Badru was confused again. But that, after all, wasn't that rare of an occurence. The large, gruff lion watched the small beetle with inquisitive, dark eyes, eventually reaching out a paw to cautiously touch it's back. He was careful not to hurt the creature, though his mouth opened a little in surprise at the shininess of it's back. It was very shiny indeed. It was decided - he liked this beetle.

But where was Koth? The lion's large head turned left, then right, searching for his blue snake familiar. Where had that snake gone? Had someone stolen him? Or perhaps he'd just gotten lost. Badru's forehead creased into a frown as the lion lifted his hind, beginning to walk slowly in a direction he'd decided he liked approximately three seconds beforehand.

Stretching his muscles out, Vestip gave a yawn and forced himself to wake up. It wasn't that he didn't like waking up, it just always seemed to early for him. Huffing a little those different hued eyes opened and he whined like a cub would who'd been blinded by the sun. And that's just what happened. He was blinded by the sun. Shaking his fire red mane out, Vestip looked about, hoping for something to eat. That was, until he saw a blue something slithering his way. Snake was always good in the morning, an easy target for a starving lion, though not the best thing in the world to eat.

Shuffling towards the snake with grace and awareness, Vestip crouched and gave a low growl, watching the movements with a gleam in his eyes. Tail flicked a little as he got ready to pounce. "Here snakey, snakey," he murmured under his breath, inching towards it. Then, he struck, pouncing on the snake and stepping on it behind it's head with the pads of his paws. "Now.. should I eat you? Or play with you a bit?"

Koth most certainly hadn't expected such an abrupt end to his daily morning walks. Although could you really call it a walk when you had no legs? The snake gave a loud yelp, hissing furiously as he thrashed his body about, trying to sink his sharp, venomous fangs into the lion's paw. But alas, the lion was smart - he'd placed his paw in jsut the rigt spot, so that Koth couldn't turn around. Fuming, the snake loudly replied, "Let me go, despicable creature! Otherwise I'll call my Badru, and then you'll be sorry!"

With a snort, Vestip chuckled and then leaned in to give the snake's head a lick, getting a taste of it. He tasted good, especially since he hadn't eaten in a day or so. "Blah blah blah. I'm never sorry," he said, running one claw down the snake's back, plucking at the scales a bit. "Should I slice you open and eat your innards first?"

Koth continued writhing and hissing loudly, cursing Vestip over and over again. However, it was clear his threats weren't without good cause, when the large, lumbering sight of Badru came into view over the horizon, not looking best pleased. "Let go of Koth, you foul beast!" called the slightly out-of-touch lion, as he ran straight into Vestip, in an attempt to knock the lion off of Koth.

His head snapped up at that voice and he didn't have a chance to do anything before Badru barreled into him, knocking him down to the ground, and the air from his lungs. So he wheezed and coughed hard, feeling an ache in his lungs. So this other lion wanted a fight, did he? Growling as he got to his paws, Vestip steadied himself and lunged for the other, hoping to sink claws into his side, and teeth into his back. Nothing fatal, but praying it'd be enough to cause damage.

Badru hadn't being trying to start a fight - he was usually a peaceful lion, albeit a little strange. He'd only been trying to protect his beloved Koth, who'd been by his side ever since he was a wee cub. And through his protection he now seemed to have enraged this other, slightly younger male, who was clearly in better shape and more likely to win the fight. However, Badru wasn't going to give in, roaring loudly as he swung a large paw around to try and thwack the side of Vestip's head, as he felt teeth sink into his back. Koth, meanwhile, could only sit and watch in horror, petrified and unable to move.

Vestip felt something heavy and hard connect with his head, and he roared out as he fell to the ground, dizzy. The other was bigger, slightly older, and Vestip did not want to lose to an old man. Shaking his head repeatedly, he tried to get everything to stop spinning before crouching and circling. He didn't know of the ties with Koth and Badru, and at this point, he didn't feel like talking. His ears were ringing from that hit to his head. "Why attack me over a stupid snake? He's breakfast."

A stupid snake. badru roared back to silence the male, though didn't make a move to attack, instead just watching Vestip with skeptisism. "That stupid snake is my partner, fool! He's seen me through my life since I was nothing more than a mere cub! If it wasn't for that stupid snake I wouldn't be alive now! Are you telling me if you had a friend like that, you would still eat them for breakfast!?"

Vestip blinked at that and tilted his head, brows furrowing before he shrugged. "Well, how was I supposed to know he was your snake? GOD. Attacking me for that?" He snorted and sat on his haunches, looking to the blue snake with a look of dislike. "God.. explain before you attack someone!"

Koth equalled the look of dislike, snorting as he wriggled over to badru, curling around his paws fondly. Badru looked down to his familiar with a fond smile, before back up o vestip with a grumpier, less happy look. "If I'd have stopped to explain, you'd have eaten him! I was going to explain, except then you attacked me!"

"Cause you attacked me!" He roared, hmphing afterwards and then snorted. Was Vestip really going to eat the snake? Probably. He was that hungry. Not his fault the snake was there. "Well, if he's yours, keep him with you. Stupid snake'll get into worse trouble." Tail thumping on the ground, kicking up dust, Vestip licked his lips and then groaned. His head hurt now. "Some swing you got there... Ringin' in my ears.."

Badru snorted, not wanting to continue on this subject any further. Koth hissed lightly at Vestip, tail flickering from side to side. "I have a name, brute. It's Koth." Badru looked down to his companion, before up at Vestip again, rather reluctantly parting his name."Not my fault - I was just trying to protect him. I'm Badru, though."

Looking to the snake, Vestip snickered softly and then sighed, shaking his head. "Well, Koth.. Sorry," sarcasm dripped in his voice, but, this situation was winding down. Maybe a friend could still be made. "Vestip. I won't try to eat Koth again... Trust me. He'd be to stringy anyway," he said, trying to joke. His stomach rumbled loudly, signalling he really needed to start hunting soon.

Koth sneered back, detecting the sarcasm but choosing to take the fight no further. Badru nodded as a name was given, a low growl rumbling in his throat. The subject of Koth being eaten was to dropped, and this was clear from the rumbling growl. Vestip's loud stomach growl caught Badru's attention, though, the large lion sighing. "Would you like some help hunting?"

Vestip shook his head and sighed a bit. "Yes, but I need to start hunting on my own. Gotta get my strength somehow, right?" Though he wanted the help, pride kicked in and said no. "Well, Koth, Badru... Maybe I'll run into you again, and not try to maim someone, hm?"

Koth snorted, but Badru nodder - he understood. He watched Vestip closely as he stood, lifting his hind as a signal that he was leaving. "We would be grateful if you didn't attack us again, yes. Good luck on your hunt, Vestip."

Nodding, Vestip turned tail and padded off, looking about before darting into the dense trees and bushes. Maybe he'd catch a genet for all he cared. So he didn't make a friend, but he knew someone in these areas now. Though, he wouldn't want to start the day like this again.