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 Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:16 pm
The mortal realm.
Flexing her claws against the hard earth, a large goddess surveyed the area around her with a regal air. Faint boredom tainted her expression, however--Boudica's opinon of mortals in general was not anywhere near something that could be called high. They were weak, short lived, pathetic. And yet, the chaos they brought to their realm had entertainment value that was sorely lacking in the frozen, static realm of the gods. They might not be able to withstand her own might, but they could amuse her...provided, of course, that there were any around. Her black-tufted tail lashed behind her irritably at the continued lack. If they wanted to play coy, she'd just have to lure a few of them out.
Throwing her head back, she bellowed an ear-shattering roar.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:36 pm
 Don was once again in the back of the pack, preferring to allow others to lead him in their journey and not wanting to get in the way. The former rogue was quite at ease otherwise, having spent most of his time in the rogue lands and enjoying the openness of their surroundings. In the next couple of moments however, his actions were far from what they had previously been. A roar grew and lashed out against the quiet of the day, one that he had never heard before. There was something strange about it. Was it louder than normal? He wasn't sure, what he was sure about though was the sudden knee-jerk reaction he couldn't hold back: a roar of his own as he turned in the direction it had come from.
Was it a challenge? Was that really a question? No one roared like that unless it meant to proclaim superiority, and as a Stormborn (by blood or not) Don was hard pressed to let it go unanswered. It felt like his hair was standing on end, and his paws pulled him forward but the reaver planted himself in place, taking a long moment to stare in the direction the roar had come from. He had to remember he wasn't on his own any more, he had joined a pride and as much as he would have liked to deny it there was a hierarchy to deal with. His tail flicked impatiently behind him as he glanced back at the band, wondering who else might join him. ... Or if he'd be allowed to go at all.
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:23 am
 Don wasn't the only lion whose reaction to a challenging roar was an instinctive answer. Vol rarely fought challenges on the pride's borders, largely because he did not feel it would be a fair fight, him against any outlander. Just the same, hearing such a cry, obviously summoning anyone within listening distance to come and try their luck, Vol could not well stop himself from roaring back in answer.
Unlike Don, however, Vol did not take any further steps to pursue the challenger. They had challenged, someone had answered, and it seemed inevitable that there would be an encounter. It would be better to let the lone lion - if it was a lone lion - to come to them. That would allow the band some time to plan. Instead of moving to seek out the bold lion, Vol looked to their captain, curious to see what Ru would do now.
"Captain?"
 Ru's ears flattened momentarily upon hearing that roar. They flattened more permanently when more than one lion in his band responded with roars of their own. He glowered around at the lions who had replied. His instincts taught him not to draw unnecessary attention while in the rogue lands, even when he was surrounded by fierce lawyers.
"I don't think this is a fight we want to get into," he muttered.
Perhaps it was not the most fierce speech a Stormborn captain could have made, but he had heard in that roar something reminiscent of a winged lioness he had once met. The power behind it was much the same. That lioness had turned out to be a goddes, of what he never found out, but she had warned him that gods and mortals should not mingle and he had agreed with her.
"Well, now that they know we're here, we may as well meet them. And we had better hope to the gods that there are more of us than there are of them."
And then he began to organize the band for battle.
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:29 am
A small smirk twisted the goddess' muzzle at the swift response. All too easy, Boudica thought in smug satisfaction. At least two from the sound of it...well, at least two that were bold enough to meet her challenge with one of their own. A snort showed what she thought of how 'challenging' she thought that would be, and her walk as she strode in their direction was practically oozing casual confidence. She was a goddess, after all, and one of no weak domain, no weak bloodline--what had she to fear?
A few more steps brought the trio of males into view, and Boudica paused...to laugh. It was a strange laugh, however. There was mockery in it, yes, but it was also a wild, fey sound, and her eyes blazed in anticipation of the battle that was sure to come. "Three here, yet only two answer...surely there's not a coward among you?" She sounded almost as though she would be disappointed by this, and it wasn't far from the truth--that she expected males to turn coward when faced with a female that could possibly best them. Ruby eyes flicked over each lion in turn, as though that firey gaze could discern who had failed to respond by sight alone.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:16 am
Don gaze traveled from Vol to Ru, watching each of them for their responses. Vol's had been a roar as well, to which Don approved of, but his captain didn't seem thrilled with the prospect of a fight. That was, well, he didn't want to say disappointing, but there it was. And though Don would not move against orders, he found himself pondering his rogue days. There was no hierarchy to deal with for one, but a lone lion could not find or take as much glory as a pride. It was a difficult trade off, but a necessary one he supposed. So Don was content to wait, to be organized, and to prepare.
When the challenger did appear, he almost couldn't believe his eyes. Black like the night, larger than the biggest lion he had ever seen, and with an antomy he wasn't quite certain about. The word 'god or goddess' was not something he thought often, and so it did not immediately jump to mind. He heard her laughter, or wild, strange laughter, and his muzzle twisted into a snarling grin. This was a challenge.
"There are no cowards here", he replied in an eager growl. Sure, Ru hadn't exactly roared an answer, but from what he had seen of the captain he was no coward.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:46 am
Actually, Vol was a little disappointed by Ru's reaction to the challenge. It was a very...circumspect way to react. Not that circumspection was necessarily a bad thing, but it was not exactly a great precedent to set for a viking. It almost seemed to him like their captain was reluctant to fight, and that was not very much like the Ru he knew, and it definitely was nothing like a Stormborn.
"We have iron in our blood, and know no fear," Vol added, just in case the enormous lioness was too slow to figure out that the lack of cowards Don had declared meant that they also weren't afraid. Because Vol certainly wasn't.
So what if their opponent was larger and had wings? She was still just a female. And seemingly a bitchy one at that. She could definitely benefit from being taken down a few pegs, and Vol's claws itched to get started.
_____
"Goddess," Ru observed, mostly to himself. Wasn't that nice? No, not really, he thought.
It was nice to hear Don come to his defense. Unlike Vol, he didn't really know Ru, and so he didn't really have any proof that Ru was not, in fact, a coward. Of course there was the possibility that he didn't actually mean what he was saying and was merely putting a brave face on things, but Ru chose to ignore that possibility.
"Watch out for the wings," he advised. "They're weapons as much as her claws and teeth."
There was no way for him to predict what sort of goddess she might be, other than aggressive, and so he did not speculate as to her powers. He didn't know what sort of powers gods and goddesses were born with by default either, so that wasn't much help tactically speaking. Well, this would be a fun challenge.
"Underside," he finally commanded in a soft voice that he still expected she would have no difficult hearing. It was where they stood the best chance of striking a lion so much larger than they. "Or best option. No formation. Capture if possible." He didn't think it would be.
"Go."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:42 am
One brow lifted as the self-confident smirk widened, an expression that could say 'I don't believe you' no louder than if Boudica had shouted it to the world. No cowards? No fear? Not for long. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the three before settling on the scarred grey brute. They might defer to the black male, but the grey one's scars spoke of experience. He would be the one she would need to focus more of her attention on. So decided, she let out a guttural roar as she charged. Her wings lifted ever so slightly, aiding in her speed, until she was near enough to swing with outstretched claws.
By the time she was done, they would know fear.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:54 am
It was difficult, and probably unwise to tear his gaze away from the large black Goddess, so Don swiveled an ear in Ru's direction as he began explaining. Wings were weapons, underbelly best place for attack- that sounded reasonable. Of course, the pale lion didn't miss her widening smirk and he really, really wanted to rip it right off her. His claws unsheathed but it was her that seemed to be making the first move.
As she charged towards Vol, Don skirted around to attack her flank. He could have charged directly for a frontal assault, but Don tended to fight with his head more than he did pure aggression alone. He was a survivor as well as a fighter, after all. Rogueborn and on his own since youth, he had had to be; but, that didn't stop him from enjoying every second of it. Claws extended and teeth gnashing he was prepared for a real fight. No exceptions, and no holding back. She could take it.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:26 am
You talk too much, Ru, Vol thought as his claws slid in and out of their sheathes.
At last came the go order, and with it Vol surged forward to meet the goddess's charge. He really was not afraid of her, despite her size, wings, and whatever other nasty tricks she might have up her figurative sleeves. He continued not to be afraid after her strike broke his stride and sent him stumbling to one side.
Ru had said that this was a goddess, and to try to capture her. The idea of bringing a captive goddess back to the pride was definitely an appealing one. It had never been done, as far as Vol knew, and any lion who took part in doing so would go down in history. Unless he died in the attempt. But Vol had no intention of dying. Not today.
He rolled to his feet with a roar, adrenaline temporarily numbing him to the burning pain of his slashed shoulder. Then he leaped back into the action, aiming for the flank he'd inadvertently rolled toward with claws outstretched.
_____
Too much talking, Ru thought as he saw the goddess charge toward Vol. That was time that could've been used gathering momentum.
He moved quickly for a lion his size but he didn't have wings to add to his speed or aid his balance. Since Vol and Don seemed to be going for her flanks, that left him to attack to the fore. Good. That was where a captain belonged.
His green eyes darkened with anticipation of the violence to come, and he bared his teeth in something between a grin and a smile. In the moment before he leaped toward the goddess's head, he thought to himself that this was truly what he had been made to do.
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