[PRP] Poison (Ovu and Muunokhoi)

[Kimaria]

Muunokhoi moved with slow and purposeful steps, striding out across the hardened ground beneath his paws. The rough pads of his feet rasped against the dirt as he went, a sign of how much travelling he had been indulging in recently. The sun was being particularly relentless today and the fur on his back felt like it was curling under its touch.

Off to his right a small gathering of slaves were toiling away at the earth, extracting stones and collecting them in great piles. Luckily for them. he was too hot to pursue much in the way of entertainment and left them to their work, moving to seek out water and shade before his next patrol. He was scheduled to take out some of the younger recruits later that day and they always were hard work. He already knew he'd lose his patience with them. It was a common enough thing now, so much so that they almost expected it of him. And who was he to disappoint?

Finally, reaching the shade, he paused to drink before throwing a casual glance around. A few other lions already lounged close by, some asleep, some simply relaxing whilst they had the chance. Nergui didn't get much rest. There was always too much work to be done.  

[~Masamune~]

Perhaps unknown to Muunokhoi as he stomped towards the shade and water, he was actually being followed. An ominous blood red male had spotted him as he passed the slaves, and was now moving to join him. It was Ovu, a former rogue who had joined the Nergui some time ago. He had been quite taken by the brutal ways of the Nergui, and had since made a name for himself. Well, amongst the slaves anyway, and those unfortunate enough to fall victim to his evil ways. Ovu was one to be feared, and never trusted.

When Muunokhoi came to a stop, Ovu slowed his pace so that he could practically skulk towards his current target. The plot he had in mind for today was one that had been growing ever since he and Sarangarel had brought the one named Zizima back to the Nergui. At the time, lying to the male in order to get him to join seemed like a good idea. As time had passed however, he decided that Zizima needed to go. And if there was one male who could help him with this, it was Muunokhoi.

"Greetings Muunokhoi."  

[Kimaria]

He gave a low growl in his throat, turning to see who it was who was interrupting his time alone. In truth, he probably should have guessed who it was from the voice. Ovu was a rather individual character, even among the Nergui. Blood-spattered and fierce with the mark of the skull draped across his face. Muunokhoi was not one for socialising but there was a sense he got from this one.

This lion knew how to kill and had proven it.

Muunokhoi could respect that - to some degree.

"Ovu." He replied, voice gravelly. "Not tormenting the slaves today?" Perhaps it had been too hot for him, too. Lucky slaves. Perhaps they prayed for the intensity of the sun everyday. He smiled at the thought and turned fully to face the other. "Are you helping with the recruits, too?"  

[~Masamune~]

Like a snake, he tilted his head as he skulked the rest of the way, before lowering his body to lie beside Muunokhoi. A grim chuckle escaped his throat at the mention of the slaves. "There's still plenty of time left for that." His eyes flashed darkly. "Besides, I have the most fun with them at night." Ovu's blood red coat and black skeletal markings were intimidating enough during the day, but at night, he became a completely different monster.

That was his business however, and he was quick to remind himself that the deepest and darkest of his thoughts had to remain his alone. At the mention of the recruits, he shook his head. Though, the subject of the recruits would allow him to bring up Zizima sooner rather than later. "I thought that Zizima was helping the recruits today?" He smiled, in a sickly sweet sort of way, in an effort to look and sound sincere. "He's been such a help, don't you think?" It was a dangerous choice of words around Muunokhoi, but he knew exactly what he was doing.  

[Kimaria]

He chuckled in response to that, a deep, gravelley laugh that sounded more menacing than happy. Scaring the slaves during the dark hours did sound like it could be quite entertaining. Thinking they were safe, hidden by shadow, curled up tight. And then along comes a lion with claws and fangs, reminding them where and what they were.

However, the laugh cut off at the mention of that particular lion's name, his teeth clipping together as his head shot up. Growling, he bared his teeth, clearly infuriated at the thought of that lion. "No, I do not think." He snapped, curling his claws into the compact earth beneath him. "That lion is no more than a recruit himself! He with his scars. The fools admire him like a Founder-blood." His tail thrashed and he was up on his feet again, pacing angrily. "We'll see who is so brave and merciless when battle comes and he cowers before his enemies like a newborn cub."

He snorted, turning his head. "We will not talk of him."

Oh yes, it was clear that there was jealousy there in his heart, growing and expanding. One of these days the shell holding it in would snap and his fury would be unleashed.  

[~Masamune~]

Ovu was a big male, so despite the fact that he was lay down, he still looked very large and incredibly intimidating. He didn't fear the likes of Muunokhoi or Zizima, and although he would be more than happy to dismember either of them, his plan called for them to fight each other. A somewhat distasteful expression touched his face, as if he was suddenly unimpressed by his own plan. Then he remembered that if he attacked and killed either of those males, the Nergui would most likely attempt to attack and kill him. So yes, in this particular situation, he needed to use his brains instead of his brawn.

When Muunokhoi snapped at him, Ovu looked quite taken aback, as if it was a complete shock to him that the brown male had a problem with Zizima. "Now that you mention it, he does seem to be getting a lot of special treatment, even though he's new." He frowned darkly, his bloodshot eyes now fixated on who he hoped would be his new best friend. "I don't remember receiving such adulation when I first joined, and I've proven myself to Graos Oma on numerous occasions since then." His tone of voice was bitter and indignant, suggesting that he too felt the same way about Zizima as Muunokhoi did.  

[Kimaria]

"It is Sarangerel's fault." He rumbled with anger. "She introduced him. She made him out to be more than what he is. He has the scars and the size but can he fight as you and I can, Ovu? I say not." He stamped a paw fiercely into the ground and growled louder, his tail thrashing behind him.

"She is so proud of herself and he thinks himself special." He snorted, turning his head to eye his red companion. "Perhaps some true Nergui should put him in his place. Show him that he has to earn his respect just as we did."

He leapt up and began to pace again, the long tangles of his mane touched by the sunlight as he went. "It should be us they tell the stories about. It should be me. Does no one remember what I did to get where I am?"  

[~Masamune~]

"Ahh, Sarangerel." Ovu tutted. "Her blood allows her to get away with much." If he remembered correctly, Sarangerel was of old blood, meaning she was quite revered within the Nergui. Not that it mattered to him personally, as in his mind, he was better than all of them.

It was clear that Muunokhoi was getting quickly worked up, even quicker than Ovu had anticipated. "I completely agree Muunokhoi. For all we know, those scars could mean that he's terrible in battle! That he's unable to dodge attacks, or go in for the kill sooner rather than later. They mean nothing until he has proven himself."

Ovu watched as Muunokhoi got to his feet and started pacing. The bloody red male would have to be careful about what he said in regards to Sarangerel. Her relationship with Muunokhoi had always been volatile as far as he had seen, but the brown male may still care for her. "We...could teach him a lesson. It's just..." He tilted his head slightly as he trailed off. "Doesn't it bother you what Sarangerel would think if we hurt him? After all, she has taken quite a shine to him, hasn't she?"  

[Kimaria]

"It does." He replied after a moment. "But she is Founder and being bound to her ensures my own status." Did he feel affection for her? It was a tricky thing. He enjoyed being wed to a Founder-blood and, perhaps, he enjoyed the challenge of her attitude. Then again, Nergui women tended to be feisty, so Sarangerel - perhaps - was not so unusual in that sense.

His tail lashed, his face curling in a snarl. "She found him out in rogue lands. She thinks of him as a pet. No more." Denial, perhaps? Or maybe he didn't want Ovu to think that he didn't have what it took to keep hold of his woman. The latter seemed more likely. Muunokhou was not one for burying his head in the sand. "We should teach her pet a lesson he will not forget. Carve some shame into his pelt to prove to everyone that he is nothing but a liar."

Getting rid of that grey lion would make some of his problems, at least, go away. "We should shame him." He replied, his eyes narrowing. "Open the pride's eyes to what he truly is."  

[~Masamune~]

Ovu grinned wickedly. In truth, he knew very little about how Sarangerel really felt about Zizima, but he knew at least that she thought of his as more than a mere pet. He had seen the way her eyes lit up when they first encountered him, how her voice swelled with pride as she tried to convince him to join. In reality, it was he who had convinced him, by spinning him a web of lies. The bloody red male was playing a very dangerous game at this point, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.

"What do you propose we do then? If we are to truely shame him, we would not be able to take him on together, as then we would be seen as cowards. Besides, even if it was only one of us, attacking him for no reason would not go down well with the rest of the Nergui." Ovu raised a paw and started raking it through his matted, blood-stained mane, seemingly deep in thought.  

[Kimaria]

"No." The lion growled. "They love him."

The bitter jealousy flooded his eyes and lifted the fur along his shoulders. He had fought and earned his title with teeth and claw. What had Zizima done? Nothing at all.

"I think this lion a liar. I think him false. We could lure him into a trap and watch it close around his neck. If he died in battle his name would be sullied and us as survivors could return and take the glory from his failure." He smirked, liking the sound of that plan.

"I will ensure that he is picked for the next expedition into rogue territory. Mark my words, by the time we are done, his name will be mocked and then forgotten." He seemed to relax a little at that, eyeing the blood-red male whom he trusted more than he should. "Now, there are some recruits who await my aid. May the shadows keep you." And, with a gruff sound of goodbye, he loped off, in the direction of the training grounds.  

[~Masamune~]

An evil glint lit up Ovu's eyes as Muunokhoi spoke of what needed to be done. The idea wasn't fool-proof of course, but he was quite sure that he could walk away from it unscathed, even if the jealous brown male didn't. Maybe, just maybe, he could kill two birds with one stone. With the popular new member AND the current warlord gone, there would be very little to stop him from rising through the Nergui.

Such ambitions were very well hidden however, as Ovu simply continued to grin and emphatically nod. "Perfect. I'll look forward to it then." With that, he gave his new best friend a low and gracious bow, before he himself stalked off in a particular direction. Time to play with the slaves some more.

(( Finished! ))