[CHAL] Bark vs Bite (Tethys x Vali)

[Epine de Rose]

Tethys - Uncert

"Find something, or someone worthy of respect..."

Those were the parting words of his father to he and his sister. They had understood, of course, that duty was everything, and their father's was no exception. However, it had taken quite some time to find a pride that seemed to fit with his description. This one, or so they had heard, was just what they needed and what their father had wanted for them - strong, proud, and definitely not in need of babysitting.

The siblings had heard a few bad things about the pride, but nothing that would indicate that they were evil or dishonourable. On the contrary, most complaints seemed to come from the weaker prides and thus... were largely irrelevant.

It should have come at no surprise to anyone that the pair had therefore chosen the Stormborn to swear their allegiance to, and for that reason they both found themselves on the borders.

First though, they needed to prove they were worthy of swearing their allegiance.

It was Tethys who took the first step forward.

He sized up the grey lion for a short moment, considering each of his options, before he at last plunged forward. Picking up speed, he made a beeline towards him, but rather than going for a straight impact, he opted to slide round the lion to try hitting him from behind.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

Vali hadn't been back too terribly long from his latest Viking. It had been a short excursion, to some near by lands in hopes of finding new thralls. The locals had become wise, though, and hidden. They'd come back empty-pawed.

He was frustrated, angry... He just wanted to take it out on somebody, anybody, that it would be socially acceptable to do so with. Maybe an existing Thrall... Or, as circumstances had bestowed him with, a potential new pride member. The gray lion let out a growling roar, charging in turn. He felt the wind brush past, unsure if he had, himself, connected a blow, but the feeling of a strike on his hindquarters hadn't been missed, causing him to let out a frustrated roar.  

[Epine de Rose]

Andranis

"Haha!" Tethys was positively delighted as his initial assault landed and he afforded a smug smirk towards his sister as he went in for another blow. Thus he twisted around, his tail whipping back to try and smack at Vali's nose. He'd gotten the sneak attack, but if he was really going to win this fight he was going to have to disable him. He'd already hit him once, his feint had worked the first time, so surely it would work again?

Such was the lions confidence, that he telegraphed the move and his intention all too clearly. There was no way that Vali could miss what Tethys would be aiming to do, and if he did misread then...well, there was no way he would live it down surely? There was no way any by-stander would permit him to live it down, at least Tethys certainly wouldn't!

...And his sibling knew all too well how loud mouthed he was!  

[Andranis]

The intent was all too clear. Vali side-stepped, watching the other lion. He made no move this time to counter-attack, simply stepping this way and that to avoid being hit. He placed his paws carefully, blue eyes flashing. This lion was good... But was he good enough? His gaze passed to the lion's twin, glancing between the two. For a moment, he was reminded of a few sets of twins born into the pride, particularly Yu's twins. A boy and a girl, like these two, their genders the only difference between them as they moved like a river through a perfectly-carved bed.  

[Epine de Rose]

Urgh.

Overconfidence had always been his downfall and he had been chastised more than once by his father regarding it. He dared not look at his sister to see if the smug smirk was returned, and instead he attempt to whip himself back into a more useful position. As it was, his back to the lion was going to be of no use and the only choice he had was to flip himself round. Thus, he rolled to the side and once he was on his stomach, turned his gaze upwards and aimed for the throat.

After all, Tethys was still young and hadn't quite grown into himself just yet and Vali had a size advantage. He needed to unseat him, or at least force him to expose some sort of weakness that he could take advantage of...  

[Andranis]

He'd been distracted by his thoughts and would pay the price for it with missing mane. Letting out a snarl, Vali backed away from the attack, reaching his own paw up to swipe. Yu had taught him better than this, to always expect such moves from lions joining. After all, those from outside had far more world experience than those from within the pride. There was, of course, going out to experience the world, but that wasn't the same as being raised in different settings, under different ways. He'd have to step up his own game.  

[Epine de Rose]

It wasn't enough, he'd barely dented the lion's pride, let alone given him a lasting scar. His expression twisted in to one of frustration and had he not already been in motion it was likely that it would have gotten the better of him. Fortunately, as he had been moving, Vali's initial swipe missed... or rather, it was better to say it had mostly missed. Tethys felt the telltale sting of a claw mark on his hindquarters where he had just barely been nicked and that really was enough to push his buttons.

He was better than this, his father was better than this and his mother was a freaking goddess, he was meant to win!

"Enough" he snapped, and spun round once more. He would get passed this giant brick wall somehow, even if it almost killed him. Such was his stubborness that he plunged forward with far more conviction that previously, those this time, he simply decided to vote for a headbutt.

Either he'd knock himself out, he'd knock Vali out...or they'd both get knocked out.

It was a gamble.  

[Andranis]

It was a gamble, and it had worked. Vali was hit with the full force of it, stumbling back. He let out a snarl, shaking his head and blindly swiping. His paw connected, just barely, with SOMETHING, but he wasn't sure if it was Tethys or a rock. When his vision cleared, he all but danced around the other lion, trying to keep his distance. He was landing hits very well. "You're well on your way into the pride!" Who so ever his parents were, he was sure they would be proud that he'd bested a Reaver. Or they'd be proud if it came to a draw, another likely conclusion. Either way, Vali didn't need any seer powers to see that this determined lion was going to make it in.  

[Epine de Rose]

Oh he hit something all right...

Vali's paw did manage to land on Tethys, and while it didn't hit him too hard it did seal the lion's fate. He'd already been heading towards the rock following his all or nothing assault on Vali. The fact Vali had now hit him ensured that he had no means of stopping, no second chance to recover... and thus, it was with a dull thump that the younger lion smacked head first into the rock and, in slow motion, slid down from on top of it to lie still on the ground.

The only thing that interrupted the silence was the peals of laughter that erupted from his sister once she'd realised what had become of her brother. Positively rolling on the ground, she could scarcely applaud what would otherwise have been a good duel.

...On the plus side, Tethys was still breathing.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

Letting out a surprised sound,Vali jumped as the other lion hit the rock. "Oh, no! Oh gods!" The warrior facade immediately dropped, replaced by worry. "Are you okay?!" He hurried over, giving Tethys a shake. "Please don't be dead!" Leaning in closer, Vali's ears flicked. He could still hear breathing, at least. That was good! That was very good! He hadn't accidentally killed a would-be member! "You got more hits on me than I did on you, and I think we were evenly matched, please don't die right before you make the cut!" Doing a panic dance, jogging in place on his toes, Vali looked around, then reached up, swatting at the other lion. "Wake up!"

Epine de Rose

God I fail there... gonk