|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 1:06 pm
Black wings cut through the azure sky, the flecks of red against the soft white of the clouds forming a stark contrast for anyone who happened to look up. The hawk arced through the air, the wind in his feathers and grace in his flight as he circled once, twice, before landing with a flurry of wings on the slender shoulder of a young lion. His grip was cautious, his talons grasping into the dark green and black stripy fur without digging into the skin beneath.
"No sign of her to the North or the West, in two days flight," Kydrimm reported, not fond of being the bearer of bad news. It was not because he feared his master's displeasure, indeed, the young lion had only ever saved his life. No, he hated to be the one to bring bad news because he was loathe to disappoint the lion. He bore no delusions of compassion, he merely aspired to be the schemer's favorite pawn. Bringing no good news only seemed to keep his desire just beyond the grasp of his dark talons.
It had not been so long since he'd left the pride on his quest, but it had begun to be too long for Anwar's comfort. Every day they spent out here was another day one of his brothers might have beaten him back. And he needed to be the first, he had to be. If he could return with the fallen star and be the first of his generation to return successfully...how could his father fail to notice him then?
His steps did not slow, though his ears swiveled at the faint sound of wingbeats drawing nearer. Kydrimm was returning. Perhaps he had news of the white lioness?
"I see," he muttered when the avian gave his report, his paws abruptly feeling heavy. Obadias was not far off from him, he'd left his brother dozing in the early morning light. His poor sibling had had a difficult night, restless with the dreams he called a curse, though Anwar could only envy him his visions. Where would she be then? In which direction must they head to find his Star all the more quickly? Perhaps he should return to his brother, see if the restless night had revealed anything more to his darker sibling. The needless wandering only served to make the injury that demon lioness had given to him ache, and he was certain it would begin to show in a limp again soon...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 1:59 pm
Ahhh, thank the Gods for being a Stormborn. Though he wasn't technically going viking, he was still far from his pride lands to see what he could see, take what he could take, and fight what he could fight. The deal was only sweetened by the presence of his good friend Gunnar. It wasn't their first outing together, and it assuredly wouldn't be their last, but this one brought with it a bit of purpose; trouble-making.
Taraxa had recently become a father, and so bad behaviors were not permitted around his children. He had taken to long excursions away from home so that he might put these urges to rest, and this was one such excursion. Perhaps he'd return home with more Stormborn children to proudly call his own. That was for the Gods to decide.
In the distance, high in the sky, Taraxa spotted a small speck of something dip low. A hawk? Returning to his bonded, perchance? As the duo drew closer, Taraxa could make out the solitary shape of a younger lion. A huge grin stole over the large lion's face as he nudged Gunnar and picked up the pace. A fight?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:13 pm
Although he loved his pride dearly, Gunnar also loved traveling in the wide open spaces. Going out trouble-making with his friend Taraxa wasn't as glorious as truly going a-viking, but it was still bound to be a good time. The pair of lions weren't exactly a show of overwhelming force, but they could handle themselves against just about anything save a full party of warriors.
At Taraxa's nudge, Gunnar squinted over where the other lion was looking. This was no party of warriors, that was for sure. Why, it was a younger lion. A male, looked like, judging from his patchy mane. Well, well. This was no lovely female for Taraxa (or for himself, he supposed), but it would still be entertaining.
Gunnar picked up the pace himself. "Hail, stranger!" He called as they neared the strange lion. He was grinning unpleasantly, his voice full of false good cheer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 3:35 pm
Hawk's had sharp eyes, and Kydrimm was no exception. Just because he was settled in the short sleek fur of the young lion's shoulder rather than airborn did not change the fact that he could see a hare from quite a distance. And a pair of lions were far easier to spot.
"Two coming," he warned in an undertone, his talons squeezing lightly into the young adolescent's skin. Trouble on the way? The rogue lands were hardly notoriously safe after all.
Anwar glanced up sharply at Kydrimm's squeeze, adjusting his stance from the prowling slink that often made him all but invisible when he wished to a bolder more upright posture that made him seem slightly less small. His ears were relaxed, his eyes holding their usual hooded and glazed look of almost boredom. Rare was the genuine emotion that touched his features, Anwar had been a born actor it seemed. Since his first interactions with his siblings, he'd realized that physical prowess would never be his strength, he had set himself to find a different sort of power. Something that he might use to set himself apart, nay, above his brothers and win his father's favor. And now he'd found it could be useful in other situations.
Convincing others so as to get his own way for instance. He'd played the eager innocent for Rhaen, and invoked Rana's pity for an injured youth mature beyond his years. Even Gintare, who seemed inclined to detest him purely because he was a male from his pride, had unwittingly given him precisely what he wanted. All it took was the right performance...
"Good morning," he called brightly, letting his voice drop into the lower tones that more imitated his ferocious father than the squeaking chirps of a cub. "I trust I am not trespassing?" Not likely, given that neither he nor Obadias had picked up any signs. As far as his brother went...if these two were trouble it was better for Obi that they not know of his existence. Anwar would not permit his seer to be harmed...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:26 pm
Taraxa's grin grew even larger when Gunnar greeted the youth, and impossibly wider at the younger lion's schooled tones. Dismissing the bird as a mere annoyance, Taraxa's golden gaze met the strangers crimson eyes with interest. He didn't like the perfectly measured, bright tone that the adolescent used in greeting them. Taraxa paced a deliberate circle around the younger lion, a cocky, self-assured grin plastered on his maw.
"Tresspassing? Such a word is not in my vocabulary, mutt!" Taraxa's voice was cheery enough, falsely so. He was feeling especially obnoxious today, it seemed. "I go where I wish," he continued brashly, purposefully kicking up dirt so that it drifted just so onto the darker pelt of the younger lion he was addressing.
"Don't we go where we want, Gunnar?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:21 pm
A noble duel or a glorious battle was one of a viking's greatest pastimes, but Gunnar was definitely not above a little bullying. He was in high spirits, fresh from the pride lands and ready to cause some havoc. Beating up this smarmy-looking little whelp would take the edge off his energy.
Gunnar grinned back at his friend, delighted by Taraxa's boasting.
"We do indeed, my friend!" He laughed. The blond lion looked the stranger up and down, assessing him. Small, smaller than the typical lion his age. Ha! He wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. Gunnar was surprised he wasn't cringing already. "What are you doing away from your mama, little fellow?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:19 am
Kydrimm shifted slightly, shuffling his wings as he made himself into an even smaller fluff of feathers on Anwar’s shoulder. A smaller target was not only harder to hit in theory, it was also less noticeable. And less noticeable when trouble seemed to have arrived could only be a good thing really. But just because he was trying to go small and inconspicuous did not mean for a second that his glimmering red eyes had left the pair, though watching both became difficult as one of them circled around… When Anwar didn’t move the hawk shifted to keep his eye on that one, warily watching his master’s back.
Uh oh indeed. Anwar’s expression never changed, mainly because his expression never represented his emotions and rarely represented his thoughts, but he was no fool. These two were trouble, and they were by far larger and stronger than he was. The former was obvious to anyone with eyes, and the latter was painfully clear to anyone who knew Anwar. That didn’t mean he didn’t stand a chance, though not much of one, it just meant…well, he probably didn’t stand much of a chance.
”Mind your step there,” Anwar cautioned helpfully as the first kicked dirt up all over his fur. Clearly he was dealing with an utterly uncouth pair of ruffians here. Joy. ”Oh, I suppose my reasons aren’t much different than yours for leaving your mothers’ sides,” he responded, his tone pleasant enough. He’d even nearly mastered that soft ring of sincerity, though that bit still fell a little flat sometimes. Getting there though, he was getting there. Now, all he had to do was pick out exactly what it was these two were looking for…beyond causing him more trouble than he really wanted just now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:36 am
Taraxa's eyes narrowed at the younger lion's words. He didn't like this pompous whelp with his perfect expression and perfect tone of voice. He was being far too polite for Taraxa's taste, and the large lion clearly wasn't getting the sort of reaction he was aiming for. It irritated Taraxa in irrational ways, set his blood to pulsing and made him feel even more obnoxious, even more intent on unsettling the little twit.
Deciding to change tactic, he lifted a large and seemingly careless paw and gestured towards the ball of feathers that huddled on the stranger's back. "You have some sort of infestation, mutt." He smacked his lips distastefully, leaning close to peer at the bird that tried to disappear into the lion's fur. It brought Taraxa uncomfortably close to both lion and avian, which was Taraxa's point entirely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:41 pm
Gunnar didn't much care for this young lion. No, he didn't care for him at all. Being a Stormborn, Gunnar wasn't generally in favor of foreigners at all, but this ... youngster ... irritated him even more than most of his kind. He had a smart, smarmy mouth and wasn't showing the proper fear and respect at all.
When Taraxa moved forward, obviously threatening the bird and the lion both, Gunnar began to circle around to the lion's other side to trap him. If the lion tried to run, Gunnar would be on him in a flash. He wouldn't attack yet though ... no, he would wait to see what Taraxa would do. Gunnar let out a low, nasty laugh, baring his teeth at the irritating adolescent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:09 am
If Kydrimm had been trying to be small and hard to see, he was really trying to be so now. Crimson eyes fixed on the lion who leaned in close, and he appeared to be attempting to flatten himself onto Anwar. This might have worked a bit better if he were not, at the same time, half-arching his wings to be ready for a quick take-off should things continue go downhill as quickly as they'd been going. First his report of unfortunately bad news and now this...all in all, it wasn't looking to be such a good day.
A lifetime of practice was all that kept the young lion from either bristling defensively or cringing into the dirt as the pair circled him. "A single bird is hardly an infestation," he protested, politely of course, and inched a small step back. Really, it was what anyone would probably do, there was such a thing as personal space and this stranger was apparently determined to encroach upon it. Strangers, rather, Anwar corrected himself. They were both getting rather too close to him for his comfort now, if he needed to run it would be difficult to escape both of them.
"Well...I suppose the two of you are busy creatures. Don't let me keep you from whatever it is you were doing any longer," Anwar said, his tone one of polite assurance. Really, it was a rather large world, they could easily be somewhere else. He'd rather they go somewhere else. He did not approve of the direction this encounter seemed to have been heading in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:56 am
Taraxa exhaled heavily, enjoying the way the bird's feathers were ruffled by his warm breath. He was quickly growing tired of this boring young lion and his equally boring pet. This encounter hadn't been as exciting as he'd hoped it'd be. Taraxa had been hoping for a fight, but the young lion was too smart to initiate a brawl no matter how Taraxa tried to get a rise out of him.
Taraxa followed the other lion, leaning forward just slightly. A quick open and close of his mouth, the precise snap of his teeth intended to be a bullying move in the direction of the bird. He got only air as intended, of course. Just another little move to make the duo a little more uncomfortable before he backed away and peered obnoxiously at the young lion. He wouldn't strike first; he rarely did, it wasn't the way he preferred to fight. If the lion didn't make a move at Taraxa's snapping jaws, Taraxa had no interest in the pompous little twit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:47 pm
Gunnar was swiftly growing bored of this pompous little lion. He had an attitude, and dearly needed to be cut down to size. Why hadn't he broken and run yet? Or at least tried to fight? It was just plain vexing, it was, to have the little twit stand there spouting nonsense as though they were all having a pleasant conversation.
Usually Gunnar waited for Taraxa to take the lead, but the older reaver hadn't lashed out yet. The little dummy seemed content to sit there and yap them both to death. Someone needed to take action. Still ... he would wait just a bit longer to see if Taraxa or the baby lion made a first move. Moving very close to the olive-colored lion, very close indeed, Gunnar let out a deep snarl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:37 pm
As the lion's hot breath washed over him, Kydrimm couldn't help but flinch slightly. He certainly hadn't meant to, and he assuredly was not proud of it, but he would not deny he had. Well, not to Anwar at least. The young lion likely felt it, the dig of his talons into skin rather than merely fur. A surge of irritation rose in him, and he ruffled his wings, stifling the glare he wanted to shoot at the rogue. That these two could be civilized enough to belong to a pride seemed utterly doubtful to him.
Anwar was in control of himself enough to not even twitch when his wings drew blood. He felt the sharp twinge of pain, and then the warm spread of crimson in his fur, though it was hardly anything at all. A few drops squeezed out, no concern for him really. Though the scent of blood was one he didn't wish for these two to catch. They were antagonistic enough without it after all.
His ears, however, did lean slightly back as he was snapped at and then snarled at. He did not fancy them being torn, he liked being able to hear as sharply as he did. But how he would walk away from this without a fight was a bit beyond him. Still, they hadn't done anything yet... they seemed like they were trying to frighten them. If he'd not spent his life ignoring trivial things like emotions, it probably would have already succeeded.
"Something caught in your throat? Or was that your stomach?" Anwar asked, still polite and sincere in tone. "I scented a herd of preybeasts not too far off, they're probably still about if you're looking for a quick bite." Maybe the idea of food might distract them? He certainly knew the difference between an empty stomach and a growl, but his persona had been playing dumb since he started speaking to them, it seemed adaquite to stay within the character.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:35 pm
"He bores me," Taraxa said plainly, looking at Gunnar out of the corner of his eyes. There would be two options -- start a fight, or walk away. While Taraxa really didn't consider himself a bully, he wanted nothing more than to strike out and slash his claws against the younger lion's face.
Granted, that would be uncalled for and would involve no honor. Beating a younger lion into a pulp just because you could wasn't something that you could brag about to your pride mates. Now, if the younger lion had lashed out, Taraxa would have ripped into him with glee. That hadn't happened, and Taraxa wouldn't strike first.
"I suppose we should leave him be. I'm sure his mommy is looking for him," Taraxa snorted, glaring at the younger lion with narrowed eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:59 pm
Gunnar was growing testy. Still this stupid lion hadn't done anything. Why, he probably wouldn't do anything even if Taraxa had snatched the bird from his shoulder and devoured it. He snorted, meeting Taraxa's eyes. "Yes," the blond lion grunted in agreement. The lion was indeed boring.
Gunnar could tell that Taraxa wanted to beat up this snotnosed little punk, but still the older reaver hadn't done anything. He laughed at Taraxa's taunt, amused. "We should give his mommy something to worry about," Gunnar said darkly.
The older reaver might not be a bully, but Gunnar had been known to do his share of bullying. Especially to smooth-talking little lions like this. The uppity little beast was so, so ... unmasculine! Just standing there running his mouth like a scared little female.
It made Gunnar uncomfortable.
The blond reaver was not the best at dealing with feelings of awkwardness. There was only one way he knew to solve his growing irritation: to attack. With a sudden snarl, the reaver leapt for the younger lion, slashing out quickly, hoping to slap some sense into the annoying creature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
