[CHAL] Grudge Match (Don & Brandr)

[Jovi of Shadows]

(This RP takes place before the Meta.)

Brandr hadn't taken long to lick his wounds and steady his breath after that last beat down. He was ready to go home, he was motivated, and now he had a reason to beat the snot out of that reaver. Calling him unmanly had been a large blow to his already shaken pride, and Brandr would not let that go lightly. Instead of taking his time to find the reaver on patrol, which was probably closer, he tracked the golden lion until he found him sitting at the edge of the pride's border. Brandr could feel his fur bristle at the thought of ripping into the reaver's flesh. He would get into his pride today, and he would do it by painting that pale pelt red. But Brandr was not without honor, so he once more issued his challenge by roaring to the heavens, before charging straight at the golden reaver. Oh his body ached, but he'd drag his sorry behind to one of the healer's dens before he went limping away again.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Don had continued his patrol as if nothing had happened; and truly, it hadn't. The fight with the dark challenger hadn't been exciting or even all that difficult, and Don was left wanting. It had been satisfying enough to rip into the dark one's hide, but there had been no challenge in doing so. It was as if the dark lion hadn't even been trying all that hard, and it had made it easier for Don to get the better of him. To say the least, he wasn't expecting the same lion to come charging back up to him, issuing another challenge so soon after being beaten. In fact, he was fairly certain the dark pelted creature was still bleeding in places. Don's ears fell flat against his skull, agitation thick in his warning growl to the approaching lion. Hadn't he had enough? Or did Don have to beat it into his thick skull again?  

[Jovi of Shadows]

He was irritated, was he? Brandr returned the growl with an infuriated snarl, crimson eyes locking with that of the golden reaver. This wasn't just some challenge, this was a grudge, and Brandr wasn't going to let himself be beaten so easily this time. The ground rushed past underneath him as he barreled straight for the other lion, only instead of directly attacking the front like he had done before, the dark lion stooped left and threw a shoulder at the other lion's chest. This close to one another, his teeth went snapping and his claws sought to snag themselves into the pale pelt of the golden reaver. Brandr would have his day back among the Stormborn, and no one was going to stand in the way!  

[Jovi of Shadows]

It was hard to tell if the dark lion was actually serious this time, but Don wasn't one for taking chances. He'd prepared himself for the frontal assault tactic the challenger had used before, but was caught off guard by the feint and the shoulder check to his chest. Don staggered away, narrowly missing claws and fangs as they came into close quarters again. Hmm, maybe this would be challenge after all. If nothing else, the dark lion seemed to be fighting smarter now, and that was something. Whether or not if would be enough, only time would tell. So Don decided to test this theory, by lunging forward with claws outstretched, ready to grapple with the dark challenger.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Satisfaction. He'd succeeded in knocking the golden lion around, but Brandr still wished to shred that pale hide of his. It was frustrating when his claws were evaded, but the soon to be ex-exile was not going to make the same mistakes twice. He had lost once already, he would not allow it to happen again! Without skipping a beat the reaver flung himself toward Brandr, and it was all he could do to connect with the brute, lest be at the other lion's mercy. The crunching weight of both full-grown warriors as the clashed was enough to wind Brandr, his stamina already severely depleted from the earlier challenge. So he thrashed, feeling claws rip into hide, both his and the pain of the golden reaver's upon his own flesh. In close quarters like this, with claws and teeth and muscle slamming against one another, it was difficult to get the upper paw.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Don, the cold and calculating male that he was, couldn't help but find a certain degree of pleasure in the close quarters combat. He was no stranger to the ways of battle, and wished to choke the distance between himself and his opponent, leaving the dark challenger little room for mistakes. Don continued to press the attack, neither able to gain any ground in beating the challenger to a pulp, nor slip up and get himself into a tight situation. Eventually they found themselves circling as they grappled and struggled to knock each other off their paws, the unsteady throwing of weight threatening to knock the tangle of lions to the ground. The only question was, who would come out on top? For who ever pinned the other, would surely have his opponent at the mercy of his strength.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

It was a struggle, there was no questioning that, and Brandr too could feel that their grapple would soon end with a victor. The bruised and battered lion, bleeding from previous wounds and new ones, redoubled his efforts. He would have this! He would have his day back among his people! The outcasted challenger pushed and shoved, straining his muscles as he twisted desperately to gain control. Then it happened. The tangled mess of blood-thirsty lion toppled over, claws and teeth flying in every which direction, with nothing but sheer strength steering the plummet. Brandr was in luck. For as big as the golden reaver was, Brandr was thicker and heavier, and thus had an easier time maneuvering the smaller body. The clash of lion hit the hard ground with a thud, and as luck would have it, Brander had managed to stay on top. He could see the realization in the other's eyes, and Brandr could not help the cruel, smug, grin that snarled its way onto his maw. He had done it, he had won! Unfortunately... the fight was not over just yet, and though he had his opponent pinned, he was distracted with the idea of finally going home.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Well, s**t. His back hit the ground hard, enough to knock the air from his lungs, and Don scrunched his maw into a defensive snarl as he awaited the final blow. And waited. And waited some more until his opponent had lost his chance. Don may have been pinned, but he managed to get his hind legs under the guy, and in an instant managed to push the guy off balance and free himself. Don rolled quickly to his belly, regarding the baffled challenger with a cold stare. "Jackass", he rumbled between breathes. What kind of fight was that? He had technincally been beaten, but if this had been a fight for the death, he was certain the dark one would be dead right about now. Not wishing to further pursue the conflict, Don jabbed his head in the direction of the pride. "Go on already." All in all, it was a bit of a let down.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Anger blustered quickly in Brandr, his pride once more threatened. He had won fair and square! A growl edged itself into his voice as he once more got to his paws, though the rush of battle was quickly leaving him, and it was taking a toll on his battered body. Not only had he fought one challenge, but two! One right after the other. He muscles strained to hold his weight, and the dark lion begrudgingly decided it was not worth another conflict with this this reaver. He had won, that's all that mattered. In true Stormborn fashion, Brandr scoffed and grumbled, "Some day, I will kill you". ******** b*****d. With little more to say to one another, Brandr turned his back on the golden lion, making his way slowly back to the pride he had been born into. Wounded and stumbling, but with pride deep in his chest. It had been a difficult year alone in the roguelands, but honor had dictated it so. Now that he was back, he intended to reclaim his reaver status as quickly as possible.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

To hear those words come from the mouth of a supposed rogue piqued Don's curiosity. He might has inquired about it, but frankly he wasn't certain if he cared enough to do so. Either this guy had had run-ins with Stormborn before, or just maybe he was a returning member. For whatever reason the Stormborn exiled their own, he was certain of one thing: his probably had to do with his sheer lack of cunning. To whatever degree it might be, the dark stranger had shown very little in the smarts department. This made him smirk, as he replied with the traditional, "Not today", all too smugly. Indeed, the dark lion had won his way in, but not easily, and certainly by no mastered skill. Had they been in this to kill each other, Don had no doubt that he would have been the victor this day.