|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:37 am
 The sun bore down onto the back of the dull golden lion, his hide no more closer to the tan than it was true gold. He could feel the heat baking off him, and though at this time of day he would have loved to lounge underneathe the shade of a tree that wasn't exactly something he could just do right now. Oh no, not at all. He hadn't been in the rogue lands for more than a day and already he was biting off more trouble than he had orginally intended. The large lion stood with his head lower than his shoulder blades, teeth bared in a perpetual hissing growl as he faced off with his attackers. Two leopards circled in front of him, their eyes locked on his, a small clan of hyenas waited no more than 50 ft away, watching for any chance to seize an oppertunity of attack, and between the three groups? Several fresh antelope kills.
Oh Don had definately stepped into a hornet's nest on this one. Even before he had arrived the leopards and hyenas were going at it and testing each other with quick scuffles. Don had seen it as an oppertunity to take advantage of the situation, but now found himself smack dab in the middle of it. Nothing to do about it now except fight his way through this, which he thoroughly intended to do. The muscular lion tensed and prepared himself to charge the two leopards, claws unsheathing as he picked the better target- a male with a bite to one of his hind legs, likely from a scuffle with the hyenas.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:18 pm
Rujul was never one to run from a fight. She was built solidly, with good bone for her massive size, lean packed muscle rather than fat forming her athletic frame. And if she could help one of her own species, she would always be ready. She came up beside Don, baring her teeth and growling at his opponents, chasing down the other leopard before it could sink its teeth into Don's neck, digging in her claws like he was no more than an antelope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:51 pm
He wasn't one to expect help from others, so it had surprised him to hear the growl of the lioness beside him, though he didn't have the luxary of looking back at her. The large male had already started his charge forward, barreling toward the male leopard and almost laughing at it's surprised expression. Apparently Don wasn't the only one caught off guard by the lioness, but it had definately worked in his favor. Before the leopard could fully regain its composure Don lurched forward into a bear-hug tackle. The two tumbled once or twice, with Don gripping the leopard on his opposite side and around his chest, claws latched onto the other's flesh. The tawny lion easily outmatched his opponent in strength, and thus was able to take control of the grapple, but the leopard had the advantage of agility on his side and managed to rake Don on the side with a paniced kick of his hind legs.
It stung, but no more than he had expected it to. He couldn't look up just yet to see what was going on behind him, but he heard sounds of a scuffle. Honestly he kind of hoped this lioness was able to hold her own, he wasn't exactly big into saving 'damsel's in distress'. In fact he found it down right annoying when he had save someone from their own sh*t. Finally he managed to see his oppertunity as the leopard swung its head around to bite at his ankle, and though he could feel the pain Don instantly went in for the kill. The lion's massive jaws crashed down onto the leopard's throat, and a few moments later the fight had left the creature- it was dead or close to it.
With a final whuff of breath hissing past his teeth at the creature, Don turned his attention to the scene behind him, and was finally able to catch sight of the lioness. The first thing that struck him was her coat color, for he hadn't expected to see something so bright, but that quickly took a back seat as he saw her digging her claws into the other leopard. In all honesty, it looked as if she could hold her own, and though he knew he should probably be taking care of the hyenas right about now, his sight lingered on her longer than it should have. He was curious of course, but it wasn't long until he noticed the hyena clan had managed to sneak up close to one of the kills. Annoyance muffled his features as he had to turn his attention to them and the tawny lion stalked forward- a roar rumbling deep in his throat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:47 am
As Don pummeled the leopard, Rujul dealt with hers, swinging a massive, heavy paw to bring him thudding to the ground, laying her greater weight on the slightly stockier feline, her ears laid back, fangs exposed. The purple lioness used her weight expertly to throw the leopard to the side when he rose again, latching onto his throat, using her mouth for the purpose it was meant for-- killing. Normally she would sit and hold her prey down while it bled out, but this was scum, a leopard, and she let him go as soon as she knew she'd made a fatal wound.
She lifted her head, glancing at Don and then out at the hyenas, her hackles ruffling again, pinning her ears back to her skull, her purple furred jaws matted with the leopard's blood. She looked terrifying, standing over the doomed predator, growling in harmony with Don. Still, she kept her distance from the tawny lion as well. One could never be too trusty. And that's definitely something Rujul was not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:56 pm
Don had dealt with groups of hyenas before, and had already taken into account that they were more cautious than the leopards had been. This group in particular seemed more wary now that they had seen the killings, and really it wouldn't take much for the adult male to scare them off for good. All together there were about five individuals clumped closely together, some inching toward the carcass while others gnashed their teeth at him before jumping back and prancing around to the other side of the group. Now Don wasn't certain if it was the hyenas or the leopards that had initially brought down the antelopes, but he didn't care. They were about to be his- or theirs pretty soon, all things depending.
The gutteral rumblings from his throat errupted into a terrible roar as he lunged forward towards the group of hyenas, battering the one's that got in his way and taking only minor injuries in return. The scuffle didn't last long, for Don proved to be stronger and more willing to go in for the kill, having grabbed one of their members and locked his jaws around its back. He would have crushed it if he didn't have to turn around immediately and swat at a fellow who had chomped down onto his mane, attempting to grab a hold of his throat. It didn't take much more persuassion than that to chase the vermin off and scatter their ranks, tasting any flesh that managed not to be fast enough in it's get-away.
When he saw that the hyenas were no more of a threat- currently at least, he couldn't garruntee they wouldn't be back with more in their numbers- the large lion circled back to the kill sight. He hadn't gone far, able to keep it within his sights as he did the chasing, but the male was still inclined to return at a heavy lope. As he got closer his eyes traveled not to the kills he had been fighting to win, but the indigo lioness who had shown up so unexpectedly. Don slowed to a lazy jog the rest of the way there, ears perked but otherwise nothing of the threatening nature about him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:06 am
Rujul kept an eye out as Don chased off the hyenas, finding him eminently competent. More so than that damnable black lion that she had stumbled across. His cubs had been worse than useless, she had not managed to coax a single daughter to remain with her. But this male was very strong and level-headed. She liked him.
Besides which, she had been alone for a very long time, though she remained sleek, she was a little on the thin side, and she laid her ears back as Don returned towards her, her golden eyes focusing on him, and she arched her neck slightly, looking away from the kills, which she had not touched. She knew that he was not threatening, but for now she chose the submissive route, though she had held her own during the battle, and helped him fight off their foes.
"Hey there," she smirked at him, quirking her near eyebrow at him, tossing her forelock back a little, flicking her tail. "Doesn't seem like you needed my help at all."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:54 pm
Don finished his approach by allowing his gait to die down into a slow walk forward, reconising the subtle submissive display and returning it with a sign of non-hostility. He studyed the lioness briefly, wondering just what sort of capabilitis she might possess. He realized she was much more muscular than he had intcipated, but despite that he got the feeling she probably wasn't as filled out as she should be. Leave it to Don to study one's physical condition before even considering the question of beauty. The tawny male stopped in his approach not too far away, but enough so he wasn't crowding her by any means.
"Possibily," he replied, keeping his tone level, "But I'm not complaining." He didn't doubt he wouldn't have found a way to beat both leopards, but the job was made infiniatly easier with her help. "I imagine they were as surprised to see you appearing so suddenly as I was, which admitedly, worked in my favor", Don reasoned, a bit of a smile tugging at the corners of his maw.
He swung his large head around to look back at the kills, two seperate antelope carcasses with a several feet between them. Normally he didn't care to share his meals, even with the friendly 'hey I just want a bite' sort of lions. It just wasn't in him to give hand-outs, especially if they weren't willing to make the effort and kill something of their own. "I can't eat both of them, your welcome to one if it suits you", he commented with a flick of his tail, showing that it wouldn't bother him. Although the male was a bit rough around the edges, especially how he treated most everyone, he couldn't help but feel more inclined to be pleasant- civil, to this lioness. She had held her own in battle, and that was worth more than anything to the Ludo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:00 am
The lioness's ears flicked up slightly as he showed he meant her no harm. It was a good thing, because she didn't want to have to tear him apart. She lifted her head and regarded him right back, studying his own physical condition, though he had proven much by his skill in battle. Rujul was a mechanical, mathematical lioness, who believed much more in the ends justifying the means than in love or attachment, though there was certainly a tender part of her heart that could be swayed. Though she kept herself closely guarded, the large female was more Amazon than modern swinger, choosing her company by their ability to be useful to her than by how fetchingly they had shaped their mane.
As he teased her, she grinned. He was being gentle with her. But forward. Her golden eyes turned towards the kills as well, though she glanced at Don again, amused by the lion. Her time in the Kunanda'Nakhun had shown her how fully capable of obedience males could be, but she always preferred a bit of attitude in her lions. The ones in the female-dominant pride were like put-out sparks, floating aimlessly in the lands they were delegated to like cattle, allowed to live in gorgeous paradise and do pretty much whatever they wished, so long as they did not deny too many of the lioness's requests, and none of the requests that were legitimate within the law of the pride.
However, Rujul had not liked the idea of staking her entire reputation on toh, though she thought she could easily best some of those warriors in battle, there were some among them that she feared, particularly the Adhi-raj, both of whom could likely destroy her with ease. The lionesses of the Kunanda'Nakhun were beautiful and strong, but ruthless and strict, and Rujul had lived so long on her own that living her life according to rules did not appeal to her.
By the standards of that land, this male would be ugly, made up of pale and natural coloration. But he lived out here in the grasslands, and his coloring was an advantage. He was larger, stronger, and more beautiful than the tamed Parastar of that pride.
She raised one eyebrow at him as he offered her one of the carcasses, getting up and stretching, regarding him curiously.
"It suits me," she informed him, her voice velvety, and she smirked at him as she headed towards the nearer antelope, leaving the other to him.
"It's very kind of you," Rujul continued, looking over her shoulder at him, swishing her tail. "Are these your lands?" she asked, glancing out over the savannah and scrubland for a moment, before turning to the kill she had chosen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:18 pm
As she grinned he snorted back a chuckle, opting to swallow what amusement came to him. It wasn't often that he responded in quite an outgoing manner, and he was finding it difficult to hold back on it. He could see her studying him through the corner of his eye, but Don was neither threatened nor bothered by the fact, especially since he had done the same to her. Still, he made no show of it, not even bothering to flex a tiny muscle for her pleasure. It was her business if she wanted a closer look, but he wasn't about to 'strut his stuff' or whatever ridiculous thing his father had called it. For a large and muscular built male, Don didn't care for much, and often times made no show of interest or curiousity in his outward appearance or demeanor. It was just the male's way to live as he saw fit and do as he pleased, damn everyone else and what they might think or want of him.
Back to the lioness at paw though. He rarely came upon anyone willing to do their own work, and handle themselves so efficently in battle. It was a treat to be sure, and Don was by no means opposed to her company. "Kindness has nothing do with it", he replied easily, glancing at her as he made his way over to the other antelope kill, "You earned it." And that was the only difference that ever mattered to the large male. Though he had to admit, maybe he was a bit soft because of it, but he'd never admit that openly, or even to himself.
With a dull thud Don flopped over onto his side, one massive paw extending over the side of his antelope. "Mine? Naw, I'm just passing through. And even then I've never liked claiming a single stretch of land. It's too restricting," he answered, licking at the blood on his maw and eyeing the meal before him. "Are you from around here?" he decided to return the question, starting his meal as he listened for an answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:47 pm
Rujul liked that about this male. Pride. Dignity. She ate her kill in peace, glancing over at him and nodding gravely when he corrected her to say she had earned her meal. Indeed she had. She was glad that he knew that. There were certain laws of survival which beings must operate under. She operated by these when they convenienced her but she did not mind doing it when it was the right thing. This was clearly one of those times. So he was treating her as she would treat him. It was well and it pleased her.
With a fuller belly, she lifted her head and licked her chops, cleaning her paws fastidiously, amusing for the large lioness. She was still feminine and more delicate of build than Don. Rujul was curious to learn that he was a rogue.
"No, I am from further south," she shook her head. "I bore cubs after I left the swamps, raised them for a year and saw them scatter to the winds. Just as well," she sighed. "Their sire had a regrettable personality flaw that many of his get inherited."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
