[LOG] Reaving (Ruzanski & Belliseema)

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

His first viking. Ruzanski had been among the Stormborn long enough to know that it was something young Freeborns looked forward to with anticipation from the moment they could walk, or even earlier. The Warlord's wing-marked daughter had explained that to him, and many other things besides. She was a stand-offish young lioness, and easy to overlook if she didn't deliberately go out of her way to be seen, or so she claimed. Ru had never had any difficulty noticing her, not even on his first day among the Stormborn. She'd been watching as he met her father, half-hidden and up high, but she'd come down when her father caught her eye and asked her to explain things to the new Freeborn, which meant Ru.

Ru was excited about the viking, and even though the first several days out had been uneventful, he couldn't help imagining, like any adolescent would, that he would return from this raid covered in fame and glory. He'd come to the Stormborn originally because they shared a hatred of the pride of piratical lions living nearby, but he had learned quickly that the pride suited him far better than he ever would have imagined, and he wanted to be known and admired within it. So he would have to bring back some excellent plunder, or maybe even a Thrall or two. He knew that would put him in very good stead with the other Reavers in the pride.

Right now, though, there would be no pillaging, no plundering. He had been assigned guard duty, the second shift, which was the worst because it interrupted his sleep. It was his lot as the newest Reaver, though, and he accepted it without complaint. It was an important enough task, even if it wasn't fun. The others with him would wake easily enough, he knew from experience, but he was their first line of defense and warning. A part of his mind was laughing uproariously at how seriously he was taking all of this.

Bell

The female had been traveling for a bit of a distance, and she was tired. But she couldnt stop, not until she at least had an idea about where she was going.. That would just be wasting time and she wanted to find a way home. Wherever home was. She wasnt even sure anymore. A Duststorm had washed over her pride, and she had gotten lost. So here she was, now traveling alone in search of somewhere to at least feel like she was home once more. She glanced up at the night sky and pouted. She wanted to see the sunshine, warm on her back. She had had enough with the darkness. Her pride hadnt been a very dark one, in fact it was made of mostly very peaceful individuals. She herself, was more antagonist than she was peaceful, but she still wasnt a mean lioness. She was a strong female, and she held her head high as she sank deep into her thoughts.

Luckily she had eaten earlier before, and so her belly was full and ready for the journey. She would last at least until morning, and then maybe she would be near a watering hole where the hunting would be more ideal. Not that shed swim, but it would be a good gathering ground.

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

A sound in the brush caught Ru's attention and he turned away from the perimeter he'd been walking. Investigating sounds that didn't fit in was permitted, if not encouraged, for a lion on guard duty. The farther he was from the viking party when he engaged an enemy, the more warning the other Stormborn would have before it reached them. If it reached them. He might even be able to deal with the threat by himself, and then he would have captured a Thrall. The hope for glory overcame common sense, and he set off in his quietest gait to investigate.

It didn't take him long to catch the scent of another lion - lioness, really - and to follow it to its conclusion. He might have wished that this intruder had been a male, which would have given him a better story to tell, and also would have been easier for him to fight if it came to that, but he would not be too picky. He couldn't afford to be. It was just that he had not completely abandoned his mother's training in his relatively brief period among the Stormborn, and she had always taught him that ladies were not to be attacked. He'd made exceptions for his sisters, but this lioness could not be his sister.

The moment of internal conflicted ended quickly, however, by the time he had the lioness in his sights. Perhaps he could get away with just robbing her of whatever she'd brought with her, if anything, and then scaring her off. That would be perfectly acceptable in the eyes of his comrades and skirt the issue of her femininity easily

Bell

She could smell him now, and she blinked a bit, looking around her for the source of the smell. She had no idea where she was, that was obvious. She did however, know how to defend herself. In fact she was rather good at it. She stood taller, and made herself look bigger than she was. She was a smaller lioness, and the need to look bigger was common when it came to her. She narrowed her red eyes, and cocked her head, watching the other approach. He didn't exactly seem friendly, but he didn't look like he was rushing in to attack. For now, she would keep the control. Or at least she hoped to.

"You there. Who are you?" She called, and flicked her bangs out of her face. She could look intimidating so long as you were far off, her little teeth markings making her fangs look huge and abnormal. However the closer you got, the more of a marking it was obvious to be.

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

She shouldn't have been able to see him, Ru thought irritably. He had approached from the cover of the wood and he was moving stealthily. He was the stealthiest of the viking crew he'd gone out with, and they had been having him serve as a scout for the duration of their reaving so far. It bothered him that he had been so quickly noted. Perhaps his scent had given him away to begin with. There was only so much he could do about that.

Rather than reply to her question, Ru slipped backward and began to circle around her to another direction to come upon her from a different direction. From downwind, for instance. She might know he was present, but if he could lose himself amidst the dense foliage it wouldn't surprise him if she was unnerved and upset. He grinned, though he kept his mouth shut to prevent even a hint of moonlight from reflecting off his sharp, mostly white teeth.

It was a pity the foliage was so very dense though. Otherwise he might have been able to give her the impression of being surrounded. A growl and then shift, a growl and then shift. He could have her turning in all directions, panicked and afraid. But there was no way he'd be able to move so quickly with the requisite stealth. He would have to resort to other tactics.

Bell

She blinked, and when she did he seemed to dissappear. Her eyes flicked side to side, and her ears perked but she made sure not to turn her head. She couldnt give him the impression that she was afraid, it would make her more prey than lioness. Being a rogue, could be a very very dangerous thing.

"Are you the type to not answer questions? Because I find that incredibly rude." She said, and snorted. Though she had to focus on her breath to make sure she didnt start panicing.

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

Ru was also focusing on his breathing, but not for the same reason at all. He was concentrating on being absolutely silent so that he could make his move. His move in this case being simply to change position. From there he would have to plot his next move. This was becoming a game for him, and he was enjoying himself, because while she might have been doing her best to appear unafraid, Ru had lived in the rogue lands alone for some time, and before that as a juvenile with two sisters. He knew what it felt like to hear noises in the night and see a figure that then vanishes.

He found a new position more to his liking and downwind of the lioness. His view was not perfect, and he could not see all of the lioness, but he could see her face and more importantly he could smell her, which meant that he was more aware of her discomfort than she might want him to be. He was neither impressed or interested in the extra-long tuft of fur crowning her skull and falling into her eyes. It seemed more like a liability than anything else. But she wasn't a fighter, probably, so what did it matter if hair fell into her eyes?

The only answer he gave, indifferent to her accusations of rudeness, was to allow himself a growl from deep in his chest, less a sound than a thrumming vibration that someone might feel rather than hear.

Bell

She could hear someone slowly moving, though she couldnt really tell where it was coming from.. It seemed to be everywhere. With a gulp, she backed up, looking around her with strong, yet still nervous eyes.

"Stop, now." She commanded, though when the moving continued, she could do nothing but stand there, mouth trying not to quiver.

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

At last, the desired reaction! Ru caught himself before a bark of laughter could escape and ruin the whole thing. Still, he was very proud of himself for finally achieving his end. Not quite his end. All he'd done so far, really, was get her to acknowledge her discomfort. He still had to either drive her off or capture her.

"Very well," he growled, stepping out of the shadows just a little.

He was aware that his figure was not particularly fearsome compared to the other warriors he was with, but he wasn't a small lion and in the dark he seemed much larger, able to blend in with the darkness and thus obscure his true size and shape. Scare tactics were something he was pretty good at, having two sisters to practice on as a cub, and then other Stormborn to train with.

"Are you satisfied?"

Bell

She looked around her, and around the area, desperate for a way to get away but she tried her damndest not to let him see it. She was trying to be strong, and she knew it was possible. She looked at the male, and she gulped. He was as black as the shadows, only bits of gold showing any color on the males oh so dark pelt. She cleared her throat, and looked at him with a bit of deviance in her stare.

"Only if you don't touch me." She said, raising her lip and eyeing him. She was uncomfortable.. she was scared.. but she wouldnt allow herself to show it. She did however, unconsciously step backwards a few steps.

 

[Princess_Feylin]

Ru

Ru looked the lioness up and down, not impressed by the light purple lioness's display of courage. and defiance. She looked like she had the potential to be wild and interesting, but now she was far too nervous to fulfill that potential. Not much like the lionesses Ru knew among the Stormborn. They were strong fighters, even those who did not go viking. It was hard not to be impressed by them, and then to compare any other lions unfavorably.

"You're hardly in a position to issue demands," Ru pointed out as she took a few steps back. "But here's the thing: you have nothing that is of any value to me."

If most Stormborn said that, that would be a very good cause to worry. It ordinarily meant that what would follow next would be a rape, but Ru wasn't that sort of lion, and he never would be. Instead he was going to do the lioness a favor:

"Stay here until the sun is up high tomorrow morning, or else you will be found by the other lions I'm with, and you won't like that."

Bell

"Youre-Youre letting me go?" She asked, almost in disbelief. She hadnt really thought that she would escape with her life. Taking a huge breath of air, she nodded, alot.. She couldnt help but keep nodding and her words were flustered.

"O-okay, I wont leave until later tomorrow morning..Thank you..." She said, though she almost knew apologizing was stupid. He wouldnt care about her apology, if anything it was likely to piss him off. But she didnt care, because it made her feel better. Gulping once more, she looked around her before darting into the shrubbery where the shadows were still almost completely midnight black.