He paused, staring down at the mouse that he had caught between his paws. It shrieked its dismay, fighting and flailing, but he did nothing to release it.
He had made sure to stay away from mother when his violent tendencies hit. She would be so dissapproving, though honestly, he wasnt sure he cared.
Mother was so busy with her litter, she had paid little attention to the freetime of the cubs she had birthed.
He smiled, looking at the mouse with a sick gleam in his eyes.
"Run, Run..As fast as you can."
He tormented, letting it think it was getting away, before stomping on its tail, watching it try to scurry away.
Moricorm rather enjoyed her forays into the rogue lands. She could cause trouble among the non-demons, find new demons to take home...Slaves too. Ah...she needed a new slave at some point. Ithil was useful...but she needed someone more suited to doing hard labor. She sighed. Ah...so much to do...
The sound of a young voice caught her attention, causing her to raise a brow. "Hmm?" Curious, she trotted towards it. And when she saw the cub...she chuckled and smiled. "Well...didn't your mother teach you to not play with your food?"
He had been so entangled in his fun, that he hadnt even realized that the female had wandered up on him. He blinked, but looked up slowly. He should know better.. He would have to start watching his back more..
"No, Momma doesnt know."
He said, narrowing his eyes as if wondering where she came from. Either that, or wondering whether or not he had the time to speak to the black female.
But, she hadn't scolded him for his actions, so he figured it was all okay for now.
"You came out of nowhere."
Moricorm chuckled, her bells jingling finally. "Ah...Your mother is an absent one, hm? Or neglectful?" Oooo...what a wonderful opportunity. "You could say that...A demon comes and goes as she pleases." She sat, not bothering with hunkering to his level...Ri was small enough after all, and she WAS a demon...a noble creature. "What do you plan on doing with that lesser creature, little one?"
He thought about what she said about his mother, and he gave his little cub growl that sounded more like an animal of prey as his voice hadnt reached the thundertone it would one day take.
"Momma is busy." He said, thinking about his six brothers and sisters. But the thought of doing what he pleased sounded downright...fun.
"I plan on making him suffer..." He said, eyes looking down at the forgotten mouse whose little chest was rising and falling in fear.
He raised his paw that was not holding it down, and drove a single claw into the creatures little leg, making it shriek in pain.
Ri's smile grew a little more feral at the shriek of pain. "Mmmm...a good answer. You're a good cub." He held that...spark in his eyes. That indication of a higher strength of spirit. "I sense you are not like other lions." Yes....this was the best part of her rank.
She laid down, so she could better talk to him. "Would you like to hear about a place where you might find...others like you?"
He perked an ear, looking at the mouse once more, taking his mouse in his maw and gulping it down in one gulp, chewing just enough to get it down.
He would have to practice on something else later.
"Yes..I would.." He replied, his voice soft as if he was not willing to trust her just yet. She was a stranger, and a darkhearted one like that..
But he felt sure that was a good thing. Maybe he was finding his destiny.
"Where is this..place?"
Good. She had his attention. "It's called the Aikanaro'hini. It is a place of demons...of those who are strong of mind and body, and have been blessed with another soul." She smiled. "It lies to the west, and..." She grinned. "We make our home near one of the great volcanoes, in which a hell-gate lies."
He flicked his tail, his mind completely engrossed in the story of the place. It sounded amazing, but he wasnt sure that he knew what a demon was. Momma had never shared that word with him, and now he was curious.
"Demon...?"
He thought about it, and thought of the volcanoes, and looked back up at her, waiting for her reply.
Oh....this was precious! A cub who'd never heard of demons! "A demon, young one, is a higher creature." She sat up once more, looking for all the world like a dark queen. "We are stronger than others, smarter than others...though what you do with it...we're a little divided on that. Some of us, like me, know we are destined to rule over the weaker species. Others think we are meant to....protect those weaker." Sparda's demons...ugh. But...the pride needed numbers.
"There is...another thing that sets us apart. That other soul. That voice within you that whispers...guides you...your demon soul."
He looked at his chest, as if trying to will himself to see his soul to see if this 'demon' was attached to it.
"How..How do you know if you have one?"
She made sense after all..If there was a special word for these types, then they had to be special!
"Who would..want to protect lessers.." He scoffed, sticking out his tongue, wishing the mouse was still there to torment.
Moricorm chuckled. "The followers of Sparda are an odd bunch. But...they have their uses." She shrugged. "I find them...troublesome outside of work. Far too noble." She wrinkled her nose, then settled down again. "It is the spark in your eyes that tell me. The spirit in your voice." She smiled, an almost motherly expression. "You might not hear your demon just yet...some do not hear the voice until it is nearly time for their Name Quest."
He thought deeply, his eyes looking back at the female, the gears in his head turning.
"I dont like noble things.. Theyre rather worthless.."
Antelope could be nobel, hell, some wild dogs could be nobel, but it wouldnt save them when the lions jaws met their throats.
"I have spark in my eyes?" He grinned, and chuckled a bit.
"I..I want a demon voice..How do I get one?"
"Nobility is rather useless. It tends to get one killed or mocked more often than not." She purred darkly. "You do have a spark. A dark one that would call to any others who held a spark of their own." Like her. Ri did not believe in coincidence.
"Hmmm....be patient. Reflect now and again, search inside yourself. Your demon may make himself known early...or late. But you will hear one eventually. And he shall make you stronger."
Oh Roth couldnt wait to grow into a strong male. One that towered over others, and used his sheer brutality against them.
Now more than ever, he wanted to be part of his darkness..
"I am strong. Im the strongest of my litter."
He growled, but it was a chilling michevious growl.
A dark grin on his features.
"I shall find that demon.. He will rise inside me, I just know it."
Moricorm smiled again...a dark, yet strangely maternal grin. "I have no doubt of that. You'll find him...and when you do, I can take you inside the pride." She was going to have fun with this...her first official 'catch' as a Nuemare. "Until then...I can teach you. Teach you how to fight, how to cause the most pain and keep the creature alive longer. I can teach you the rituals of the pride..." Mold him into the perfect demon, someone she could be proud to present to the Aran'shale, and see him win his entrance.
He perked a bit. He was no longer thinking of his family. He didnt care about them, not like he did the future of his own life. He didnt need family, not when had such destiny!
"You can? But why?"
He said, looking at her with curiousity as he raised an eyebrow.
"If you have a demon, what about me, interests your demon?"
He would be easily taught, but he wondered if maybe he should worry about alterior motives.
Of course, he was hoping it wasnt. This was rather promising.
"I can, because I'm a Nuemare. A Seeker. It is my job to find those demons who are not born inside the pride." She lay herself back down, to be on his level. "The spirits within us like ensuring our blood does not...twist back into itself. You see, despite our strength, keeping our bloodlines too close can...cause problems."
"My demon?" Her smile turned into a grin. "Ah...I have two. And both...find you rather interesting. One sees your strength, and wouldn't mind testing it once you're old enough. And the other...the other sees you as a new possibility. A new twist in the path to explore."
She was full of mysteries, and ones that he wanted to find out everything. She had two demons? Just recently he found out a lion could -carry- a demon, and now he was finding one could possibly have two?
"My name is Roth."
He said, bowing his head a bit, sending what little fluff on top of his head that he had bouncing.
"And Id be honored to be trained by you..."
Moricorm had him. "And I, young demon, am Moricorm." She would teach him...and then she would bring him home. Father would be quite pleased with her.
