[PRP] Putting the 'Rough' in Roughhousing (Mat x Huo)

[SilverLutz]

It was another day and Mate'moto was brimming with energy. The young female could hardly contain herself and, when her parents gave the all clear, she took off from the den to go find someone to play with. Her siblings were fun, but she wanted a real challenge! Someone new, someone strong, someone that she could beat and show off to the adults with.The problem was finding someone that was as ready and full of vim and vigor as she.

First thing in the morning cubs were still pretty sleepy, after all. Mat was always hard-pressed to find anyone to even play, let alone wrestle with. Her siblings usually gave up and would roll over to get her to leave them alone, and it worked. If they didn't fight back it wasn't fun! There was no challenge, there was no satisfaction in victory. Golden eyes searched the prides lands for a suitable playmate, but it was slim pickings.

Mat sighed quietly and felt her ears droop on their own accord, her tail following. Another boring day, it seemed. Dang! She was really looking forward to having some fun today, too. She ended up picking a rock to lay on, watching the adults move around to train or go to their posts. She couldn't wait until she was big! Then she could fight those that wanted to get in. Anyone that beat her would certainly be worthy of joining the Firekin...although she doubted anyone would be able to beat her.

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

She'd picked the wrong rock. Or, she might say she'd picked the right one.

That was the rock which had formerly belonged to Shula which now belonged to Maipe. It was close to the rock his sister had assaulted him from. As such, Huo always looked at it twice as he went by. If he was feeling particularly unsafe, he would circle it, inspect it, and then deem it safe.

As he jogged over, his belly starting to recede as his last meal was over a half our ago, he determined that it was not safe. However, that wasn't his sister! This was a dark Firekin, with rich reds where his sisters had whites.

"That is a bad place to sit!" he warned up at her. While Huo would never admit his sister had any chance against him, she was mean, and she could easily take out lesser lions. Huo would hate to see a poor civilian get taken out by his sister's stupidity. His mom would want him to warn this other cub. He was doing his duty.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat flicked her tail as she watched the adults do their adult thing, her little claws scraping at the rock in excitement from time to time. She couldn't wait until she was old enough to start her real training. She was going to kick some serious butt when she got older! Whether it was lions or other creatures from other prides or lions that wanted to join them, she sure would give them a run for their money.

Soft footsteps approached, but she paid them no mind. Probably just another cub coming to watch the training. But when the footsteps were accompanied by a voice - one that told her this was apparently a bad place to sit - her attention was diverted. She glanced over her shoulder at the pale cub, narrowing her golden eyes for a moment. She didn't recognize him, but that was nothing new. The pride was huge, after all. There were lots of lions she had never seen before.

"Oh yeah? Why?" she asked, not budging from her place. "Because you wanna sit here?"

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

"No!"

The response was instantaneous. Huo took in a large, deep breath. This young cub must not have been very smart, if she didn't heed a good warning.

"It's been claimed," he added helpfully. Not by him, or he would likely have shared the rock. Then, why would you claim a rock? Huo only wanted it when his sister occupied it, and only because he couldn't stand it when she had something he didn't.

"It's full of things you don't want to catch!" Like fleas, bugs, and other inconveniences.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat's ears perked up at the emphatic no, but that was the only sign of her surprise. Otherwise she remained still, golden eyes trained on the other cub. Puh...who was this guy, anyway?

"Don't want to catch?" she repeated before laughing. How could a rock have things to catch? It didn't move! "You're silly," she said with a little smirk, folding her paws over each other. "I wanna catch everything. That way I can practice so I can be a Brigadier like my mom. So if you don't wanna sit here, and if I wanna catch everything I can, why should I move?"

She also liked a bit of a challenge, and if this cub could find a good reason for her to get off the rock, maybe she'd indulge him. Maybe.

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

Huo was getting increasingly frustrated with this cub. A cub who did not take good advice, tried to insult him, and was attempting to goad him.

Don't think he didn't know a goad when he saw it! His sister attempted to do it all the time.

"Get off the rock," he tried instead. Though his voice wavered, he tried to keep it even, firm, not too-loud, but not too-soft, just like his own mother when she gave orders to those around her.

Maybe this cub would know a good order when she saw it!

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat narrowed her eyes at the command, weak though it was. She huffed softly and stood, but didn't move to get off.

"Why don't you make me?" she said, leering down at the small male. "If you can make me get off, then I'll get off. Otherwise I'm staying right here." She nodded her head, a sly grin on her face. Maybe she could claim this rock for her own. This would be a good test to see if she could protect it from others. Males grew to be pretty big and strong, but she knew she was stronger. She just had to show him who was boss.

"Or are you too scared?" she taunted. "Afraid to lose to a girl?"

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

It had become a matter of principle. Huo's ears were swiveling back and he had locked his grumpy face on the female.

His mom was a girl, and as far as he knew, they were equal opponents on the field. So, Huo began to puff up and then he sauntered up to the rock and scrambled up its backside.

The scramble left him bounding. One. Two. He leapt for the other cub, claws still in for now (his mother yelled at him when his claws were out!), and made his best attempt at a growl. It was more of a gargle.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat grinned wider as Huo's face turned sour. Ha...she got him! Excellent, time for a fight to show who was in charge of this rock! She waited for the other cub to scramble up, and lowered her front end, rear high in the air. Her fighting stance wasn't the best, but hey, she still had a lot to learn.

She let out her own squeaky growl as she leapt towards the other lion, meeting him in the middle of the rock, paws outstretched. She hit him hard, but was stunned as well and fell backwards, scrambling to stay on the rock.

"Ha!" she laughed, although it was more of a squeak. The wind had been knocked out of her by the slam. Mat took a few moments to breathe before lifting her head, her tiny claws extending to hold on to the rock. "Not bad! But try this one!"

She lashed out, her paw swiping at the male, another attempt at a roar leaving her little jaw. Again, it sounded like something a baby elephant might make.

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

Why was she laughing?

It was not that Huo did not play. He often tackled his younger siblings and tried to engage them in combat. On rare occasions, he and Maipe would enjoy their spars. Very, very rare occasions. His only brother was the best to engage in these moments. But even then, no one wanted to play with the cub that took things a little too seriously.

Which was what he was doing right now. It sounded like she was mocking him, and laughing at him all in the same breath.

Huo could feel his breath puffing in and out of his chest more rapidly. The claws came out.

He jumped to the left and gave her his own strike. See if she laughed at him now!

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat growled quickly as Huo dodged the attack, and she turned to let another paw fly, but the male was quicker than she. She jumped forward, ready to land another swipe, but a paw swung out and caught her on her chin. She was knocked to the side, stunned for a moment at the hit, not having expected it.

"Hey!" she yelped as she rolled back to her feet, golden eyes narrowed. "Now you're gonna get it." Her cheek stung a bit from Huo's claws, but now she was seeing red. She tried to leap again, but once more her attack was a bit lacking. She landed short of the other cub and tried to return the swipe, but now her cheek was really hurting and distracting her.

"That hurt," she finally whimpered, ashamed to admit defeat but in too much pain to really care. This was the first time she had been in a 'real' fight and she lost, and not only that but she was bleeding! The cuts weren't deep in reality and they'd heal nicely, but to her it felt like a gaping wound that would never close. She sat down on the rock and put her paw to her face, hissing softly at the pain. "You're a big bully!"

Funny, considering she'd been the one moments ago to taunt the pale lion.

Kaelyndra

 

[Kaelyndra]

Despite the distraction, Mat's swipe still hit home. It hit him on the nose, causing his eyes too water and his muzzle to wrinkle and turn into a full-blown scowl.

He was prepared for a full-frontal assault, gearing up to attack again, when the other cub sound down in the dirt.

A little grumbling growl rolled out of the back of his throat. "I am not," he told her, his voice strained as though he were trying to convince himself as much as her.

He watched her bring a paw to her face, clearly injured and not happy about it. Huo's immediate thought was that he might get in trouble. His mother wouldn't stand for him beating up on other cubs! She didn't even understand when it was his sister, who definitely deserved a few smacks.

"It's not even a scratch. Don't act like a baby," he told her, attempting to compensate for the funny feeling digging at his stomach. However, his little mind could see the blood and he knew he was in deep.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Mat could feel tears welling up in her eyes, and she looked away, angry at herself. She shouldn't cry! Mom would never cry. She got to her feet but, rather than continuing the fight as she should have - so she thought - she jumped off the rock and sniffled softly. She glared up at Huo, yellow eyes burning brightly thanks to the water collecting in them.

"I'm telling!" she yowled before running off through the desert, calling for her mother. The tears did fall once she got far enough away, which only served to sting her cheek more. She'd learn from this, once she was comforted and her tiny wounds were healing. Just because someone seems like a pushover doesn't mean that they actually are.

Kaelyndra

Last one from me

 

[Kaelyndra]

SilverLutz

(( Huo is going to try and convince her to stop. Feel free to have him be ignored. LOL. ))

I'm telling!

Those were definitely danger words. They were beyond danger words and headed straight for grounded.

Huo's little mind reeled. He flung himself off the rock with all the grace of, well. . . a rock. He hit the ground with a thunk and scrambled off after her.

"Wait! You can't do that!" She definitely could. "It was an accident," he called ahead as she bobbed off after her, already proclaiming his innocence to an unknown party.