|
|
|
|
|
Mogami rolled 5 4-sided dice:
3, 3, 1, 4, 4
Total: 15 (5-20)
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:38 am
 Lesedi stepped closer to the borders of the Stormborn’s pride, his mind set on a clear purpose. Today was the day he’d take down the dark lion who had twice obliterated his plans to join the Vikings. Or so he hoped. A good night’s rest had been more than enough for Lesedi to recover from the previous challenge – a short and strangely not tiring fight that one had been. He was determined not to rush forward like an idiot this time, not to make any silly technical errors and to pay back the humiliation he’d felt in double. Mostly, he just wanted a good fight, something that would make feel less than the weakling that he seemed to become in Ruzanski presence. Reassurance for his bruised ego.
As soon as he arrived at the place where he’d asked for his second challenge the young lion roared at the wind and waited for the shape of the dark lion to appear from where he least expected.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Princess_Feylin rolled 5 4-sided dice:
3, 1, 4, 2, 1
Total: 11 (5-20)
|
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:30 pm
 Galning looked over his shoulder at the small cub trailing behind him. As per his plan to toughen his son up, Galning had brought Yollalunta along with him on his next patrol duty. He thought that maybe seeing what fun it could be to be a Stormborn would cheer the spotted cub up, since he still hadn't really taken to the pride.
"Keep up!" he called. "There's a really neat..."
"A really neat what?" Yolla called ahead.
Despite his problems adjusting to a warlike pride, Yolla couldn't help loving his dad, who was probably the coolest dad anyone could ever have. He was mostly kid himself, and except for not understanding why Yolla missed his mum and brother he was undeniably awesome. Yolla liked spending time with him. He was fun.
Galning had trailed off as he came through the trees and saw an unfamiliar lion's figure striding purposefully through the trees toward the pride. While he did not claim to know all of the lions in the Stormborn, he knew most of the reavers by sight at least, and this was not one of them. This was an outlander.
"You! Stop!" Galning called. More softly he said to his son, "Stay back."
Yolla wanted to know who Galning was talking to, but he had been told to stay back and from the tone in his father's voice when he spoke to the unseen other, Yolla thought it was a good idea to heed and obey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:44 am
While the shape of a dark lion did appear almost as if on cue, it didn’t take long for Lesedi to realize the blue-eyed lion was a complete stranger to him. He did as he was told but his eyes were still searching for Ruzanski as if he expected the lion to appear from behind a tree anytime soon. He did not even notice the little cub that had been following his father.
“One day I will kill you.” The green-eyed lion said with a slightly annoyed expression when he was forced to accept that he might not be meeting Ruzanski today. He supposed he should’ve expected it somehow. Just because he’d fought the lion twice and seen him around on that particular spot didn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t find other Stromborn lions guarding the same area. Living on the borders these past few days had allowed Lesedi to perfect his Stormborn vocabulary but his ill-mannered tone did not match the Viking pleasantries. “I was expecting Ruzanski. I’ve come to challenge him.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:56 am
Galning frowned. The strange lion had used a Stormborn expression to greet him.That wasn't how it was supposed to go. Was this some kind of trick? He glanced over his shoulder at Yolla once more and was pleased to see that the spotted cub had done as he was asked.
"How do you know Ru?" Galning asked. "And why should you want to challenge him in particular? Any Stormborn reaver would be more than capable of handing you your spotty a**."
Yolla listened without really being able to see what was going on past his dad's hindquarters. The view wasn't that great, but his dad was still too close for him to creep forward to see better. From what he thought he was listening to, his dad was going to fight! Yolla had never seen his dad fight for real, and he was undeniably excited about it. His mum had told him that his dad was a great warrior.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:35 pm
When the green-patched lion spoke, Lesedi’s nose wrinkled for a few moments as a deep growl rose within his chest.
“I only wanted to find Ruzanski because he beat me…” ...twice? Damn, that sounded so lame. Lesedi wasn’t about to lie – mostly because he’d probably not be able to get away with it. “… before. I just wanted to pay him back. But… I’ll gladly take you on.” Lesedi roared defiantly before backing away a couple of steps, his pose instantly changing from mildly tense to downright offensive.
He was snarling rather viciously but the young lion was actually feeling rather insecure at that moment. Losing to a Stormborn lion – even if twice – was one thing. But to lose to more than one? What if they started talking about it amongst themselves? He would be seen as a mere weakling, unworthy to join the pride and even if he somehow managed to win a duel in the future, Lesedi was certain he’d still be target of endless teasing. He would not let that happen. He was not weak! And to prove it, he’d be the first one to strike. He threw himself at the other lion, wary eyes fighting to keep the location of his opponent’s paws and mouth in his mind at all times. He would not be an idiot today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:35 am
Actually, when it came down to it, Galning couldn't remember ever having beaten Ru either. There'd been one match where they'd called it a draw, but Galning knew deep down that he would have been dead if Ru's control hadn't been what it is. Ru had been charitable in calling it a draw. Perhaps once he won this fight he'd let the tawny lion know that. It might make him feel better.
"All right, then!" Galning said, shifting forward and moving into a defensive position.
Typically Stormborn did not go on the defensive, particularly not at first, but the initiative had already been stolen by the challenger and so Galning was left with little choice but to assume the defensive and react to the snarling lion's attack.
Yolla didn't know who Ruzanski was, but he didn't think it seemed like a very good idea to let a lion into the pride if he already hated one of the members. That was how he interpreted Lesedi's determination to get into the pride. Yolla didn't really hold grudges, and so he really couldn't understand what prompted the green-eyed lion to do so. The words "pay him back" sounded so ominous.
But no one had asked for his opinion. He had just been told to stay back, which was as clear a dismissal and order not to involve himself as a person could get. Yolla didn't intend to obey though. He wanted to see what was going to happen next. And so he inched forward on his belly, doing his best to stay out of view, just in case someone happened to look over and see him. He would also have to be careful not to get stepped on, he decided.
Galning met Lesedi's attack head-on, as a Stormborn ought to do when the initiative is taken from him. He roared at the last minute, just in case the sudden noise could distract his attacker even momentarily, but even if it didn't, he was moving forward into the attack with his mouth open and his foreclaws outstretched and reaching.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 4:31 pm
Princess_Feylin Gah, for some reason I don't seem to be getting notices from this thread. Sorry for the delay.
He allowed most of the dark lion’s hits to connect – mostly because that’s what Ru had done before – though he did try to dodge just enough to avoid serious injuries. He waited for a moment when his opponent didn’t have all four paws firmly on the ground to make his move and sprang forward with a sudden burst of energy, putting all his strength into knocking the other lion down or, at the very least, push him back with the violent hit.
He could swear he could’ve seen something dark and blue moving out of the corner of his eye but he paid it no mind. A hare or some other creature, it made no difference. Nothing was more important than winning this fight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:11 am
Galning's eye twitched and then he was gone. He was more "skremmende" than "galning" if one was to divide his name into its component parts. Madman, versus intimidating. Oh, he might have also been intimidating, but mostly he was just mad. He had slipped into berserker mode.
The violence of Lesedi's attack, therefore, was not as effective as it might have otherwise been. He was forced to give way because he simply did not have the mass to oppose physics like that. He wasn't as phazed by it though, not feeling the discomfort opposition should have brought on, and so as soon as he regained his footing he launched himself forward with his teeth bared to bite.
Yolla had never seen his dad like this. The only warning signal that he had changed was a twitch of his eye, and then he was squinting with one eye and the other was bulging almost out of its socket it seemed. Yolla was terrified, and in his terror he was barely able to suppress a squeak. Instead he just held very, very still. It didn't work for prey, but maybe it would work for him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:51 pm
It was official. As far as Lesedi was concerned, all Vikings were completely mental… and still he desperately wanted to be a part of them, this band of rough warriors who fought like they were possessed by the Gods. He’d never truly wanted anything so badly in his life. And while his instincts wanted nothing more than to escalate and fight just as or even more fiercely than his opponent but something in the other lion’s eyes kept him at bay. Lesedi wondered if that was how he’d looked when he’d fought Ru.
Even though he was surprised at how quickly the other lion had recovered from his attack, Lesedi did his best to remain focused and in full control of his movements - considering who the lion in question was, that was no easy task. He somehow managed to keep his face out of harm’s way but he felt something sharp cutting one of his ears and the smell of blood grew stronger around him. More of reflex than actual foresight, one of front paws twisted midair and changed directions, aiming for the other lion’s head. The odd little shadow behind the dark lion was actually starting to bug him but Lesedi would not look its way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:48 am
Galning was mental. That was pretty much inarguably true. Oh, he wasn't usually the sort of mental that created problems for the people around him, or even for himself, but when he got to fighting and slipped into being a berserker...yeah. He was mental.
"Yaaaaah!" he exclaimed in wordless fury. Words were definitely beyond him at this point, but if anyone had a crazy person to normal person dictionary it might have come out something like, "I'm going to bite your face off and build you a new one out of mud and blood." Which didn't make a whole lot of sense, either.
His father's sudden cry was blood-curdling. That was the only word Yolla could think of. He no longer had any desire to remain and see what happened and how the fight came out. His dad was insane. He'd been told, but he hadn't realized what kind of scary-insane his dad was. He hoped fervently that he wasn't the same kind of insane.
When Galning wheeled suddenly away from Lesedi, evading his attack but also placing himself outside of a sensible radius to counterattack, Yolla shimmied backward, afraid that his dad would see he had left his designated spot. His hiding was probably hindered by the whimper that came out as he retreated.
He needn't have worried though, because something else had caught his father's attention. Some smell or sound or something that Yolla really couldn't pick up on at all. Galning howled more like a wild dog than a lion and chased off after this elusive thing that only he could sense, leaving his son and his challenger behind.
Yolla stared up at the green-eyed lion with wide eyes. Oh dear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:20 am
Don’t let him grab you, Lesedi’s instincts cried at every second as he readied himself to dodge the next attack and strike the maniacal-looking feline, roaring back when his opponent cried out. He would not be intimidated! And then, suddenly, the dark lion was running off somewhere…
…
…
WHAT THE HELL?!
Panting slightly from his efforts, Lesedi was left standing on the spot with a dumbstruck expression, wide green eyes looking in the direction the dark lion had disappeared into but his ears swiveled back after he’d heard a little cubbish whimper coming from the tall grasses. Seriously, what had just happened? Had he won? Would he have to have a rematch?
“Oi, kid. Come out.” He took a few steps towards the half-hidden dark shape that he now assumed to be a lion cub. He didn’t think this was the right place for a cub but he wasn’t about to tell that to the little one, his only source of information in this very confusing situation. “Can you tell me what just happened?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:23 pm
Yolla swallowed. He was supposed to be the authority now? Oh, that was a terrifying thought.
And speaking of terrifying! His dad was always going on about how brave Stormborn warriors were supposed to be. How they didn't back down from fights or run away from enemies. He didn't understand how Galning's recent action in any way supported everything he'd said.
"I would say..."
Actually, it took him a while to figure out what he would say. It had been difficult enough for him just to speak up. He sat there with his mouth hanging open as he realized that he was going to get to decide what the outcome of this fight was, since there was no other Stormborn around to do so.
"I think you won. I mean. Your opponent ran away." He winced as he said that. It felt disloyal. "That's winning, isn't it?"
He glanced over his shoulder toward the pride, and then looked in the direction his dad had run off in. "Please don't tell anyone how you won. I think my dad would be really embarrassed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:21 pm
Lesedi looked down at the cub with a look of honest disbelief in his eyes. He hadn’t intended to ask for the cub’s opinion of the fight, not really.
“I was just asking what was wrong with…oh, nevermind…” He didn’t know how to make the question he really wanted to ask sound nice enough now that he knew the cub was the crazy lion’s son. “What the hell is wrong with your father” might be just a tad offensive. He wasn’t going to trust a cub’s opinion on the match either. He needed to find a Stormborn – an adult one, mind you – who could explain to him what he was supposed to do next… a task that might be complicated by the request the cub had just made.
“Doesn’t feel like winning. Can you go back on your own?” Part of him wanted to chase after the dark lion and try to figure out what had happened and what would be their next move. But he also wondered if he should take the cub back to the heart of the pride and have him explain things to everyone. He couldn’t really just leave him there and it would save a lot of trouble. And then another thought occurred to him and for a moment, Lesedi looked at the cub with an urgent concern. “He… he’s never been like that with you, right…?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:33 pm
Yolla looked up at Lesedi with wide eyes and shrugged. He had no idea what was wrong with his dad. Couldn't answer that one. Even if he could, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Family was important. His dad had made that very clear. It was probably a betrayal of some kind to even say what he had.
"Of course I can. It's not that hard to find the stronghold once you're this close. But you probably shouldn't go there on your own without someone to tell them you won fair and square. Strangers - outlanders - aren't really welcome."
He made a face. "I'm not sure I count as someone to stick up for you. I'm viking born, which is better than outlander born, but my dad's outlander born, so I'm not really sure how much say I have overall."
Ranking systems made sense to Yolla despite his youth. He had been born into a pride with a very complicated hierarchy. The simplicity of Stormborn ranking made him very uneasy. There had to be more to it than he had been told. There had to be.
"And no. He's never done that before. Probably you should go after him and make sure he hasn't run into a tree or something. I'm too small to drag him back."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:13 pm
Lesedi looked down at the young dark cub for a few moments, trying – and probably failing – to hide his annoyance. Not only was the cub saying a lot of terms he should probably memorize but now he wanted Lesedi to make sure his father hadn’t hurt himself or something. Of course, the green-eyed lion knew the cub’s father was his ticket into the pride and Lesedi had already planned to go after him anyway but he hoped to all the Gods he wouldn’t have to drag the crazed lion anywhere.
“I’ll get him back.” He said at last, sounding less than pleased. He was relieved – and surprised and confused – when the cub told him this had been the first time he’d seen his father in this state but it was too late to rant about the strangeness of the situation. “Off you go. Go straight home and don’t get eaten on the way.” The last thing he needed was for the cub – who was kind of in his care at the moment – to be taken by a vulture or something right after he turned his back on him. Sighing, Lesedi started running after the dark lion, his mind filled with hopeful prayers. He hoped he’d be able to track down the other lion, hoped that he hadn’t hurt himself and - Gods, please! – he really hoped the dark lion was back to normal. - Fin -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
