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Hopefolly rolled 5 4-sided dice:
1, 3, 2, 1, 3
Total: 10 (5-20)
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 Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:46 pm
Gunnar had barked an order at her: "Don't come back until you're healed. You should be in top condition to challenge one of our reavers."
She'd agreed to that.
However, Zilly was a woman, and what were women if not fickle? She was not comprised of sugar, spice and everything nice. Her ingredients were different: venom, pretentiousness, tenacity and a flavor of crazed obsession. That final spice had her rattled to the core. Not since the night before she'd left home had she ever felt her mind so chaotic. Losing... She could take losing. It wasn't the defeats that had her in an uproar.
It was the one responsible for them.
She couldn't get him out of her head. The movement, the voice, the name - what kind of name was 'Gunnar', anyway? All of it haunted her, left her so restless the notion of sleep was but a dream itself. She couldn't bring herself to eat either, even after she'd hunted down a meerkat. That was a startling and troubling revelation because Zilly loved meerkats.
And she 'loved' Gunnar.
A lot.
Late into the night and late into the morning, she paced. Back and forth. Back and forth. She went in a straight line. She went in a circle. She walked around and around and around a tree until finally she could take it no more and slammed her forehead into the trunk.
"Why is he so stupid?!" she screeched at the timber. "What do I do?!"
The tree executed a very painful response, letting loose one of its elderly branches to crash down on her head.
Zilly saw black at first, and then a lion. This vision hadn't been like the last; this time, she couldn't see herself as a character in life's little play. Rather, she saw through her own eyes as she usually would. She saw him, but she didn't know who he was.
Hours afterward, when she awoke from her stupor - with by some miracle no permanent brain damage - Zilly could still picture the same face with vivid detail. What she couldn't do was bring herself to care when she already had something to devote her intense emotions to. She knew they would lead her back too soon, but negligently gathered her kill and started her weary gait in the other direction.
She was a mess. She knew she was a mess. That didn't stop her from dropping the dead meerkat and roaring so as to garner any and all attention of those nearby. If she managed that, she'd surely attract him here again.
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bipolar bee rolled 5 4-sided dice:
2, 3, 3, 3, 2
Total: 13 (5-20)
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:48 pm
Taraxa had been spending more time than usual with Gunnar these past few days. The younger lion had been feeling a bit more shaken after repeat challenges with, in Gunnar's words, "a big black stupid lioness" - it was strange for Gunnar to be so obviously derisive about those that came to challenge the Stormborn for a place in the pride. Taraxa had assured Gunnar that he would take the next challenge if the lioness came back again. He wanted to see with his own two eyes if the lioness was really as odd and strange as Gunnar had made her out to be.
He was pleased that he didn't have to wait for long.
At the roar, Taraxa peered at the lioness and rose from his position. From this distance, she didn't appear to be odd. Well, aside from the meerkat that rested lifelessly at her feet. Taraxa's eyes lingered on the dead creature before returning his eyes to hers. He half expected her to run at him with crazed eyes and a banshee's shriek. She was a rather large female, larger than Nymph. Narrowing his eyes, he stepped forward a few cocky steps, the expression on his face brashly self-confident.
"I hope you're not here for Gunnar," he drawled, golden eyes wary but warm. Taraxa loved females, especially females full of fire. Gunnar liked a specific kind of woman - the complete opposite of Taraxa's somewhat stranger tastes. "I am here in his stead." That was said with the bold self-indulgence that only lions with Taraxa's bawdy nature had.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:08 pm
Zilly's temper was sudden and fleeting, but oh-so-predictable by anyone with an eye for detail and a day or two to spare in her company. (And, of course, there was the issue of patience.) Her method of obsession had many follies, but it could be manipulated as means of convienence, too. As long as she had that one thing, little else had chance of angering her. Annoying? Possible. Frustrating? Again, possible. But not blind rage.
In the past, all it would have taken to quell any little temper tantrums would be some attention from her unsuitable parental figure. That had changed to where Gunnar played the role of doppleganger.
Zilly was not happy to hear he wouldn't be there to fulfill that tiresome (and unwanted) job.
"I hope you're not serious!" she wailed, smacking the meerkat with far more force than would have been required to move it. "Why else would I be here?! I'm only in love with him! Where is he?!"
The corpse hit a tree near by and fell to the ground with all kinds of disgusting sound effects and visuals. She'd struck it too hard.
Not a second after her hissy fit, Zilly took the time to actually look at the lion. "You're from my dreams," she gawked. "My vision..."
Her visions were real. They were true!
The lioness squealed in utter delight and declared, "Okay, you can fight me!" Then, strangely, she goaded, "Aim for my head! I don't want this to be a waste."
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:41 pm
Taraxa frowned, watching the meerkat hit the tree with a wet crunch. Maybe Gunnar was right. Maybe this lioness was a bit off her rocker. Then again, she had seen him in her dreams. Was she flattering him? It wouldn't be the first time that a lioness had called him dreamy. He did have a way with the ladies, after all.
And he did so enjoy her gawking.
He was jerked out of his reverie by her squeal of delight which was swiftly followed by an acceptance of his -- wait, her -- wait a second. She was agreeing to fight him when she was the one who had issued the challenge? How did that even work? Taraxa didn't want to think too hard about it. He was beginning to suspect that Gunnar had been right, that the lioness was a bit dim.
He hated beating up weak-minded lions. A vivid picture was brought to mind of the bright lion who thought that a challenge could be fought by mere riddles. A dark scowl creased his features as he tried to work through her words. Aim for her head? A waste?
What in bloody thunder was she talking about?
Was she... coming on to him? It was very likely. After all, he was a rather brawny lion, large even in his older age. He might not have the muted colors of his good friend, Gunnar, but Taraxa didn't let his flamboyant mane get in the way of laying down some pain.
"Your vision, hmm? So Gunnar spoke of me, did he? I prefer the term 'handsome warrior' but if you like you can call me Your Vision," he beamed at her, thoroughly convinced that she was quite taken with his manly, impressive physique.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:57 pm
Zilly stared.
And stared.
And, just when he would have thought it was not possible for her to go without blinking any longer, in a shocking twist Zilly stared even more.
"No," she said at last, "he never mentioned you. Unless you're his brother." From there, she verbally recalled their last conversation. A few things were left out, a few words were changed, but mostly the lioness recited all that had been said word-from-word. "Then, he went, 'One of my brothers would surely be happy to fall in love with you, lioness.'"
Zilly was not stupid. Everyone else was just clueless. They didn't realize her mind was not always like her temper, not always predictable, and her form of genius was one not readily apparent. Her memory was eerie, really, though bound to suffer negative side-effects if she kept allowing herself to be hit in the head.
"I don't really care about all that." Which plainly translated to: I don't really care about you. "I just need another vision so I can figure out what to do about him next, so stop being weird and let's go."
Yes, he was weird.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:08 pm
Taraxa scowled. He scowled so hard that his face muscles twitched with the effort it took to keep his features contorted into that terrible, awful frown. Had he just been shot down? His ego felt a sharp twinge, and Taraxa wasn't comfortable with the feeling. He'd never been turned down like that before. Utterly and completely denied.
And to top it all off, she was calling him weird? That was laughable.
Unless...
Of course. He was such a fool. The lioness was obviously playing hard to get; she wanted to let Gunnar down gently if the younger lion happened to be eavesdropping. He gave her a little nod of understanding, a smug look blossoming over his features.
"I'll play along," he whispered, speaking loudly after finishing the sentence. If Gunnar was listening, Taraxa wanted him to hear that the lioness was now professing her love to him, Taraxa. This must be what she meant by 'figuring out what to do about him next' -- she was so eloquent and thoughtful at the same time, so determined to let Gunnar down gently, willing to take a thrashing in order to do so.
"Yes, lets go," he nearly shouted, looking at her in camaraderie. He winked at her just to assure her everything would work out in their favor. Gunnar would be let down without suffering a broken heart, and Taraxa would be able to take this bold lioness into his den and... well. The look on his face said all she needed to know about his intentions after their little play-acting was done.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:29 pm
Actually, it didn't say all she needed to know. All Zilly needed to know was what her next vision would be. She couldn't very well say his face was of no use in that matter, because it had been his face she'd seen last time. The expression he had, on the other hand, was a case of TMI.
Too Many Implications.
Her own face literally hurt it was so tightly knit in disgust. One or two things would have gone by unnoticed or discarded as useless, not important enough to dwell on or concern herself over. Between the voice, the suggestive words, the wink... Ugh, that look. She needed the vision, so there wasn't an option.
Zilly reared back then soared forward, trying to tackle him.
Normally this wouldn't have been a bad beginning, but...
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:53 pm
Ouch.
She was heavy.
Taraxa hadn't been expecting that sudden flying leap she'd taken. He staggered under her weight - she certainly didn't look that heavy. The air was knocked out of his lungs, and he took a moment to recompose himself. They were play-fighting, right?
Right?
Suddenly Taraxa wasn't so sure. That look she'd given him just before attacking him hadn't been that of a female that was willingly returning his feelings. In fact, it'd been the look of a female that found him utterly repulsive. Taraxa wasn't used to such looks. He wasn't used to being turned down, and though he was a Stormborn, Taraxa had never found the need to take a female by force even though the opportunity had presented itself many times. He was no fresh newborn cub. Taraxa was a well-seasoned male who'd been through many battles, many vikings. He'd seen bloodshed, caused bloodshed, and had even killed those that fought back.
Maybe the lioness really did want him to thump her upside the head. Maybe she did really love Gunnar. Taraxa scowled. There was only one way to tell.
He heaved back and sent a heavy paw upside her skull.
He hoped it hurt.
Stupid lioness. What a tease.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:07 pm
The whack to the head left her dizzy and delusion and a lot of other bad words that started with 'D' - dazed, dumbstruck and so many others. None more so than dissatisfied.
The aching pain was all for nothing. No vision. Not even a glimpse of anything but what was in front of her. Nothing.
That is until she dared to look up at him, and she saw... Just him, but a very familiar him. That exact expression, the exact backdrop and everything else lined up perfectly with how she had predicted. Zilly broke out into a board grin that was mistakenly suggestive in ways she didn't intend it to be.
Her next attack was strange, but violent. With more force than she had ever put behind anything, she shot up and smashed their foreheads together.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:19 pm
Right when Taraxa was about to really show this lioness how a true warrior fought, right when he was about to take her down a few notches, RIGHT when he was ready to make her regret even coming here...
...he caught that broad grin. Suggestive? Encouraging? Taraxa had been right all along! She did want him, and she was trying to put on a show for Gunnar. It was all making so much sense to him now, it was all so --
Black. Pitch black. Mind numbing pain. He tasted blood, likely from his teeth chomping down on his own tongue. Through his own tongue. Had he bitten off a chunk of his own tongue? That was the last coherent thought that wafted on his brainwaves. The black morphed into something hot and burning.
Taraxa saw red.
The b***h! He was dazed, stunned, barely able to keep upright. He hadn't been expecting that, certainly not after that come-hither smile she'd given him. Wobbling on shaky feet, the lion let out a terrifying growl as he lobbed his paw towards her stupid face. His aim might've been off. He'd likely miss. But this b***h was trying to kill him, and he'd have to slaughter her before she had the chance to end his life.
Gunnar would hear about this, for certain.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:35 pm
Zilly welcomed the shadows that promised so much more. She trembled and shook and saw everything the same as she always did. The world had not gotten far along without her, but time was warped in her visions. Slowed.
She saw him. Her brother; the sibling she could say she hated more than anyone in the world - and Zilly did know the fullest and truest definition of that word.
A cliff. Rocks. Falling rocks.
The b*****d hadn't even screamed. That was just like him.
She came crashing back to reality with only seconds to spare. Perhaps it was even at the last second she stumbled away from, avoiding that deadly blow. She should have and rightfully would have been afraid had she realized the predicament that sneaky tactic of hers had caused.
But her brother was dead and it was all she could focus on.
"Nym's dead," she whispered to herself. When she repeated it, her voice was higher, happier. "Nym's dead!"
Oh, praise to every single God that ever walked the Earth! Thank fate, luck, whatever the hell it was that had struck that son of a b***h (both literally and figuratively so) down. Their mother had said one too many times he was the 'best' or 'the favorite' seer.
Now, he was a 'dead seer'.
The pain was agonizing but the joy was too intense.
To Taraxa himself (though she had a hard time really seeing him in her state) she praised fondly, "Thank you! I love that more than anything!"
For the gift of watching her brother succumb to a pile of rocks she'd have thanked anyone but her brother.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:50 pm
Gunnar was right the entire time. She really was off her rocker, though still apt enough to dodge his attack. This lioness must've had a seizure of sorts, right after she'd thunked him in the head with her own. She shook and trembled but Taraxa wasn't going to be able to stop that paw from hitting her skull with deadly force. The split seconds stretched and part of him felt bad for killing her.
He really didn't like killing dimwits. Slow-minded lions. The ones that most relatives kept sequestered back in caves and made no mention of. The family secrets.
Thankfully he wouldn't have to kill her. She came to just as his unsheathed claws zipped by her face. Disgustedly he looked at her. What else could he do? And then she thanked him? Gods save him from females. The whole lot of them were batty.
"Begone from here. Do not return unless you wish for death," he growled at her.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:04 pm
So enthralled by her rejoicing (and distracted by the pounding in her head), she almost hadn't heard him. She caught on enough to get the general idea: come back here and I'll kill you. Zilly had heard it before, albeit never directed at her. Her muzzle went stiff and her eyes finally managed to get his outline to become one lion again instead of four.
The lioness didn't say anything after that, just turned and left.
It annoyed her how disappointed she felt hearing it - as if she'd been scolded by a father - but no matter. With Nym out of the picture, things could only get better.
...Right?
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