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 Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:17 am
He watched the orange juvenile. No...he wasn't watching. He was stalking, preparing his words, preparing his actions. Rowtag wasn't one for hasty actions unless the need came for it and he loved plotting and planning. This was his first proper plan and he wanted it all to go right. He'd decided, very wuickly, that something was not right with Rap's family. He had thought about fidning answers in a subtle way but time was running out. He had to know now.
He waited for the juvenile to turn his back and crawled forwards on his belly. The ebony claws unsheathed and ready to press the other youngster to the sand, hold him down until he had his answers.
Without warning, Rap turned and Rowtag - with a snarl rumbling free from his throat - leapt. There was a moment of snarling and growling, but after a tense moment, Rowtag gained the upper hand and he stood, leering over his prey, a dark expression in his little face.
"Listen to me, Orange." He snapped. There was a time for silence but that time was not now. If he didn't speak he wouldn't get his answers. Time to throw away that moody, mysterious persona he liked to wrap himself in. "Listen to me and you won't get hurt. Understand me?" When he got no response he continued. "I know there's something going on here that you're hiding from me. I've waited to find out what it is, but time is running out. Tell me now. What happened to your mother that day. Why was she out there with one of your brothers?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:21 am
Rap despised this male. Hated him more than words could ever describe. And as he lay there, pressed beneath him, unable to move, he knew that if he didn't respond there'd be claws and teeth tearing at him. They were cubs but they wouldn't be afraid to use their teeth and claws to get what they wanted. And it would hurt even if it didn't kill.
He growled menacingly and lifted his eyes, staring straight into Rowtag's blue orbs.
"First." He snapped. "Your name. Who are you, exactly? You know who I am and I'm not about to tell you anything until I know where I stand and why you want to know." He bristled, wondering if he'd get any answers.
He didn't hold much hope.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:26 am
"I am Rowtag." No messing around anymore. He dug his claws in a little deeper, feeling them push through fur and p***k flesh beneath. "Son of Queen Kenna, one of nine siblings. Royal line." He grinned spitefully, was that enough detail for the Orange? Did that make him feel like the lowly line that he was?
"And why I want to know? Because I have my suspicions about her death. About who did it. But in order to confirm it, I need you to confirm what happened to me. So tell me, Rap, how desperately do you want your revenge? Do you want to find out who murdered your poor mother? And if you do, do you want help in doing it? Because if this is planning out the way I believe it is, then I will help you."
He paused and drew in a deep breath. "So. Tell me what happened."
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:30 am
Rap was silent for a long time, his body tense, almost as if he were preparing to fight for his freedom. But he didn't. He stayed there, pinned to the ground, staring up at the red with anger in his eyes. How dare this Rowtag treat him like a slave! He was pure-blood, he was Firekin, too!
Rap knew, then, that he'd show this red-faced fool whow as true Firekin before this was done.
"I wasn't there when it happened. I was in the den. Asleep. The first I heard was when some adults came to my den and told my father." He breathed in deeply. "They said she got killed by rogues, that she had my brother with me. My brother, Fry, he was the runt of our litter. Never got a proper name. Maybe Mother was taking him away somewhere, to die, maybe. I don't know. He wasn't as strong as us, anyway, but he was still my brother. I don't think she would have killed him. Father didn't seem to think so. He said she had done what she did to protect everyone."
Rap shrugged. "That's all I know."
He paused and narrowed his eyes. "Now, let go of me."
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:34 am
For a moment it seemed Rowtag might refuse, but then, finally, he released Rap and stepped back, sitting down cautiously and growling all the while. His eyes were dark and angry, but he was clearly prepared to be ordered around to some degree to get what he wanted.
"Okay. Let me get this straight." He replied sharply. "Your mother took your brother out of the lands because he was weak. Because he was not as strong as a Firekin should be. Do you not think that she might have killed him, been consumed with guilt, and killed herself?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:39 am
"How dare you! How dare you talk about my family that way. My Mother would never have harmed her own child." How could he tell Rowtag that without letting on about his little brother's odd colouring? "He was different. Not acceptable. I don't know why she was out there with him. I don't. But they were killed by rogues. They were! I don't care if you believe me or not, but that's the truth."
He hissed and rounded on the red, seeming intent on clawing his wretched face out. "I'm warning you, Rowtag, don't you dare say anything more about my family."
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:44 am
This was getting him nowhere!
He sprang back onto all fours and matched Rap's angry look with one of his own. "Don't threaten me, Rap, not if you want my help. Don't worry, I believe you. No Firekin are weak enough to end their own lives. Were would the honour be in that? No, she died at the paws of rogues. That's what I'm counting on."
He paused, finally reaching his point. "Rap, did you parents ever tell you about the desert? How only Firekin can live here with ease. A proof of our strength and our ability to survive. Why, Rap, when this land is so hard and torturous for outsiders, would mere rogues be at the borders waiting to pounce on your mother?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:47 am
He clenched his jaw but didn't say a word, knowing the thread they balanced on was thin and one wrong move would have them toppling into furious battle. He was young, he didn't need this kind of anger and tension!
He forced himself to sit and turned his ears towards Rowtag, a sign he was willing to listen.
A look of confusion fell over his face, momentarily. "They told me a little of it." He replied. "Why would there be rogues at the borders? Well...really, there shouldn't have been, right? But Father said it was rogues, it had to be...unless."
He though to his meeting with Badieh. "You're talking about the Rebels, aren't you?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:51 am
"Ah, so you have heard of them." He drew in a deep breath. "Listen to me, Rap. It makes sense, doesn't it? The Rebels live close by, they are wary of us, hate us, would it not make more sense for them to be waiting to enact revenge upon your mother?"
He paused to let the information sink in.
"The evidence points towards them. They have the location and the motive. You know I speak sense, Rap, you know it. Listen to me. There are others, like me, like you, who have no love of the rebels. I plan to show them a thing or two. Not because they have forsaken the Goddess or any of those traditions. Those things mean nothing to me. I plan to get back at them for thinking they can walk all over us. Us! The true Firekin!" He spat.
"Listen. Listen, Rap. I will help you if you help me. I cannot do this alone. The only chance we'll have at getting to them is if we work together."
A pause. "Are you with me?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:55 am
Rap was silent and the cogs in his mind were turning. He didn't want to commit himself to working with the lion he hated. And yet, what choice did he have? As much as he hated admitting it, he couldn't do it alone, Rowtag was right. No, if he wanted to find vengeance he needed help and here Rowtag was, offering it.
He hesitated and took a few steps back, seeming unwilling.
"I won't say yes, straight away. I don't trust you. I don't like you. When you've got a better plan of achieving this, come and find me. From what I've heard, the Rebels have a far bigger number than us. What could we do to them that wouldn't mean our deaths?"
He shook his head. "You know where to find me." And as he turned and loped off, he knew already that he would agree. What other choice did he have? Besides, there was always a chance his brother was alive and that they had him somewhere...hidden away.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:57 am
Satisfied, Rowtag watched the orange lion go. Then, with a smirk and a nod he turned and loped off. He'd go update his sister about the situation and start plotting. Maybe his sister would even have a few ideas of her own. Well, two heads were better than one. And like he'd said, he couldn't do this alone, even if he wanted to.
He shook the dark mane from his eyes and moved back towards his den, thoughts dwelling on the future.
/fin.
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