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Sitaki was sure that she stepped on dangerous ground, but as usual the female didn't care. She was apt at dancing between the tenuous boundaries of different prides and she did so often. It was usually quite thrilling and she considered it a game more often than not. Pitting her own wits against those of others, a game of predator and prey -- at least in her own mind. After all, most prides usually had the best water and ample food, so why wouldn't she slink about unnoticed?

That ego would be the end of her.

Today was a day like any other. She was flirting dangerously on the wrong side of someone's territory. Perhaps she was careless, perhaps she hadn't paid enough attention to the sights and scents around her. Maybe she could have smelled the desperation on the wind, or, had she listened enough, the unhappy cries of those that called the pride home. No, not Sitaki.

She would regret her stupidity soon enough.

Sitaki halted as she was commanded. Really, it was the only smart thing to do. She slowly turned to size up the male that had called out to her. Thankfully he appeared to be alone -- she didn't scent anyone else around. Then again, she hadn't caught his approach in the first place, and she felt a sharp twinge of self-fury at herself. Tch, to be so careless. Her brow furrowed in the slightest scowl, ears pinned back for a split second before she deemed it necessary to speak. She would use her prettiest voice to see where it got her, batting those icy-blues at him might help.

"Apologies for my trespass," she trilled, slowly blinking at him while offering a genteel smile. She'd had to do this many times before, and she knew he would fall for it just as all the others had. A swift and manly reprimand and she'd be on her way, Sitaki was sure of it. "I had no idea I was within pride boundaries."

Sitaki's eyes narrowed the slightest, ears twitching back against her skull just so. If she wasn't in such a sticky situation she would find herself admiring his cleverness, but right now his demeaning tone irritated her more than anything. She would have to keep trying to talk her way out of this. Though he wasn't a big lion, he was larger than she, and she doubted she'd get far should she decided to run. No, running would end only in failure.

Sitaki-hii hated failure.

She kept her tone kind and even, her eyes wide and keen. All she really wanted to do was fly at him with teeth and claws bared, but no, she wouldn't.

Not yet.

"I am just a wanderer," she continued, watching him for sudden movements. "Stay where you are and allow me to pass. Attack and I will not hesitate to strike you where you stand." Her voice was oddly even as if she'd recited it times before.

If there was one thing that Sitaki hated more than failure, it was being laughed at. There was nothing more demeaning, and Sitaki's ego had never been able to handle it. No, if her ego had allowed for her to be honest, truthfully admitting to her mistake and bowing down gracefully she would likely have been set free. Ahhh, but no. Sitaki had never even contemplated such a weak-willed admission of guilt.

Ears pinned back and a grimacing snarl on her face, Sitaki decided it would be proper to give him but one more chance to leave her be. "I did not ask to be set upon. I apologized, did I not?" Sure it hadn't been the most honest of apologies for she truly wasn't the least bit sorry, but words were words and she'd spoken what she thought he'd wanted to hear.

"I am not afraid of you." That was evident in the claws that unsheathed now, proof of her fearless nature.

She'd had it. Why couldn't he have simply let her go? Why couldn't he have simply played the innocent game of batting eyes and softly murmured words? No, he'd had to call her out, bring light to her bluff and she wasn't sure which irritated her more; that her clever tongue had failed or that he didn't seem to be swayed by her pretty face.

And now he'd called her an idiot. Bruised and battered, that bloated ego could take no more.

She sprang towards him in a fury of fur, teeth and claws. In her rage she did not give pause to assure herself that she had indeed given proper aim. No, she was furious. Never before had she'd been called an idiot and in her rage she failed to see that perhaps she had been acting a little more foolish and reckless than normal.

"You will pay for your careless words," she hissed as she sprang forth.

Hitaki was furious, mostly at her own failure. She'd never had to back her words with action and now here she was flailing around like some weak little maggot. She was enraged. She was furious. She was not thinking clearly.

Thrown off balance by his careless shove, Hitaki let out a shriek that echoed clearly through the area. No, this could not be happening. She could not fail! How was he still standing there? So smug and self-assured and STILL laughing at her! Was he stupid?

"I am no cub," she shrieked and flew at him once more, teeth seeking purchase in his shoulder, his back, hell even his mane. Just something! She needed to ease the pain her ego had taken! How dare he!

"I will KILL you!"

Hitaki skidded across the ground before crumpling into a heap. She was outmatched. There was no use fighting back now. Her body ached everywhere, her head was sore and her shoulder bruised. She wasn't permanently damaged in any way, shape or form but her narcissism had allowed her ego to be shredded to bits. She'd never felt this way before, but Hitaki knew she'd finally met her match. He was smart, she'd give him that -- hell she would even sullenly admire him for outwitting her -- but he would pay for this.

"If you do not want to kill me and you will not let me on my way, what, pray tell, do you intend to do to me?" She scowled at the male and slowly rose to her feet. Hitaki was at a loss. What did he want of her?!

She snorted at his initial comment. No way would she believe that. She'd been expecting him to let her go in all honesty. She thought she'd come across as being genuine enough, but maybe he was just too smart. Much too smart.

Perhaps now was the proper time to run. Despite her throbbing head and aching shoulder from her graceless landing, she really saw escape as her only option. Never would she willingly become a slave, nor would she beg to be allowed to pass. No, this would not be made easy for him, not ever.

And bolt she did. She knew she wouldn't get far but at least she could say she gave it her all. Somehow that made Hitaki feel somewhat better about being captured. She would fight him tooth and nail. Wordlessly she spun an about face and did the only thing she could do.

She ran. Hopefully she was headed in the proper direction, but there was no time to ponder that now.