Atheris was certain that he was crazy. He couldn't help himself, for what it was worth, and despite his brother's chidings, threats and shows of brute force, Atheris once more found himself in the meadow where he'd met the pretty lioness. It was stupid, he knew this, but he'd never felt this way before about anyone else in his entire (young) life. He was drawn to this lioness in ways that only poets and bards could describe. He wouldn't fool himself into thinking that Asper wouldn't follow him -- no, he knew that his older brother would follow him with claws and teeth bared.
In days past, he'd been coming to the meadow in hopes of seeing the lioness once more. She'd yet to show up and Atheris had started to lose hope. He would have to traipse into the pride's lands if she didn't show up in the next few days, and he wasn't looking forward to it. The way she carried herself, Atheris knew she came from warrior stock. So proud, so haughty. She was lovely and she knew it. Those mismatched eyes of hers had haunted him each and every waking moment, and oftentimes they followed him into his dreams.
With wistful smile on his face, Atheris clutched a flower in a paw and lifted it to his nose so that he could inhale deeply of the sweet fragrance.
That was how Taraxa found him.
The brawny and slightly overweight lion crept to the edge of the meadow. He'd been watching the fool for a few moments, gauging his strengths and weaknesses. Taraxa never attacked first. It was merely the way he'd always done battle and thus far it had served him well. He wasn't wary, just careful, and yet despite his carefulness he bore the scars that any old, battle-wounded lion would. They were marks of pride and each told a story of a fallen enemy or a valiant loss.
Taraxa didn't think this encounter would be a story worth retelling, and he had to wonder if Ulrika had sent him out here just so he could make a fool of himself. The way this dark-maned male was sniffing the flower made Taraxa wonder exactly what had happened between this lion before him and his beloved daughter who had seemed so distraught just days past. What really made Taraxa annoyed was the fact that his daughter had been traipsing around outside of the pride's boundaries without someone to look after her, and then she'd flubbed the truth when she demanded that he gallop out and defend her honor.
Hmph.
With a reluctant sigh, Taraxa made his exit from the safety of the treeline and slowly, carefully, approached the daydreaming male that was splayed out amongst a field of flowers.
"You there," Taraxa called out in an authorative tone, "you trespass ... you are close to trespassing on Stormborn land." The accusation was weak, Taraxa knew it. "I have it on good authority that you encountered a Stormborn female a few days past. I have come to challenge you." Taraxa didn't really want to. He'd much rather be at home drinking honey-water and laying in his favorite patch of warm sun. He really didn't want to challenge this much younger lion to a fight. He really didn't want to.
Atheris heard the lion's voice ring out across the open meadow and he shot up into a seated position. The lion was the same creamy caramel color of the lioness he so yearned for, and he had the same markings along his back that she did, though his were dirt-brown instead of that sweet and innocent alabaster that the lioness bore. A brother? No, he looked too old. A father, perhaps?
"I encountered a female," Atheris said in dreamy tones, lifting the flower up to the sky in a dramatic pose, "and she stole my breath away. When she left this meadow she took with her my heart, my soul, my entire being."
Taraxa was silent for a long moment as he allowed the other male's words seep into his brain. This had to be some kind of weird, bad dream. He would wake up in a patch of sunlight with his half-shell of honey-water waiting for him to sip from it, right? Taraxa squeezed his eyes shut for a few strained moments before creaking them open one at a time.
This was not a dream.
"That female was my daughter."
Atheris blinked a few times before gracing Taraxa with a beatific smile. He rose to his feet and swept down into a bow before raising his gaze back to Taraxa, green eyes bright with glee.
"You must take me to her."
Taraxa snorted, "I'll do no such thing, whelp. If you want to join the Stormborn you'll have to prove yourself."
Atheris looked thoughtful, a frown darkening his expression. "Prove myself? H-how?"
"A challenge. You'll have to challenge a lion of the Stormborn. A warrior.. and one of my choosing. After all, this is my daughter we are talking about." Taraxa already knew who he would choose. Halvar would be willing to fight for Ulrika, Taraxa knew this already.
"I'm not a fighter," Atheris said sullenly, shaking his head. "I left my last pride because I am not a fighter. There has to be another way."
Taraxa narrowed his eyes at the younger lion. There was another way, and the more Taraxa thought about it, the more he liked the idea of throwing a little chaos into his youngest daughter's life. If Taraxa brought this lion into the pride as a Thrall, there would be no challenge needed.
"I will take you as my slave," Taraxa growled, exhaling deeply. "You will be my Thrall. My servant. A slave to the pride -- you will serve anyone who requires serving. Perhaps when you grow some courage you will rise from the rank of Thrall to something worthy of my daughter." Unlikely. Taraxa was bound and determined to have Ulrika take Halvar as her mate.
Atheris looked at Taraxa dubiously.
Taraxa slowly raised an eyebrow.
Atheris scowled. "Fine."
Pleased, Taraxa turned and padded towards the woods. "Come then, Thrall. You can start by cleaning out my den."
Atheris glanced behind him. Asper would worry and likely come after him, but Atheris had an agenda and he would not be deterred. Little did the male know that his life was about to change in cataclysmic ways, none of which he would be prepared for.
(wc: 1083)
