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 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:31 am
 The large, black and purple lion stood with his paws firmly set, his claws digging into the earth as he flexed his paws in contemplation. Things were getting out of hand. Attacks. Disappearances. Trouble brewing everywhere, and no one with any answers. None that were of use to putting an end to things, anyway. The Veteran had a feeling things were going to get much worse before getting any better.
If getting better was even an option.
Grizzled, calloused now by his years of battling and subsequent service in peace, the lion was conflicted about these tales of fights and death. The fact that his home was under attack infuriated him, in a way that he had not felt within his blood for ages. This wasn't his grumpy, almost comical anger. This wasn't even the rage he felt when in the worst of moods, and having the worst of days. Nothing within his pride, his life, could possibly fill him with the fire he felt in his blood now, because, as bitter as he often was, he loved his pride and everything about his life.
For any of it, particularly now that he had found Kaihdin, to be threatened was unacceptable.
So he dedicated himself to prowling the borders now. He blamed himself for being slack, for missing things. It wasn't going to happen any more. He would protect everyone he could, with his life if need be, and kill those who threatened them. That was as simple as it needed to be.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:22 pm
 This was not Kahiga's day. The numbers of encounters between the Dhati and Mizimu were rising. The Dhati lions were being tested, some proving their worth and emerging victorious over the weak filth of the Mizimu. Others... He scowled. Useless! All word and a bloody pelt to show for it. That wasn't the tip of it. The Queen -- what had happened to her? Lions in the Dhati were restless, some claiming she vanished while others said she was dead.
Head low and slinking through the grass like a guilty cub, Kahiga just wanted to get away from it all. The useless chattering, worried voices of lions sitting around and talking when they should be resting -- it drove him to restlessness! He needed to get away, to go out and do something unlike those that wasted time like a herd of zebra at the watering hole, thinking that their numbers kept them safe from the crocodiles lurking just out of sight in the water. Fools!
Kahiga slowed his steps, lavender eyes narrowing. That splotch there -- black wasn't a color of the grass, was it? A smirk began to grow as excitement began to stir. A Mizimu! Did his wanderings take him this far? Of course it did!
Not one for tact, Kahiga lifted his head proudly and called out to Raruo, "Your fur is as revolting as a sickly wildebeest's!"
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:24 pm
Raruo heard the voice and perked his ears forward. He had to turn his head, the sound drifting to the side where his hearing, though he would never openly admit it, was weakening. He growled viciously at the sound, recognizing it as an enemy not because he had ever heard it before, not even because of what it had said, but because he could just feel the contempt and disrespect that the other creature must be harboring to dare such a comment.
He looked around with his sharp red eyes and spotted the proud looking outsider easily. He snorted at him indignantly, his chest rumbling with a deep growl as he stalked toward him. Two steps. He felt his fur bristling. Another two steps and his muscles were tightening, coiling. He held himself proudly, baring his teeth as he called back.
"And your scent betrays you for what you are: a filthy, worthless walking corpse."
He held his ground now, not straying far from his homelands. He was a big lion, and though his mane was graying he was still imposing in his posture and muscular build. If the outsider took one step closer Raruo would attack. It would tell him that this lion was one of those that threatened their home. Why else would he wander over, yelling insults, and looking so smug? One step was all it would take.
And Raruo didn't give him any warning about that. He was itching for a fight, to vent his frustration for not protecting this place as he knew he should have. And to show those idiot Dhati a thing or two, through a very clear message.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:14 pm
Kahiga was pleased at the reaction his words had brought. The Mizimu lion (for what other lion could it be, out here at the border?) came toward him, and even offered an insult of his own! How delightful! "Better to smell of death than to have tasted it. By the by, how has your hunting been? Plenty to scavenge I hope?"
He felt a flash of pride for the Dhati hunters. How fast, how quick they were! Skilled at chasing and bringing down the prey in such a fashion that left plenty for them, but so very little for the Mizimu. To him, it was a fitting justice. The Mizimu took what they wanted in terms of land... but how did it feel, getting the same bitter taste of defeat and anger at discovering the loss of what was to be shared?
But ah! Here... This opponent of his -- this was no rash, impudent wet-behind-the-ears cub. Kahiga studied Raruo, giving him a small nod as if he had met and passed his expectations. "Well then," he growled, taking a step and beginning to circle around Raruo. "What have we here? A lion here instead of a cub? Hmph! About time you Mizimu grew up and wisened up, rather than foolishly fling your foolish offspring to the hyenas."
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:32 pm
Raruo scoffed, shaking his meaty head.
"The spirits guide us to what we need. I suppose it's easy for someone like you to throw such demeaning words like 'scavenge' around. I mean, what else does a coward take pride in than fittingly cowardly acts? Oh yeah, I'm really impressed here."
There it was. That one step. The battle was decided now. But he played it calmly, even though his chest was on fire in anticipation.
He eyed the lion as he moved to circle him, not taking his own step to the side until Kahiga was nearly behind him, but not out of his sight range. He was languid about it, following the others movements without haste or even tension, though his muscles were deceptively coiled and ready under his fluid movements. It was almost painful, how bad his claws were aching to rip into this lions fur and flesh.
"Are you trying to be insulting?" he asked, canting his head to one side as he prowled in a slow circle, "or just ridiculous? I hope you're better with your claws then you are with your words. Though, if you have to resort to picking on cubs, since they're obviously more your match... I guess this is going to be fairly boring." He sighed.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:41 pm
It was his turn to scoff. Spirits? Things that only some lions could see or hear, that other lions were killed to appease. It was all one big joke to Kahiga, who couldn't fathom what they were or why the Mizimu stuck to them. In his opinion, they were all off their rockers.
But now? Kahiga swished his tail, one sharp movement from left to right as a farmer's scythe cuts through wheat. "At least the cubs of the Dhati were not spirited away," he retorted, "If this is the best guard the Mizimu could find, I wonder who else will suddenly disappear right out from under your noses...?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:51 pm
Raruo grinned. He wasn't amused. He wasn't happy. He was viciously angry, really really annoyed and completely put out. Which exhilarated him to no end. This was an opponent he could attack without restraint, without any nagging concern or guilt. He hated Kahiga without even knowing his name.
That was the best kind of enemy to have.
Spurned on by words that cut a bit deeper than he was willing to let show, Raruo charged forward, his hefty frame moving with a surprisingly fluidity as he turned his attack into a curl around the other lion, swinging his hefty paws, claws bared, for the other's flank. He was best with close combat, considering lions could do little else. But his preference was never letting them out of the range of his teeth, using his size to his advantage.
Of course, he was a Veteran and had no one set style. He could adapt to his opponent, and though he had been without a true battle for a while now he was not so out of practice as to let that skill escape him. There were reasons he had earned his rank.
And he was more than happy to show this coward them.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:24 pm
Kahiga tensed as the charge came, digging his paws into the dirt as the older lion charged -- did he miss? No! He turned and snarled as his oppnoent's claws dug into his fur, turning and moving out of his reach in order to rake his own claws across Raruo's fur.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:36 pm
The older lion was grinning, despite not getting his opponent as badly as he had wanted. So they could drag this out. Kahiga could move, but it seemed not quickly enough. Raruo would remember that.
He braced himself instead of moving to dodge. He could take the attack, he was certain, from the angle of his opponents claws and the speed of the swing. What was a fight if a little blood didn't get spilled on either side?
Besides, now he had an opening.
The older lion charged forward while the other was attacking and lowered his head, using his thick skull for something useful for a change. He slammed it into Kahiga's ribs as hard as he could. His fangs flashed as he followed through to fight him, though the brief moment of being dazed left the opportunity for the other to get away from the follow up attack.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:48 pm
It was clear to him from the start that this lion was no half-raised cub. This... This was a fighter, and he Kahiga was nothing but a three-legged meerkat in comparison. Even with his endurance, Kahiga knew that he would be lucky to limp back to the Dhati and report that experienced lions were on the borders.
He roared in surprise as he was headbutted, twisting and rolling onto his paws and scrambling to get up. He used the opportunity to swipe at the ground, trying to fling dirt into his opponent's eyes.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:05 pm
Raruo noted the way Kahiga tried to get away from him. Or rather, he noted the way he did it. Like he was just focusing on getting out of the way, rather than planning for a counter or anticipating the next attack. Not the mark of a season warrior, at least, but Raruo knew better than to doubt someone's skills just because he thought they were inexperienced.
Snarling, Raruo jerked his head back, literally bounding away from the dirt and charging right at him. The Veteran wasn't going to let this opponent get ahead by using, ignoring the pun, dirty tricks.
He lunged at him, both paws extended, claws ready, aiming to tackle Kahiga and tear the flesh from his shoulder and side. Raruo knew that if he got on top of him he could pin him under his weight and just tear him limb from limb.
Which was exactly what he wanted to do.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:45 pm
Distance. The more that was put in between himself and his opponent meant the further his opponent would have to reach. Kahiga knew he was slow, knew that he was inexperienced... The best he could hope for was to draw the fight out and tire Raruo.
The dirt missed, and this was bad. Really bad. He couldn't run, and if he ducked then his opponent would land and attack his back and pin him down... No, instead Kahiga roared and rose to the challenge quite literally, lunging forward to meet him mid-air and immediately swipe and bite upon contact. Sure, he could feel his opponents claws tracing new lines down his forelegs... but it was a small price to pay.
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Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:45 pm
Raruo was almost surprised when Kahiga turned on him, attacking directly instead of trying something cowardly. He wasn't, however, thrown off guard by the attack, letting the other lion come right at him. A head on fight, was it? That was just fine by Raruo. He was even kind of impressed by the other's roar, letting out one of his own in response.
Maybe it was just the thrill of the fight.
Raruo kept himself reared back, holding his weight on his back paws like he had always walked on two legs, using his muscular form to his advantage as he swung his heavy paws, claws fully extended, just raining blows and slices down on his opponent and hoping to, quite literally, beat him into submission. He didn't seem to mind taking wounds, his hardened body used to pain and his mind blocking out most of it. Blood was flying every where, staining the grass around them, mingling and coating their fur.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:17 pm
His ears flicked back as Raruo roared, twisting his face into a returning snarl as they danced like two graceful rhinoceri in a china shop. Kahiga grunted as the swipes fell upon his hide, doing his best to return blow for blow.
Or at least until Raruo landed a solid hit on the side of his face, toppling the lion off balance and into the dirt. He grunted, the breath knocked out of his body.
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