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 Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:06 am
Jicho had heard tale of the mighty tribe of warriors that lived here. Yes! He had! But of course, in Jicho's experience EVERY pride liked to boast about their prowess at this, that, and the other, and sooner or later all of them either fell or swooned at his obnoxiously aquamarine feet.
Not bothering at all about secrecy, Jicho marched cheerfully towards the pride's rumored location. They were supposed to have guards about challenging people, weren't they? Well, it wouldn't be hard for anyone to notice Jicho. Sooner or later he would meet one of these lions, and then destroy him!
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Jicho bellowed happily.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:15 am
Taraxa loved it when his muscles burned with the ache of recent battle. He loved the way blood crusted on his bright mane, and the way that wounds itched as they healed. It all reminded him of what it was to be Stormborn, and he relished each ache, each twinge and each spasm his muscles felt as they healed.
He'd been walking to stretch his muscles; he wasn't as young as he used to be, Taraxa realized this, but to admit it out loud would be the end of him. That was not a Vikings death. It was not honorable to give up. Taraxa would die in battle, and only in battle.
Hearing a challenger, Taraxa peered towards the sound. A confused look came over his face as he glanced at the lion that had issued it, and Taraxa moved closer to the lion. "You come to challenge the Stormborn, lion?" Taraxa roared as he usually did. "Prove your worth!"
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:21 am
Wonderful! A lion come to challenge Jicho! The bright lion pranced happily towards the stranger, delighted at this turn of events. Surely once they had done fighting they would become the very best of friends. Jicho liked the strange male already. He had one of the most handsome manes Jicho had ever seen, which almost made up for the tragic dullness of his pelt.
Reaching the strange male, Jicho plopped down onto his backside and sat, beaming at him. "Fabulous! Since I am the challenger, I believe I shall go first, good sir!"
He cleared his throat as though preparing to let out a roar, and frowned, focusing his energies ...
"I can run but never walk, I have a mouth but never talk. I have a bed but do not sleep, I have a head but never weep. What am I?" Jicho asked brightly. "Answer or declare me the winner, knave!" He added.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:30 am
Taraxa had never been spoken to like this in his entire life. This was not what the older lion had been expecting, not at all. The bright, fancy lion horrified Taraxa, even more so when he first spoke.
"A riddle," Taraxa smirked, smacking his lips together. "You dishonor me, lion." The smirk swiftly morphed into a deadly expression, a frown creasing his brow. Claws instantly unsheathed as Taraxa bristled with a tangible rage. "You think to come here and challenge me with a riddle? I will kill you where you stand!"
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:40 am
Jicho was not alarmed at all by the other's apparent rage. No, not at all. Instead he beamed at the other lion, a dazzling smile. It was a shame that this brightly-maned fellow was just another lunkhead, but Jicho was used to dealing with unpleasant fellows.
Besides, there may just be hope for him yet! He did have that mane, after all, which surely hinted at a flamboyant streak in his otherwise dull personality.
"Surely as a great warrior you must know that fights are often won with the mind, rather than the claws!" Jicho winked conspiratorially at the brown lion. "Or are you admitting that you are stupid?" His tone was entirely innocent, not mocking at all.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:55 am
Taraxa wasn't sure whether to laugh or kill the other lion. It was a strange conflict of emotions that flitted through his brain. He imagined smashing the bright lion's skull into a satisfying gritty paste of bone and fur. He pictured squelching the life that the Gods had given to this creature. Taraxa pitied the utter hopelessness of the situation, for the lion before him must be a bit ... dim-witted.
"The only fights that matter are won with the claws," Taraxa said; he wouldn't kill someone who had the mental capacity of a cub. Instead, he would humor the poor thing; after all, Taraxa did have a bit of a soft spot for cubs.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:15 pm
The brightly colored lion could tell that his adversary was angry. The brown lion was obviously dangerous, but Jicho had trouble taking him seriously. He had trouble taking anyone seriously. So even though the stranger could probably squash Jicho like a bug, Jicho simply sat patiently.
The brown lion obviously wasn't going to answer his riddle! He wasn't even going to take a crack at it. Humph! Jicho loved riddles. They entertained his tricksy mind while irritating others.
Jicho raised a thick black eyebrow at his 'opponent'. "So what you're telling me is ... you concede?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:18 pm
Taraxa was a seasoned warrior; he didn't know what ailments affected dim-witted lions. What if he fell to the ground in conniptions if he didn't get his riddle answered? Taraxa didn't want to be responsible for killing a lion that had such a miniscule mental ability. It really wasn't honorable, and Taraxa considered himself a very, very honorable lion.
"A river," he answered, "You are a river. Now, do you know where you are? How are you feeling? When is the last time you ate?" Taraxa realized that taking care of cubs was not a warriors job, but he couldn't very well bring the stranger into the pridelands; after all, they hadn't fought a challenge.
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:12 am
Jicho wasn't usually caught off guard himself. He sat still, blinking at the stranger. He had answered the riddle, well enough, but what were all these nonsense questions about...? It sounded almost as though the brown lion were concerned about him.
In fact, they sounded like questions he'd ask someone who had seriously hurt themselves. Maybe bumped themselves on the head.
Realization dawned. The brown lion thought he was crazy! Out of his head!
Ha!
"Is that your riddle?" Jicho asked in a dazed voice, unfocusing his eyes to stare blankly through the stranger. "I ... uh ... oh. I don't feel so well..." He abruptly flopped forward onto his face at the brown lion's paws and lay there wheezing.
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:17 am
Taraxa frowned. Lifted a paw, nudged the wheezing lion. Frowned again. Grunted, sighed. What should he do now? The lion was clearly unwell, but then again, Taraxa was not some soft-hearted buffoon. Taraxa was a warrior. He was not a female.
But.. the brightly colored lion was obviously defenseless, Taraxa thought to himself. Defenseless and mentally challenged, so Taraxa was in a bit of a bind. Suddenly he grinned to himself and his eyebrows shot up.
He would put the poor creature out of its misery. It obviously had a terrible life, and Taraxa wouldn't have to sit here and watch him die.
"I will kill you. Do not be afraid. It will be an honorable death."
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:46 pm
Sheesh! Honestly. Was killing and honor and blah blah all this dullard could think of? Jicho rolled his eyes behind his fluttering lids.
Good grief. Jicho was tempted to carry the game further, but he was just a tiny bit worried that the arrogant brown lion would make good on his 'generous offer'. Instead the lime-green lion hopped up to his feet as though nothing had ever happened, beaming at the stranger.
"No thank you! In fact, I feel quite wonderful. What was that you were asking me earlier, about when I ate?" Teehee. "I'd rather take you up on that offer than the honorable death one, if it's all the same to you...?" Jicho leaned forward, peering curiously at the brown lion. He was ready to spring away and make a mad dash for his life if the situation required it, but if this oh-so-honorable fellow was offering up a free meal he wouldn't say no!
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Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:05 pm
Taraxa narrowed his eyes at the lion as if he suspected something was off about the entire situation. How did one go from feeling so ill and weak to feeling so composed and bright-eyed. Taraxa got the feeling that he was being played, and he didn't like it at all. He didn't like being made to feel as if he were a stupid fool. Taraxa was no fool.
Lips drew back and claws unsheathed, fangs bared at the stupid lion. "You take me for a fool, hmm? I will rid this earth of your useless soul!" If the lion didn't leave, he'd soon be but a scrap of hide on the dirt. Taraxa didn't have time for such idiotic games.
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:05 pm
Jicho did indeed think this brown lion a fool. A boring fool, moreover. Standing there gnashing his teeth and bellowing. Ugh. Jicho pitied this fellow's pride for having to deal with him. Droning on and on about honor and battle ... Jicho wanted to roll his eyes again but restrained himself.
"That won't be necessary, my friend," Jicho purred smoothly, winking at the brown lion. "I shall take my leave!" With that the bright lion turned and sauntered off ... although he remained quite alert to the brown lion behind him. If he heard the slightest sound of pursuit, he would break into an all out run.
Jicho might be disdainful of the boring warrior lion, but he wasn't stupid.
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