Ulfric heard the screaming from a distance, and he turned his head. It took him a moment to decide to investigate, as he had no personal investment in the people of these lands. Their problems were their own, unless he decided otherwise. He was not inclined to do so, but the screams that reached him were in a familiar tone. That little lioness he had seen not too long ago. She was somewhere in the area, and something was attacking her. She sounded like she was in a pure state of terror. Ulfric saw no honor in terrifying a little girl, who had no standing, no political weight, no importance in a war that was not happening. As far as he knew, anyway. So he made his way toward the sound and saw the leopard digging into underbrush.
He saw what the leopard was trying to reach, the little lioness. He also saw a smile on the leopard’s face and realized in one moment that the creature was doing it for fun, and no other reason. He was a cruel creature, and delighted in the terror he was bringing to the little lioness. That was purposeless and thus cowardly. There were ways to justify actions, but an act of cruelty without a point was an abomination in Ulfric’s mind. He growled very lowly and moved toward the leopard, who was so distracted he did not even see the lion coming.
Ulfric bit into the leopard’s tail and hauled him out of the bush like he weighed nothing at all.
Once Tailung got his bearings, he turned and snarled at the lion. He was not expecting such a large opponent: he had thought it was going to be Kita coming to ruin his fun. But no, here was a powerful looking opponent that the leopard had never seen before. And would never see again, for he had made a mistake in interrupting Tailung’s fun. He growled viciously, but a grin spread across his face as he sized his opponent up. Ulfric was large and powerful looking, but he would not have speed on his side.
Tailung knew himself to be strong and fast. This lion was a fool for making an enemy out of him.
“Is that one yours?” Tailung growled, laughing, “I did not know you had laid claim to the whelp already. By all means, feel free to take her as you see fit. Or have you already?” He grinned wickedly but Ulfric’s face was impassive, a stone wall. He stared at Tailung with disgust creeping through his veins, an icy feeling that burned like acid after a moment. He was ready for a fight and, really, he wanted it. He did not know, having never seen this leopard before, but he knew the world would be better off without him. Some fighters were strong and dangerous, cruel and even evil, but they served a purpose. Ulfric knew without much thought that Tailung would never be one of those. This leopard was a waste.
“What’s the matter, big boy? Too scared to talk? That’s alright. Perhaps we should just let our claws do the talking. And when I’m done with you, I’ll rip that little lioness to shreds. I hope its your daughter: that will make it all the more enjoyable.”
The corner of Ulfric’s nose wrinkled.
With that, the fight began. Claws and teeth were quickly drenched in blood, and both were met with an opponent they had not expected. Ulfric knew Tailung would be strong, but his speed was hard to contend with. Tailung had underestimated Ulfric completely, and suffered for it. They both were fast learners, however, and the battle heated up profoundly. Claw swipes, terrible blows, rips, tears, bites: they landed attacks and kept going, neither willing to back down.
Ulfric caught Tailung by the neck with his massive jaws, wrenching his head back and forth as if shaking the life out of the leopard before he threw him to the side. Tailung slammed into a tree and hit the ground in a heap, wobbling to his feet slowly. Ulfric took a deep breath and let out a mighty roar, enough to shake leaves from the trees and make the earth at their feet tremble. It was deafening to Tailung’s sensitive ears and he let out his own roar, far softer, of protest and pain. Ulfric charged while Tailung was distracted, aiming to kill.
Tailung surprised him by attacking much quicker than Ulfric anticipated, ducking down and slashing up at the large lion’s underside. He managed to rip a wound into Ulfric’s stomach but was treated to another dose of his mighty jaws as Ulfric chomped down on Tailung’s back. He shook the leopard again, throwing off his balance once more and dragging him a bit before tossing him into another tree. This time the leopard hit the ground and was much slower to get to his feet. Both were bleeding and panting.
The leopard looked at his opponent and snarled. Ulfric was stepping closer. He felt a sting of fear and it infuriated him. No stranger was going to kill him! Not before he had his chance to settle things with his master. Not before he saw Kita one more time. No, he would not allow himself to die before then. He snarled viciously, baring his teeth and hissing, but it was just a show. He swiped his paws and threw dirt into Ulfric’s eyes. A tired, but classic escape tactic. Ulfric pulled his head back, and Tailung took off running as best as his bleeding and wounded body would allow. He left a trail of blood behind him, cursing the lion that had done this to him and swearing that once he defeated his former master and dealt with Kita, he would hunt the lion with a bear on his side down.
Ulfric breathed heavily, watching the leopard retreat. Let him run, he thought to himself. The battle had been more than he anticipated, and he regretted it slightly. What he lost, the injuries he had sustained, were more than he thought and was willing to wager on someone he had not even known. But at least he had granted her an escape. He hoped she used it well, and did not waste his gift to her. He wavered, his legs giving out from under him, blood loss making him weak. He laid down, wondering if this was how he was meant to die.
It was funny. He always thought himself destined for something far greater than a brawl in a woods over a young lioness he would never see again. He had always imagined his death would hold so much more impact than that.
(Word Count: 1,122 in Word)
