Dik stared down at the lion in front of him. Cheza hadn’t been lying when she’d said that he was crazy. There was nothing but rage in those red eyes glaring back at him. The lion was big, too. And obviously a skilled fighter. Dik would have his work cut out for him. Well, it was a good thing he knew a trick or two. “Back off and leave now. No harm will come to you.” The leopard warned. He may be smaller in stature, but Dik knew how to use his claws.
Romaleos snorted and laughed cruelly at the leopard’s remark. Did the other male think him a coward? As if Romaleous would ever run away from a battle. Not to mention the fact the he could very well crush this puny male in between his paws. This battle would be easy fought. Almost too easy. Perhaps Romaleos might even feel bad when he was drenched in the other male’s blood. Almost. But after seeing the way the leopard was looking at Cheza, his Cheza, his sweet desert rose, well, there was absolutely no way Romaleous could let him live. With a mighty roar, Romaleos lunged, teeth bared and claws outstretched.
Dik rolled easily to the side, catching the underside of the lion with his claws and feeling slightly satisfied when he heard the lion hiss in pain. Just slightly. It was never right to take pleasure from another’s pain, something that had been drilled into Dik’s head. But on this occasion, the leopard was having a little bit of trouble resisting the urge. “We don’t have to fight. Cheza obviously doesn’t like you. Let her go, and we can part without having to draw blood.” Any more blood, that is. There had been a few cuts and lacerations dealt when the lion had tried to attack Cheza. Dik was just grateful that she had managed to get away. Hopefully, she was well on her way to safety. And even if Dik did end up losing this battle, then at least he would have given Cheza a running start. Not that Dik tended to lose battles very often.
Romaleos saw red. How dare this insolent, insignificant, worthless piece of meat speak to him about Cheza? Cheza was his. And only his. This leopard had tainted her mind, brainwashed her, and most importantly, had let her escape. He thought he could speak in place of Romaleos’ precious desert rose? No. Absolutely not. Romaleos would rip his jaw off and make sure the leopard could never speak again. “Cheza is mine!” The lion cried, once more leaping for Dik. But this time, he knew what the leopard would do.
Dik pursed his lips. Why was it that villains never just….went down easily? Or knew when they weren’t wanted? Such a hassle. The leopard could only imagine how much easier his life would be if all the bad guys would just go down quietly. At least this one wasn’t monologue-ing. However, the leopard might appreciate a bit of long-winded speech. According to Cheza’s story, she had really only met this lion once before. And now he was trying kidnap her as his bride? Dik wouldn’t mind a chance to understand just what was wrong with this lion. The leopard dodged the lion once more, effortless and with ease. But suddenly, a crushing weight pinned him to the ground, making it hard for him to breathe.
Romaleos let himself drop as soon as the leopard began to dart underneath him and away. He grinned mercilessly as he felt the leopard’s body beneath him. Before the other male could react, Romaleos shifted around so that he could dig his claws into the leopard, tearing at whatever skin happened to find its way underneath his claws, biting and tearing at every bit of flesh he could grab. “You touched her! No one can touch her, no one but me!”
Dik couldn’t help the quiet yowl. This lion knew how to cause damage. Thankfully, for the time being, it was just superficial damage. Dik had the feeling this male was the torturing type, just giving him as many wound as possible for now. Gah, he felt so stupid for getting pinned like this! He should have known better not to use the same move twice. Complacency was a fighter’s worst enemy. Dik writhed and squirmed like a fish flopping upon a river bank. It only aided the lion on top of him, his movements making it easier for the brute to draw blood. But it was a sacrifice Dik had to make in order to get free. When he finally saw his opportunity, the male crouched in on himself and rolled away, not wasting any time in aiming for the lion’s eyes. He normally wasn’t a dirty fighter, but nothing was off limits in a battle for one’s life. Especially considering that if he lost, Cheza would be put in danger.
Romaleos reared back as the leopard was suddenly out from underneath him and slashing at his face. He was used to fighting other lions, not things so slippery and flexible as a leopard. A claw found its mark, dragging along Romaleos’ eye. The lion pulled back before any real damage could be done, but there was now blood in his vision. The lion blindly struck out with all his strength, trying to drive the leopard away from him.
Dik knew when he’d hit his target. The lion lifted himself up on his back legs, well out of Dik’s normal range. This was his opening. The leopard jumped. Injured and unguarded, Dik could easily knock the lion off balance and gain the upperhand. But he wasn’t expecting the sudden blow that knocked him upside the head. The leopard went flying into the dirt, skull ringing and vision refusing to work. For a second, Dik thought a passing rhino had come and knocked him down. The leopard tried to force his legs and paws to move, tried to return to a standing and fighting ready position, but his body refused to move against the pounding in his head.
Romaleos rubbed some of the blood out of his eye, looking up to see his opponent groaning and dizzy on the ground. The lion couldn’t help but laugh. He stalked towards the leopard, standing over him with murder in his eyes. His prey was helpless and completely at his mercy, just how Romaleos liked them. He delicately placed a claw on the leopard’s throat, tilting the other male’s face upwards. The leopard groaned in protest. Oh yes, Romaleos would enjoy killing him.
Word Count: 1098