|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:07 pm
He was a serious looking child. Always had been. Nothing had changed it and nothing ever would. Rowtag was his name, son of Kenna, son of a true Firekin.
Rowtag was one of these lions that was impossible to please. He rarely spoke, especially when irritated. Instead, he'd just fix you with an angry or disgusted glare until the other gave up and went away. Or, if you got him really angry, he'd just lash out suddenly, normally landing a blow across the unsuspecting victim's face. Or, maybe if you were one of those rare people he actually liked, you might get a few words out of him. But never more than that, and certainly never a laugh or smile - unless it be in mockery or amusement at someone's vain attempts to belittle him.
He wasn't a vain cat, nor particularly one with a very big ego. It was the mere fact that people tended to bore him and, if they didn't match his strict criteria, he often ended up getting angry.
Another fault. He was easy to anger, especially as a youth. He was a silent raging, inferno. You never knew when he was going to strike but you knew he would.
Oh, he would.
Today he lay perched on a slant of smooth rock, bathing in the fading sunlight that caught him in a fiery glow. One might have thought him a statue if it were not for the slow twitching - back and forth - of his tufted tail.
Rap was not one for keeping his emotions in check. He blurted his anger quite readily and happily, not really caring who got hurt in the crossfire. Such was the time when he'd ended up kicking a stone in frustration and sending it flying into Badieh, a young female he'd learned a little something from. Small but fiery. A little scary, too, he'd admit.
He was stalking along through the sand with his 'thinking face' on, clearly trying to decide on something rather important - until he spotted the other lion, of course. Once he'd set his eyes on the other juvenile, there was no freeing his mind of anything else.
He was becoming curious about his fellow pride-members and on the sort of information they could offer. So, without wasting much time, he moved swiftly towards the lion, circling around to stand in front of him. He took a moment to size him up, figuring that he was perhaps a little bigger than this red juvenile, and puffed out his chest.
"Yo, what're you doing just laying around like that?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:16 am
Rowtag lowered his eyes slowly, but only his eyes. He didn't lower his head, so instead seemed to peer down his rounded muzzle at him. For a moment it seemed that he might say something. He even opened his mouth as if contemplating words. Nothing nice, probably. No, it'd be more of a 'go away' or 'get lost'. Those were some of his favourite words and they would be suitable in this instance.
But his mouth closed again and his eyes, unwavering, bore into Rap's. The message in them was clear. Walk away before I tear your throat out.
Rap didn't like it.
He didn't like being ignored and he certainly didn't like the way this cub was looking at him. How dare he! He was the older one here. Shouldn't this red idiot be giving him some respect? He growled, opening his mouth to bear his little, sharp teeth. Then, he stepped forwards, shoving his face right up against Rowtag's.
"What's wrong, you deaf or something?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:37 pm
He snapped.
In a split second Rowtag had unleashed a paw and swept it through the air. His claws, though small, were sharp and ready as his strike hit home on the orange lion's face. Then, with a rumbling growl, he leapt and expertly pinned the other beneath him. His eyes narrowed dangerously and he leaned forwards, pressing his claws into fur and flesh.
He'd show this orange annoyance who was boss.
The strike took Rap completely by surprise. He felt the sting of claws on his cheek and immediately tried to escape. The attempt was in vain, however, because Rowtag was upon him, pushing him to his back, pressing his claws into his body. The juvenile roared in the way only a child could, and struggled to free himself.
"Get the hell offa me!" He shrieked, unleashing his own claws as he freed a forearm and aimed for Rowtag's neck. He seemed not to feel the other's claws biting into him. He was maddened.
Then, curling his lower half up he pushed his hind paws up against his attacker's underside, preparing to give a good hard shove.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:44 pm
He battled to stay above the orange, battled to keep himself where he had the advantage. But the other seemed to have the right idea and he felt himself tipping. He knew if he carried on the way he was he'd lose balance and the other would win the battle he had started. Rowtag wasn't going to have that.
So, he leapt away from the other, freeing himself and turning just in time to meet the head on collision.
The orange had barrelled into him, sending them both sprawling to the ground. With a fierce yowl, Rowtag gave into his anger and lashed out, desperate to gouge out eyes and claw sensitive nose.
Rap slammed into the other with surprising force, so much so that it took him a moment to catch his breath when he hit the ground. Sand clouded up, making him sneeze and from that cloud came black, hooked claws.
He tried to back away but without his footing it was impossible. So, with another growl he pushed himself hard against the other, ignoring the flash of claws cutting into him.
"I'll teach you to mess with me."
A yelp broke his words and he looked down to see blood bubbling up from a foreleg, the red one attached to him by the teeth. With a roar, he shook himself free and leapt backwards, spinning to face him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:38 am
Rowtag, breathing heavily, stepped away from his adversary, seeming not even to hear the others words. Being spouted at him. He knew he’d gotten to the orange, knew that this was his weakness. If he could control the flare of his own temper then he’d win this fight. It didn’t even occur to him that this should have been in play, that they shouldn’t be tearing into one another.
Then, finally, he seemed to snap out from his trance and his eyes fixed sharply on the other juvenile’s pelt. “You are Firekin?” He hissed, genuinely seeming to believe that this one was an intruder. Deep down he knew this boy was a Firekin otherwise he would not be so big and strong and he would not be able to move so easily on the sand. However, his pelt was not like his family’s pelt and his mother had told him that true Firekin bore the traditional red pelt passed down by the Goddess Finar-Si.
Rap started at the sound of the other’s voice, he hadn’t been expecting a reply and now it seemed after that brief scuffle that this one was ready to talk. Maybe he’d just proved himself worthy of such an audience? Pah, this had to be one of the little royals he’d been told about. He sure acted high and mighty! Well Rap wasn’t going to have any of that; he wouldn’t be looked down at because his line was not royal.
He bared a fang at the other male and matched his stance.
“Look, you – whoever you are – I don’t appreciate you using that tone with me, right? I’m Rap, true-blooded Firekin. My mother is…was, Ripuka.” That familiar pang at the realisation she was no longer returned, taking him by surprise. “You got that?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:39 am
He looked interested for a moment then. He’d not heard of Rap’s name but he’d certainly heard of Ripuka. His own mother had been close to her, despite the age difference. All he knew were a few facts, but she’d been highly thought of by Kenna and so he had thought well of her too. Yet he was also aware that this Ripuka had died out in rogue lands and he’d been wondering about her loyalty to traditions since then. No one else had mentioned anything, but he couldn’t help the suspicion from appearing.
“Ah, Ripuka. I’ve heard of her. So you get your pelt from her line.” He eyed Rap with a piercing gleam in his eyes.
“You speak highly of your mother.” He replied coldly. “Even though she’s a traitor.” Lets see what sort of reaction that brought.
“My parents might not have the red of your royal pelt, or their blood, but they’re proper Firekin.” The more orange line of the Firekin had always been deemed one of the lowest for the lack of richness in their red pelts.
At the next comment anger erupted in Rap’s face and he took a step towards the other, hackles bristling angrily. “How dare you! You better watch your damn mouth else I’ll slash it off. My mother weren’t no traitor. She loved us. She wouldn’t leave us without good reason! It was those rogues. Those rogues that got her! Someday I’m gonna kill them. I’ll get them for what they did to her.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:41 am
Rowtag was subtle in his mockery. He didn’t waste words by teasing or taunting. But the few words he did choose were often more hurtful then pitiful insults. He had a sharp tongue and this Rap was certainly realising just how sharp it was.
“Oh?” He blinked as if surprised. “And how are you going to find these supposed rogues? What was your mother doing out of pride lands anyway? What with rogues and the traitors stalking these lands, she must have known it was dangerous. No, unprotected land is not the place for an elderly lioness.”
“She was saving my brother!!” Anger ripped through Rap, burning anger that pounded through his veins. Too late he realised he probably shouldn’t have said anything about Runt, but it was too late now. He’d just have to cover it up. The best way he could think of for doing this was to throw himself back into a fight. So he did.
With a snarl, he leapt at Rowtag, hoping to catch him by surprise. His claws were ready to slice into flesh and his teeth were bared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:42 am
Young Rowtag tried to evade the sudden attack but couldn’t. Now he was the one pinned, pressed beneath the orange cub as it slathered down at him. He sifted back into his silent focus and lunged upwards with his jaws, attempting to clamp his teeth around the other’s throat. Someday Rap would have a mane to help protect his throat, but not today.
Not this day.
Rowtag squeezed and felt the thrum of life beneath Rap’s fur but the young male managed to pull himself free and now he was lashing out at Rowtag’s unprotected belly. The red yowled angrily and, using his back legs, kicked against Rap in an attempt to push himself back away from the attack.
It worked.
Rap felt the flare of victory beneath each sweep of his claws. They were too small yet to do much more than sting, but it gave him satisfaction anyway. Then, suddenly, he felt the press of Rowtag’s paws against him and tried to re-establish his position. But it was too late, Rowtag had slipped away from him and he looked up, preparing for a counter attack.
Instead, he saw the red standing, watching him. He felt as if the boy was trying to get into his thoughts. He didn’t like it.
“You’re asking for some serious trouble…” He growled threateningly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:43 am
He was still, his eyes set on Rap’s form. He had not thought to give his name and would not even if asked. His name was reserved only for those who deserved it. However, this encounter had given him something to think about. Perhaps there was more to this whole Ripuka situation than he’d first believed. But if so, what was it and why was Rap clearly hiding something? And he didn’t mean from him, but from the pride and from his mother, Kenna.
He cleared his throat.
“A brother, huh? I wonder which brother?” He smiled ever so slightly. “I guess I’ll have to find out.” And with that he turned on his heel and darted away, moving awkwardly from the claw scrapes on his underside.
Rap started after him, but gave up after a few strides, watching him dashing away. He knew he shouldn’t have let his anger get the better of him and cursed himself for it. But it was too late now. He just hoped that no one else would be so silly as to let on too much. He didn’t want to ruin his mother’s good name and if his brother was out there somewhere, he didn’t want to endanger him, either.
Being out and about, he had started to realise just why Runt wasn’t allowed to stay. Everyone here was red, black or white. Not a speck of gold anywhere.
With a growl, the orange juvenile turned back the way he had come, limping as he went.
/fin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
