[JRP] Porcelain Judas (Ru & Lucivar)

[Princess_Feylin]

It seemed like he had been in training for ages and ages, but Ruzanski forced himself to acknowledge that it had not been all that long. He was obviously bigger now than he had been at his sisters' murder. His legs were longer, his muscles larger, and he had definitely learned to use his body to his advantage, turning a secret pleasure into a part of the fighting technique he had developed by cobbling together everything he knew of hunting, could imagine of fighting, and could remember from the lions he'd managed to get to either teach him or engage him in fights. Yes, he had actually solicited fights just so that he could see how others did it, and they had not all gone in his favor, but he suspected that was due in large part to his being smaller and less experienced.

The question which nagged at his brain as he made his way up the narrow strip of beach lining a salty strait was whether he was big enough and experienced enough for it to make a difference. He had heard of this pride from one of the lions he'd encountered, and learned of the rivalry between the Stormborn and the Maestros del Mar. He had not known, at first, which pride was responsible for his sisters' murders, since all he had to go by was that they spoke oddly and smelled of salt, but once he had learned it was the Maestros, pirates, he had set about learning all that he could of the Stormborn and how to join their numbers so that he could enlist their aid in destroying the lions who had killed his sisters.

Now, standing on the cold, damp sand, Ru looked up at the sheer, forbidding cliffs. He couldn't see any way up there, though he knew that was where their stronghold was located. Not that he'd be allowed just to waltz in. He'd have to prove himself in battle. Well, he was prepared to do that, and to keep trying, because even failure would make him better-prepared for his eventual strike against the pirates.

"I've heard there are warriors here. I've come to join their number," he called, feeling a little bit silly, since he couldn't actually see anyone, and could only assume he was being watched from the prickling fur at the base of his tail.  

[Tanakako]

Shifting slightly to ease the ache in his shoulder, the young reaver-in-training shook out his pale mane. The bite of the ocean breeze didn't bother him really, but he had been out at the base of the cliff since sun-up and the wind was sharp and just cold enough that he felt it every time it whipped against his flanks, the tiny grains of sand and grit occasionally stinging him through his dark fur. Giving his rapidly thickening mane another rough shake he turned his back on the crashing waves and padded along the beach, weaving in and out of the massive boulders that had fallen long before he was born and lain on the rocky shore ever since.

He was on duty, protecting this part of their pride's boundary. He had hoped to be stationed out in the forest, or at least somewhere where rogues may wander past, but unless the pirates invaded he really could't imagine anyone coming to the Stormborn from the ocean. Still, he kept his eyes and ears open as was required, despite the boredom that was slowly setting in from a morning doing almost nothing. He wished he could spend the time training, but he knew his attention would be on his work and not the shoreline so even that favored past-time was unavailable to him. Squinting against a particularly violent wind that tossed grit into his eyes, he padded round behind a large boulder and started to climb up a small bluff for a better view, though the path temporarily wound behind a spike of rock and hid him from view.

It was at that point that the wind-swept call reached him and he surged forwards, bounding up the last few steps and emerging at the top of the small bluff, bright blue eyes sweeping the shoreline for the intruder.

"We are the Myrsky Syntynyt!" He roared down to the dark shadowy shape below, voice raised over the constant rush of the ocean's salty winds. "Do you wish to challenge?"

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru's attention was drawn to the sudden appearance of a lion near his own age perched atop a small bluff where he had not been before. So apparently simply calling out had been sufficient to attract the attention of the guard. Well, why not? It wasn't as though too many people probably chose to come up on the pride from this direction. It wasn't even really obvious that there was a way up to the pride from here, except that this was where Ru had been told to go if he wanted to find the Stormborn.

He was not as insulted by the fact that he would be facing a lion his own age as he might have been had he been older or more experienced. It was actually a bit of a relief. At least, it would be one if he was actually going to be able to get away with fighting the lion he saw. There was every likelihood that he was only looking at someone who was in training to be a warrior, and could do no more than fetch a lion for Ru to challenge.

"That was the idea, yes," he called. "Should I come up there?"

He supposed he could make the jump. It wouldn't be impossible. Just...difficult. Maybe that was part of the test. He really didn't know as much as he would like about what being accepted to the Myrsky Syntynyt entailed. He did, at least, know that the Stormborn and the Myrsky Syntynyt were one and the same. As he waited for the other lion to respond Ru turned his green gaze to the task of evaluating his potential opponent. He wasn't sure, but he wasn't scared.  

[Tanakako]

"No." Lucivar called back an instant before, with a powerful leap, the young male bounded down the almost sheer face of the bluff, sleek muscles bunching smoothly with the easy confidence of long practice. While the adolescent may have been less than full grown he was certainly no average youth, but a true Stormborn with all the potential to be a warrior that the fabled pride were renowned for.

Pale paws hit the sand as the brown-coated male reached the shore and drew himself to a halt. Up close the myriad of scars that already decorated his coat were visible, though none were so big as to hinder the youth, they told a tale of a life already dedicated to the ways of war. Icy blue eyes watched the dark stranger calmly, assessing, evaluating, forming a basic opinion and strategy for the inevitable battle to come.

"I will be your opponent." The viking youth's voice was clear and even, no trace of nervousness in his tone.

Padding forwards he slowly started to circle the stranger, pale eyes intent on the other's body, not looking at the eyes as many would, but watching the way he moved, how his paws shifted, the tightening of muscle, ready to meet an attack or launch his own. Lucivar's movements were smooth and well practiced, no stumbling, no uncertainty, and most obviously, no reservations. he was ready for battle and would give his all to it.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

"Ah, good. I wasn't looking forward to that," Ru said calmly. He assumed there was another way up, hidden from view to those on the beach and not in the know, and he also assumed that if he won, they would be taking that way up, and not leaping down as the other adolescent had just done so spectacularly. It had been an impressive leap, Ru was forced to admit.

"All right," the mostly black lion answered diffidently. He knew it was better for him that his opponent was a younger lion, but he was still larger than Ru. Regular meals probably had something to do with that, but Ru suspected that the Stormborn were simply larger lions in general. It made sense to him. A pride that dedicated itself to war and raiding would have to breed larger, stronger lions, and they would know how to use their superior size and strength to their advantage against smaller opponents. Quickness might not be enough to serve Ru here. That was fine. He was tough, too.

Ru had enough experience to recognize when he was being evaluated, measured, but he had not realized until this very minute how little he cared for the sensation when it was really important. And for him this was really important. He didn't have to win this time, or the next, but if he couldn't beat a single lion in combat, he knew he had no hope of taking on what might be an entire pride with any degree of success. Oh, he didn't imagine that he'd come out of that particular raid alive, but that was all right. There were worse ways to die than seeking vengeance. He had learned that from his mother's stories, though she would have been horrified if she knew that was what he had taken from the tales.

There were other ways of measuring an opponent though, and Ru decided to take one of them. It was obvious from the way his opponent moved that he had been training to fight for longer than Ru had, and the dark adolescent knew that he would probably need to take any advantages he came by, and press them as hard as he could. He made as if to leap past the patterned adolescent but at the last moment he twisted in the air so that his body and hindquarters were more or less perpendicular with his opponent's on a horizontal plane. His foreclaws sought to rake the other lion's ribcage.  

[Tanakako]

A brief nod was the dark lion's reply as Lucivar continued to circle slowly, more intent on action than words, not that he was ever one to talk very much. Out of the pride's youth he was certainly one of the quieter ones. Whether or not the stranger approved of Lucivar's words wasn't a part of his concern, the only way this dark stranger was entering the pride today was through him, there was no ifs ands or buts about it in Lucivar's mind.

Tensing just as the stranger leaped, Lucivar swung round, weight forced in his hindquarters as he reared up to meet the attack. Jaw opening wide as his own counter attack sprung his upper-half forwards, spine lengthening and clawed paws slashing. The sudden and sharp pain that ripped down his flank forced a hard snarl from his chest as he pushed his own body forwards, intending to disrupt the other's pounce and fell him while gaining a grip on his throat or at the least, finding purchase with his claws.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru snarled as he twisted to disengage from a grip which would obviously have unpleasant results for him if he remained with his claws hooked into his opponent's side for too long. It wasn't an angry snarl or anything like that. In truth, it was closer to a release of pent up tension as he responded to the snarl he'd heard tear from his opponent's throat. It was an instinctive thing.

It was also a sign, perhaps, that Ruzanski, at least, was not holding back in this fight, because if he were holding back he would be thinking more, calculating more, and so he would also make the decision to silence any unnecessary sounds. It was more intimidating, he figured, to be a silent fighter, though hearing his opponent's snarl, Ru would also have given credence to those who felt it was all about the terrifying roar.

His twisting definitely spared Ru's throat, which was not as well-protected by mane as an adult lion's would be. He remembered this just as snapping teeth barely missed mangling the exposed soft spot, and just as quickly recalled that his opponent was similarly lacking in the mane department. He could use that against him. The time it took him to make these connections allowed his opponent's claws to get a better hold on his chest than he would have liked. A mane would have been useful here, too.

Fortunately, there was only so much distance a lion could put between himself and his opponent with claws snagged into his chest, and Ru tried to turn their closeness quickly to his advantage, before his inferior size proved detrimental. His head darting forward like a snake, he lunged directly into his opponent, his teeth seeking the throat while his hindquarters strove to hold their own in what could become an unfortunate contest of size and strength. Well, unfortunate from Ru's perspective.  

[Tanakako]

Lucivar wasted no time or energy in thinking through his movements, having been drilled since cubhood on the ways of the pride by anyone who would spare the youngster a few moments of their time, Lucivar had long since swapped from forward thinking to instinctual action. As the strange dark lion lunged forwards towards his own throat in a similar move to his own just moments before, he ducked his head and snaked it forwards, protecting his own vulnerability with a maw full of fangs. It didn't matter if he managed to clamp his jaw round his opponents or not, the act of protecting his throat was joined simultaneously by a powerful shove from his muscular quarters. Using his larger bulk and muscles trained for hours each day on the dangerous rocky cliffs and difficult terrain of the pride's homeland, he started to shove the other male backwards, forelimbs locked tight round the stranger's shoulders. Aiming to shove him over or at least weaken his position enough to launch his own attack.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru was not particularly surprised when his attempt to bite his opponent's throat was thwarted, but neither was he disappointed. It was expected that when he had the opportunity to go for the throat, he would do so because that's how things worked, and it was also expected that someone whose throat was exposed and vulnerable would be aware of that and endeavor to protect the soft spot from attack. So missing the bite didn't particularly irk him.

He was more concerned about the fact that he was definitely not in a good position with his opponent shoving harder at him to push him over backward. However, he had a solution for this, and if it worked it would be super effective. If it didn't, he might be in a spot of trouble though, so it was a gamble. Ru took it without a second thought. The middle of a fight was not the best time for thinking, and so he had to rely on instinct and the hope that he could pull off what he was planning next.

When the pale-maned lion pushed again Ru offered no resistance, allowing the blond's weight and hooked-in claws to hold them together and carry them both to the ground, at which point Ru's hind legs and paws came up, curling over his stomach protectively but also in a position to punch and tear at his opponent's stomach if he didn't move away quickly. Stomach wounds were nasty and usually fatal, but Ru didn't really draw any sort of line between causing them while hunting and causing them in a fight. The point, he assumed, was to win.

It also would have been nice, though, if he could get the blue-eyed lion's claws out of his shoulders. They were really starting to hurt!  

[Tanakako]

Back claws carved up the hard earth as Lucivar shoved with all his strength, expecting far greater resistance than the dark lion provided. Inevitably, the pair tumbled backwards. Sensing the sudden movement beneath him he released the stranger and scrambled away, swinging his hindquarters round and his body out of range of the owned male's deadly claws.

He had to admit the tactic of his opponent was good, and had worked. Lucivar was the 'defending' lion here and he wasn't about to risk his life in a boarder dual, not that he was holding back at all, he would have considered it an insult if the other lion held back on him so he offered the dark male the same courtesy and was putting everything he had into the battle. But that did not mean he would simply forget his training and put himself at unnecessary risk. After all, he wanted to grow into a full adult and go raiding... that was when he would let himself fight for his life.

With a deep guttural growl he circled the other lion before springing forwards, aiming for the vulnerable underside of the dark male with claws extended. The deep wound down his side from the stranger was starting to hinder his agility and the dull throbbing pain was working its way into his muscles, restricting his movements.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Well, that hadn't worked. Pity. Ru knew from experience that it would have been an effective way to end the fight quickly and there was a part of his mind that thrilled at the possibility of the warm blood he could spill. Ru tended to take more joy in killing and hurting things than most. His mother and sisters had never bothered to hide their disapproval of his proclivities, nor had they ever given him reason to doubt that his passion was abnormal.

Ru's shoulders were killing him as he scrambled to his feet. The hard impact of falling backwards had done him no favors there, but at least he was able to get up. They weren't mortal wounds, just painful and distracting. He really needed to end this soon, one way or another, so that he could see about dealing with them. He imagined his opponent's side wasn't feeling so wonderful either, and wondered if he had similar thoughts of ending the fight soon.

His unspoken question was answered when the blue-eyed lion leapt for him with his claws extended. Definitely the act of someone trying to take him down in one blow, his mind would later decide, when the fight was over and he was able to review it for places where he could have improved. This time Ru ducked low, having barely regained his feet in time to do much more in terms of reaction. By doing so, he was able to spring up and make another attempt at his opponent's throat, though it left his own vulnerable in the attempt and the angle was not ideal for making a killing blow.  

[Tanakako]

It was that exact though, of ending the fight, that had Lucivar throwing himself at the other lion.They were so evenly matched that he already knew the outcome, not it was a case of stopping the fight without either of them ending up maimed. That was not the point of Challenge fights.

As he felt his claws connect with soft fur, he also felt the ark lion's fangs sink into the flesh of his neck though the angle was bad and unless he got a better grip, Lucivar's life wasn't in outright danger. Quick as a whip he twisted and locked his own jaws tight round he fleshy underside of the other's throat, pressing down but not biting as he panted faintly. Sharp blue eyes rolled to fix on the other's expression as best he could, body tense but still as he stood over his opponent. The fight was over and he knew it had been a draw. The dark stranger would be permitted entrance to the pride.. once he released Lucivar's throat.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

When he felt his opponent's teeth press against his own throat Ru held back a snarl of frustration. Was that it, then? Had he been defeated, and would he have to return to try again some other time? There was no question of whether he would do so. He had burned it into his brain that this was what he wanted to do, and he would not be dissuaded or distracted from that purpose now. But it would have been nice, he couldn't help thinking, if he could have won his first match. It might have impressed the Stormborn lions.

Moving with care, Ru disentangled himself from his opponent, of course releasing his own imperfect hold on his throat in the process. He stepped back and shook his head with a huff as though telling himself that was that, and getting ready to get a move on. The fight, really, had been a draw, he thought. Undeniably it could not have continued without fatality from the point where they had both had each other by the throat, but to his knowledge it wasn't good enough to be evenly matched. He had to be better, decisively the victor. That was the story he'd been told about the pride.

"Thank you," he said, not really sure what else he was supposed to say, and so falling back on the good manners his mother had drilled into him. In the future he would prefer silence to the silly manners of his mother's upbringing, but he was young yet, and uncertain really. "I know better now what sort of opponent I will have to face when I return."  

[Tanakako]

As soon as he felt the other lion's jaw loosen, he released the skin and fur between his own fangs and stepped back. It was hard to resist the urge to sit and lick at his wounds, especially the rather deep claw marks that traced down his flank as they had already started to throb painfully and every move of his body made the muscles tighten.

But he kept all four feet firmly in place and his gaze locked on his opponent, not because he thought the dark lion might attack, but to keep the impression that he wasn't even bothered by his injuries, for as a Stormborn, he was above such things. At least when under the eyes of another.

Arching one brow as he watched the other male back away, he started to frown before the reason was made clear in the dark one's words. Unwilling to chase down a retreating lion over some silly miscommunication, he shook his head. "You do not need to return, warrior." How did one know the words to speak when a lion joined the pride? Lucivar had no idea but he had heard the ritualistic style of words often enough during the pride gatherings to form a fair imitation of the sombre acceptance that he imagined should be used. "Though our dual was a draw, you have proven yourself worthy of joining this pride and becoming one of us, a Stormborn. Walk at my side and enter your new life, brother warrior."

Turning to the side he let his pale eyed gaze rest on the dark lion, waiting for the newest pride-member to step closer before he turned and headed back along the path that would take them to the pride's home. Lucivar hoped Aesir was near the Gathering area, he assumed the new stormborn would need to at least be introduced to their Warlord. Then maybe a trip to the healer dens would be required... he couldn't very well bring in a new reaver only to have the lion fall ill and die from his wounds.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru cocked his head to one side. He...didn't have to come back? He wanted to repeat the words, just to make certain he'd heard correctly - he didn't always hear spoken words correctly, and that had been a source of trouble for him in the past - but with the ritualistic words of welcome his repetition seemed like it would be out of place. Certainly it lacked any kind of solemnity. Though, to be honest, Ru wasn't feeling very much like being solemn anyway. He felt more like celebrating, and the grin which spread across his face, baring sharp teeth, made it obvious.

"I was led to believe otherwise," he admitted. "I am relieved to have been in error though."

He was still speaking like his mother, he realized with an internal grimace. Why did that have to be his default pattern of speech? Well, because it was how he had been raised, he supposed. It was probably something of a miracle that he'd taught himself to fight well enough that he could make it into the Stormborn, even with a draw. He would be glad to train with other lions who knew what they were doing when it came to martial matters.

"My name's Ruzanski," he said, not sure if it was appropriate to add that, or to ask for the name of the lion he'd fought, but he wanted to know. "What should I call you, brother warrior?" The title felt odd in his mouth.