself.
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:21 am
That roar.
What a roar!
Kidondo felt as if the desert would break apart beneath him. He strengthened his stance, letting the sand absorb his fear as it trickled through his being. He was afraid, though he would never admit it. So, summoning all his strength the banished prince stepped forwards, slowly and cautiously, aware how angry his father must be.
Anger drove lions to do impossible, incredible but stupid things. He was afraid his father would jump straight into a fight without hearing him out.
"Father!" He called, taking another slow step forward. "Please, listen to me." He had tried to practice this speech since the day he had known he would make it. But every time it came out different, every time he faltered or couldn't find the right words. Today, he'd have to take those words straight from the heart. He had to if he had any hope of convincing his father.
"We are dying, father. Slowly but surely. Faith in us is lost, Finar-Si has abandoned us. You can blame me for that if you like, but their faith has been dwindling for a long time. I merely guided them. Father, I've come here to try and find a peaceful soloution. Let us talk, not fight. If we talk there is nothing we can't accomplish. What you hear behind me is fighting born from not listening. We don't have to go down that path."
Another step forward.
"Please father. See sense. This is the only way to ensure our survival. Surely that, above all else, is the most important thing."
He paused, felt himself trembling very slightly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:54 pm
Kimeti's golden eyes narrowed as his son dare approach. Using his full height and body mass, Kimeti stood tall and strong, ignoring the pain that trickled from his injured paw. No pain could ever compare to the sight of his son, one of his own, opposing him. After all the suffering, regret and blame he felt after exiling his son -this- was how he was paid for the mercy he gave Kidondo. By right he should have killed his son the moment he found the treason but he allowed the foolish cub to live, and now, here he stood daring to defy him! How dare he!
The words that Kidondo said were barely reaching the Kings ears. It wasn't that Kidondo wasn't close enough. Oh no, Kimeti just didn't want to hear it. There was only one way to deal with this intrusion and Kimeti had resigned himself to it the moment he heard the first sounds of battle. "How -dare- you say that this can be resolved through words. You, who were my son, that I gave mercy to when you should have been killed, have just crossed the boundary that you were forbidden to cross and entered these lands again! And not only that, you bring others! You hear the sounds of battles going on already and you propose this be resolved by words?! You are a foolish cub!" Kimeti spat, his eyes blazing with cold ruthlessness. The son that he had loved was gone. This lion in front of him was a stranger. The son he had loved and regretted loosing was now dead in Kimeti's eyes.
"I revived this pride from near death! I rebuilt it and helped it become stronger than it ever was and you -dare- say that it's dieing!?" Through clenched teeth the King stared hard at Kidondo. "You will have to kill me if you want this resolved in your favor."
Not able to wait any longer, Kimeti's tense muscles exploded and he rushed Kidondo. Claws digging into the shifting sands as he lunged at Kidondo, ready to knock the fool boy from his paws and rip his throat out.
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:24 am
Kimeti's words rent Kidondo's heart in two. He was in such odd circumstances. By no means did he hate his father, even now when they were preparing to fight. In his way, Kimeti was trying to do what was right the only way he knew how.
It was in Kimeti's blood.
In fact Kidondo loved his father, he always had and this betrayal was like tearing something out of himself. Today he would lose his father forever, either through his own death or Kimeti's. And if he was the victor he doubted he'd ever get over what he had done. Kimeti was still his father and always would be.
But there was no place on the battlefield for words of love. He had to show Kimeti his emotions through his strikes and hope that some of his meaning got through.
"Father..." He hesitated, raised a paw to take another step. In a way Kimeti was right. He had alreayd brought the fight here and the proof of it raged behind him. No. Kimeti would not talk after the first of the fights had already begun.
Kimeti was a lot of things but he was no coward.
And then suddenly Kimeti rushed him, his massive bulk pure muscel, pure power. Kidondo had always respected his father and always feared him for his strength. Now he found himself on the receiving end of it.
He pushed away the fear and only just had time to brace himself as Kimeti lunged. It was too late to move. Kimeti was fast and Kidondo's moment of grief had slowed him. So, he did all he could do. Duck his head and hope that Kimeti's strike missed.
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:32 pm
Kimeti's strength was certainly the pure raw power that he possessed. The King was no fool, he knew that he was strong, and still able to fight at full capacity. Age had yet to take it's toll upon his body but the weakness the King held was something he was not aware of. With the pure rage and andrenaline pumping through his veins, the King could not think. Not in the sence of intellectual thoughts. Yes, he could think on his feet during the battle, and move and dodge, but when it came to anything that would require actual thought outside the battle, Kimeti was at a disadvantage. So, when Kidondo's instincts forced him to duck, the lunge that was intended to knock the fool boy off his paws was nothing more than a rustled breeze over Kidondo's back.
With teeth clenched, Kimeti landed hard on the sand but whirled himself around to face his son. He paused only a moment to relish the position his son had moved to. To think, Kidondo, the lion who may have one day ruled the pride, had his belly to the ground in a cowards move to escape an attack. "What's wrong, Kidondo. Unable to keep up with your old man?" Kimeti growled out before moving again. This time, reserving his energy, Kimeti moved forward and swiped hid deadly claws towards his son's back.
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:28 am
It worked. He felt the air come alive somewhere above his back, could imagine those lethal claws swiping, missing. Surely his father could not have missed him by accident?
Against his better judgement Kidondo dared to think that maybe Kimeti had had second thoughts, that maybe he was willing to listen. But a split second later and his father's voice rang out towards him.
The prince raised himself slightly, still crouching defensively as he turned his head. His eyes were not eyes that you would expect to see. They were not blazing with fire and fight like Kimeti's own. They were sad and full of compassion. It was clear that though Kidondo was clearly trying, this fight was proving hard.
He thought of everything he had said to the rebels, strengthened them with words of victory. There they were fighting their own battles and here he was not even attempting to land a blow. But he had no time to dwindle on his shame.
Kimeti was after him again.
He span as fast as his bulk would allow to evade the attack, but not fast enough. The claws grazed across his hip, faltering his otherwise fluid movement.
Then, he backed up intending on putting distance between him and his father.
No, he shouldn't be ashamed. He was returning a favour. Kimeti could have killed him all that time ago but he didn't. Kidondo had to give him the same mercy. If he didn't what sort of King would that make him? A tyrant no better than any other Firekin ruler. If he was to lead with a different approach to those before him he had to try, to try and get his father to see sense.
"You were always better at fighting than I was, father." He growled. A muscle in his hind leg twitched as a small trickle of blood slid over it. "But you misunderstand my evasion. You'd think me a coward for not striking back, but I merely wait for an opening." Was this true? If his father bore his throat at him, could he truly lunge at it?
He strengthened his stance, lowered his head to protect his own throat and started to circle, slowly, warily. He wanted to be ready for his father's next attack. He needed to buy time to find his father's weakness and manipulate it.
Fight smart, the words echoed in his mind. Fight smart.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:53 pm
With sand and dust scattered from the attack, Kimeti momentarily relished the sensation of his claws ripping at Kidondo's flesh, despite the fact it was a minor blow. None-the-less, it pleased the King, Enough that he paused long enough to hear his son's words. With a snort and laughter, Kimeti held his head high. "Do you believe those words, Kidondo? Because your eyes betray you. I can see the hesitation and the lack of desire to fight. I'll just make sure that once I am through with you that I'll take care of the black rat of a lioness you call your mate."
With that said, Kimeti launched himself at Kidondo again, this time aiming for the younger lion's head and throat. A good enough swipe would hopefully knock the youngster to the ground and make pinning and tearing his throat out all the more easier. After all, Kimeti needed to save some of his strength if he was to get rid of the damn lions that dare follow Kidondo, pride members or not. In the King's eyes, a traitor was a traitor and always shall be, and now he had learned his lesson when it came to giving mercy...don't.
With claws outstretched the King swiped at Kidondo's head, throwing his full weight into the attack so as to clearly knock the foolish lion down. Kimeti was dead determined to protect his pride and protect it he would, even if it meant fighting until his dieing breath.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:11 pm
Those words were followed by an attack so fast that Kidondo barely had time to register it. He could feel, more than see, his father's swipe aiming for his face, knew that any second now he'd feel that pain running through him.
And he did.
The strike and the powerful muscle behind it struck Kidondo square in the jaw. He reeled, felt his forepaws leaving the desert and the rest of his body following it, knew that if he didn't act fast his father would be upon him and it would all be over.
"I'll just make sure that once I am through with you that I'll take care of the black rat of a lioness you call your mate."
He clenched his bruised jaw and threw himself to the sand, using the force of his father's strike to send him rolling across the ground and out of Kimeti's reach. He found his legs again a split second later, snarling, aware that his gums were bleeding from Kimeti's strike. Bloodied saliva dribbled from his chin and flecked the air as he spoke.
"You know that I love you and you are using it against me." He snarled. "But in the end I have a choice to make. It's your life or the life of our pride members. One life against many. I'm sorry father...but..." And he leapt, hoping to take his father by surprise. "I must do this." His claws were extended, his body arched. His head was angled downwards, bloodied mouth gaping. It was possibly not the wisest of moves, but he knew he couldn't keep evading forever. Evading gave him time to think, gave him time to hesitate. If he threw himself into battle he had only think about attacking, not about the consequences of doing so.
Besides. The thought of his father's claws raging through No's beautiful pelt had that inner Firekin stirring inside of him.
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