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 Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:55 pm
 Vuxta's dark fur absorbed the warmth of the sun as it peeked above the distant horizon and into the humble den she was resting in. With the waterbuck pelt tickling her sensitive nose, the lioness was slowly stirring from her restful sleep. Her dreams had taken her back home. In her mind she was surrounded by grins and laughter, love and warmth expressed in every face. Vuxta grinned, lifting her head to greet them like she did every morning. But as she opened her eyes the stone cold truth struck her and strangled her heart. She was still blind, still lost, and still nearly helpless. The smile vanished and Vuxta was almost brought to tears, but the waking world quickly pulled her back into reality.
She inhaled, scenting the air to make sure the Vihrea was still there. Confirming his presence, she flicked an ear, focusing it on the lion figure out if he was still asleep or not. His shallow breath lead Vuxta to believe he was, so she slowly rose from the pelt and wandered to the mouth of the den using the warmth as a guide. Once she felt the soft grass beneath her delicate paws, she stopped to scan the surrounding forest with her refined senses. A lazy vulture was perched on the thickest branch of the barest tree. It was so much easier to spy on potential prey victims when there were no leaves to get in the way. At the moment, Aotpo was particularly grouchy. She hadn't had a good meal in a long time, and whenever she found one, she was chased away by larger vultures or hyenas.
"Hyenas..." She hissed with contempt, causing a rodent to scurry to safety beneath her. The bird turned her beak to the horizon as the sun's light spilled across Africa. Morning... and she still hasn't eaten a thing.
A familiar sight quickly snagged Aotpo's attention. A plain black pelt spotted the distance. Aotpo would never forget that particular lioness and a sneer curved across her beak. The glare quickly turned to a smirk when Aotpo hatched an idea and dropped from the branch to glide closer to her victim.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:02 pm
Vihrea rolled over a few times until his belly was facing up right. A loud roar like yawn escaped his muzzle as he licked his chops with a slapping sound. Wiggling each of his toes, he stretched his limbs high into the air and the lazily let himself flop to his side. Blinking open his eyes, he noticed the spot was empty where Vuxta once lay. In half a panic he flipped himself over and onto his paws only to see her standing at the entrance to the cave. But she wasn't a lone.
A vulture was gliding its way towards the lioness. Stepping beside her, gently flicking his tail against her flank so as to not startle her, though he knew she could hear him well enough, he blinked and yawned again. "So... sleep well?" he said, until the vulture was now almost upon them. "Ohy, hey were not dead ya know!" he hissed and swatted at the bird. He didn't mean to hit it, just shoo it away. Regardless if it looked dangerous or not.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:31 pm
When Vuxta thought she'd heard something, her attention was spirited away as Vihrea woke with a roar and various other loud sounds. The lioness chuckled, Vihrea's carefree disposition really brought her mood up when she felt she was trapped in a dark place. "That was the best sleep I've had in a very long time." Once her quiet voice ceased, Vuxta heard Aotpo's approach. The wind rustled her feathers loudly and giant wings howled to announce her descent. Vultures were the clumsiest fliers Vuxta had ever observed.
It was too late by the time the male appeared at Vuxta's side. Aotpo was descending at a speed she couldn't very well control. With a silent glare the colorful bird flattened her wings against the wind in an attempt to come to a halt before she fell victim to the lion's claws. The maneuver was successful for the most part, but momentum's law forced the vulture to go in no direction but forward after the claws were no longer a threat. She clumsily collided with the big cats, desperately flailing in order to take to the air again. With luck a burst of air assisted her departure, and she gave the two cats an angry demonic shriek before retreating to the safety of the treetops. It was time to rethink her strategy.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:44 pm
Vihrea swatted furiously at the bird through the whole ordeal. He had hardly the time to answer Vuxta before the assault. Sinking his claws into the ground, he let out a deep bellowing roar aimed at the vulture even as it alighted atop the tree again. Shaking himself vigorously, his mane flapping against his powerful shoulders, he turned to check if Vuxta was alright. "You ok?" he said, gently prodding her sides and neck for any wounds with his nose.
Once he was satisfied that she was going to live, he cockily strolled over to the tree and reared up to sink his claws into the base of it. He scored them down the bark, several bits peeling away with ease like wax on a melting candle. His eyes narrowed, he used all his might to give the tree any sort of shaking he could muster as a warning. "Come down here and try that again, I dare ya!" he bellowed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. This was just the spur he needed to get his blood boiling.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:15 pm
Vuxta cringed as she was struck with the bird's powerful wings. She stumbled away to avoid any more damage, nearly tripping over a boulder that obstructed her path... but the shrill scream of the vulture hurt even more than the blow of the wings. When the sudden and short event was through, she regained her composed position beside the black and white male.
"I'm fine." She assured, unsure about how to react with the nose in her flank, subtly letting him know that was unnecessary as she pulled away. A faint grin appeared on her lips as she listened to Vihrea futilely confront the giant bird.
Aotpo clung to the branch with powerful talons as the tree shuddered and cracked. It was then she realized she made a poor selection, this tree was much to brittle to support her weight. The vulture spread her wings to retain her balance and take to the sky if the branch decided to crumble. "This doesn't concern you, male!" The hateful snarl in her crackled voice was apparent as she screamed a reply to the lion below.
"This is a personal feud between me and that cruel lioness in your presence." She gazed at Vuxta, still oblivious that she was blind. Though the vulture did notice quite a few improvements. The lioness was no longer emaciated or near death like she was when they first 'met'. Her health was dramatically better. How unfortunate.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:36 pm
Vihrea rolled his eyes but couldn't help wonder what the silly creature met. He summoned all his strength, heaved back and pounced hard on the tree with his front paws. "Come down and say that to my face birdie." he smirked, his tail flicking. He wasn't afraid of some vulture, no matter how big it was compared to other birds. He had worse cuts than some mangy talons. "Or are you too scared of little ol' me?" he taunted again. "If you think shes bad, you should see me." he boasted. He was ready to fight. The blood rushed so hard and loud to his head he could hear his heart thumping in his ears and his eyes widen.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:14 pm
Vuxta was stunned. What had she done to that bird that made her so viciously vengeful? She thought, reflecting on that desperate time when she was pathetically clinging to life... and a vulture was stalking her. So she played dead until it got close enough for her to strike. Was this the same vulture? Vuxta was amazed she could carry a grudge for so long, if it was. Rendered completely speechless, Vuxta was only a meek silent shadow among the drama. Her head tilted towards the earth as she slumped into a slouch that she didn't even realize she had most of the time. She thought of speaking out, but it's not like her quiet voice would be heard over the roar and scream of the two bickering creatures.
Aotpo scoffed at the taunts pouring from that fat lion's putrid maw. She knew very well she didn't stand a chance against him on his turf. If this was going to turn into a game it was going to go her way. "Me? Scared?" She mocked, swinging her head up to exaggerate the sarcasm. "Oh so scared. I'm quivering, can't you see?" And she was, but not out of fear. The tree was swaying violently, groaning under the pressure of the raging animals. The branch Aotpo was perched upon cracked, splitting apart from the trunk. As planned the vulture took to the air, but she kept the branch in her talons. A malicious grin crept across her blue beak as she gazed at the branch's sharpest points. She hovered in the sky as well as she could, but gravity was taking effect. She glanced from Vuxta to Vihrea quickly, wondering which one to take aim at for a potentially dangerous blow with her new weapon.
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:06 am
Vihrea had nearly forgotten about Vuxta because she was so quite. But at the same time, he was still trying to impress her in his own mind. As the branch snapped and the tree bent, the bird took to the air. Backing down from the tree, Vihrea followed its shadow on the ground, his gaze watching closely.
"Well well well, birdies got a plan... but shes running out of time." he chuckled and positioned himself so he was between the vulture and Vuxta. "You want her." he said with a nod of his head back at the lioness who now seemed to have shrunk because of how Vihrea had expanded himself out and was standing. "Your going to have to go through this." he bellowed with a slap of a giant paw to his puffed out chest.
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:26 am
Vuxta was listening intently to the entire ordeal. Though she still couldn't bring herself to speak, she was ready to take a stand next to Vihrea and roar if need be. But she doubted it would be needed at all. Vihrea had this covered with a firm paw and eager fangs. The impression was more humorous than anything else.
Aotpo swooped down with Vihrea's final taunt. She made very certain she wouldn't get within range of a lion's mighty leap. She aimed the branch's sharp corners directly at the black and white lion's face like an iron lance. Once she felt she was going at an appropriate speed to do some decent damage, she let gravity take over, and released the branch. With the weight of it gone her wings carried her up and she flapped desperately in an attempt to escape. She didn't bother looking back to admire the damage she might have done, but she would be back to get proper revenge on that damn lioness.
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:32 am
This wasn't how Vihrea had hoped it would go. That mangy bird was nothing but a coward! But he couldn't think about that now, He had a branch plummeting towards his face! Roaring in frustration and half panic, he brought both his paws up in defense to fight the branch, slashing, clawing, and batting at any part of it that he could reach. It came crashing down on his paws, poking them, cutting them, and then smacking him in the face as the rest disintegrated.
Shaking himself free of dust, bark, and pain, he glared as the bird flew away in a very cowardly move. "CHICKEN!" he roared after it but huffed and puffed and flopped down on his belly to lick his paws. He would get that bird later, not just to protect his new friend anymore, but now for revenge of his own. He grumbled to himself as his pink tongue swiped over his paws. "Just you wait birdie....just you wait."
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