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 Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:21 pm
 Awakened with a start by her dreams, the white cub was suddenly upright, red opened wide, searching the den for any trace of what had haunted her dreams. A deep breath, it was only a dream, but it had seemed so real, as if something was telling her that her path was about to change.
Eyes taking in the darkness, she took in the forms of her sleeping family, mother, father, and her brothers. They were all sleeping soundly, unaware that she had roused from her slumber. For a moment she laid her chin back on her paws as if to return to sleep, but something stirred in her, and she instead rose to her feet and padded silently to the den entrance.
The night was dark and moonless, lite only by the stars above, perhaps an omen of what was to come. With a single glance back to the den to be sure she hadn't been followed, the cub bounded down the rocks to the grassy plain below. Where her paws carried her she did not know, it was as if she was following a feeling, an inexplicable urge to find something.
Perhaps a taste of blood would satisfy her and allow her to return to sleep. Now, what was around that she could unleash her sadistic desire on.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:44 pm
Mrost slunk out there in the darkness, where normally he'd be asleep in the night or wandering, tonight he moved with a purpose. He'd waited long enough he felt, for the guard to go down, for his brother's children to be left to their own devices, for the over-protectiveness of a mother and the watchfulness of a father to subside just enough that he could edge in. The Pridelands were open to him now after the recent upsets and he moved like a shadow under skies that glimmered back the colour of his fur. He could sense the ambition that marked out the lioness he sought, she was unique, seperate from her siblings and had the qualities he desired.
So he drew nearer, his armour cloaked in illusion so as not to draw attention, he watched the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips, his tail scything the air behind him. However, that smirk faded as he got a better look at the juvenile who stood before him, those markings and the pale coat where unmistakably those of one of his deceased generals, the female he had always mentally referred to as the white devil or the blood fiend, she had been efficient at what she did and had been a pride to command, never failing to execute anyone she was told to.
And she was Tanaka's daughter? For once he classed that so much the better, she had been born of a branch of his bloodline, the lesser -in his mind- but still close by, this was enough.Gathering his wits up once more and with his calm exterior restored for now, stepped out in front of her, meeting her gaze as soon as he could with his own slitted one..
"Ah, my dear niece, best of all your siblings. I come tonight with an urgent message and an offer of a return to your old life, the one just beyond the edges of memory, the flash of lightning in the night, the scent of blood on your senses as you wake in the morning."
he smirked "I know you recall it somewhere, the life you had before this one, you can reclaim it, if you choose."
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:13 pm
Red eyes narrowed, her prowl through the darkness interrupted by the blue lion, her maw parted to reveal one glistening fang. But there was a curiosity in her stance, a familiarity in her gaze. She recognized him, though she did not ever remember seeing him, she felt she knew who he was.
"I know you, you were in my dreams."
It dawned on her, that unmistakable blue hide, that large form, the glowing markings; she had seen this creature in her dreams, the dreams that had come to her since her birth. Was this the greatest that she was destined for, the destiny that she had foreseen? As the lion's words met her ears, a broad and wicked grin spread across her maw, someone who at last saw her for what she was, the greatest among her family, perhaps with this lion she would even rise above her father.
There was a dark ambition in those crimson eyes, perhaps strengthened by the large lion before her. She felt drawn to him, though she did not yet fully understand why, certainly she would in time. At the very least he lacked the weaknesses that her father possessed, excellent.
"An old life? How do I reclaim it?"-------------------------------- The white lion had always been a light sleeper. And though he had not stirred when he daughter slipped from the den, now he suddenly awakened. A presence pierced his mind, breaking through his peaceful sleep, a presence he knew all too well. Almost frantic, his green eye searched the den, finding the form of his mate and then each cub in turn. His worst fear was realized, a cub was missing, and though he thoroughly searched the den, his daughter was no where to be found.
"Kali."
A single word spoken, Tanaka rose to his paws, slipping from his sleeping family, massive pawsteps carrying him to the entrance. She wasn't here either, that could only mean one thing, the god of war was here, and his daughter was in danger.
Leaping down the rock in a single jump, paws landing sounding on the ground beneath, he had barely touched the ground before breaking into a run. Talons extended, a snarl already on his maw, he charged toward the presence he had felt, he had to reach him before he got to Kali.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:22 pm
Mrost let the illusion billow away as if it had never been, showing his true self having no reason to hide his identity. He didn't understand how dreams worked, only that some seemed to have premonitory ones on occasion, he himself dreamed only of battle, dreams a chaotic trait of the mortals. "Indeed, then your memory persists, youth didn't rob you of it.." he said, glad to hear that at least a spark of recognition was there. He would do his best to rekindle that recognition and the flame of talent and ability that had accompanied it.
He flicked a stray lock of mane out of his eyes and grinned. "You reclaim it by leaving this dull, trite land and by following me. I will show you places and skills, the like of which would give nightmares to some of the complacent fat cats around these lands." He looked over his shoulder, sensing already a stirring nearby, Tanaka had not slept on as he would have wished but was on the move.
"It is a decision I offer you once and once only, decline and I will not return. But make haste for your father, my brother approaches and we have a less than favourable opinion of each other."
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:48 pm
Her eyes widened, watching in fascination as the god's true form was revealed before her. Yes, that was the lion she had seen so many times in her dreams, or were they memories? He was far more magnificent in person, and here he was offering her all that she had longed for.
A malevolent grin on her maw, Mahakali stepped toward the blue god, eager to join him and to learn of her past, to seize all that he offered. This sickeningly peaceful land held nothing for her, she was ready to leave it all behind and seize her true path, the glory that awaited her.
"I will go with you."
A small snarl crossed her a maw, a disgusted snort at the mention of her father. She didn't care if he was coming, he couldn't stop her.
"He is weak, I care nothing for him."
--------------------------------
A fierce growl pierced the night as the white lion charged, paws moving in massive strikes across the grassland. Even in motion his posture was aggressive, vicious, a father determined to save his daughter from the god that had dared venture into his home, to threaten his family.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, he would not hear his daughters words, his ears pinned back against the wind that rushed passed him with each stride. A powerful leap, and the white god brought himself into full view, his eyes narrowed, talons extended, fangs bared maliciously, fur raised, his entire body coiled for attack. It was a terrifying site, a demon possessed by the fury of hell.
"Get away from my daughter."
His voice was a threat, immovable, he would not taken no for an answer, nor would he allow his brother to take another step toward his daughter.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:57 pm
Mrost gave her a pleased grin. "I expected nothing less from you, your father has not led you astray." He would have said more but Tanaka chose that moment to arrive, out to defend his daughter and an opponent Mrost always remained aware was not to be trifled with, every time they met they came off the worse for it and this time there was a lion at stake, family.
He stood where he was, his posture stiffening immediately, braced for an attack. He wasn't about to give Kali up easily and for once he'd fight to keep something. That frustratingly calm exterior cracked ever so slightly as he turned to eye his brother, barely a creature was stirring, he found that amusing, perhaps they knew when something of magnitude was afoot?
His tail curled as his grin widened, the spiked glinting in the starlight.
"Then why don't you stop me?" he said with challenge in his tone.
And took another step forward.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:59 pm
She was prepared to go with him, ears eager to hear the words spoken by the lion that so fed her ambition. But her father had to interfere, that weak old man who understood nothing of strength of the future that awaited her. Idiot, how dare he! How dare he try to keep her from her destiny, from all that was meant to be hers, it was infuriating.
A snarl crossed her maw, a malicious growl rising from throat. Her father would not interfere, he would not stop her, her path was hers to choose. She wanted to jump between them, to show her father the anger she felt.
However evil and ambitious though she may have been, she was not foolish. The two lions were far larger than she was, and as she was now she was no match for her father. Eyes narrowed, she sank into the grass, a silent pawstep toward the blue god. Perhaps if she remained unseen, she could reach him before her father stopped her, and they could leave this pitiful land behind forever.------------------------------ A low, hellish growl echoed in the white lion, maw parted, baring fangs like a venomous monster, a darkness surrounding him as if he'd rise from hell itself. The god of conflict faced his brother in all his horrific glory, an infernal fire burning in his green eye, the demon at his most monstrous, a sight most mortals would flee from, that would strike fear in even the most courageous.
"I intend to."
That single step was all the provocation he needed, one step more than he was prepared to allow. No further warnings or posturing, no further threats, his sole response was now to act, and he did so with a vengence.
His legs coiled, the lion sprang, his body stretching to full length closing the last distance between them, massive paws reaching to lash at that blue hide, his jaws parted, fangs determined to find his brother's throat. An attack from the front may not have been his best plan, but in his hellish fury he did not care. He had to protect his only daughter, whatever the cost.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:29 am
Mrost was ready for the attack as it came, but despite knowing that the pounce was coming, the sheer weight of his brother compared to himself was always a shock to him. Even with his armour, Tanaka was heavier and it took considerable effort to stay upright, allowing the slash to land in order to protect his throat. He snarled loudly, smirking at the searing pain that lashed across the cut. Pain was a welcome thing to him, for Mrost it was as much a part of life as a heartbeat and this time he was actually fighting over a lioness who could cause more pain to Tanaka than his claws and fangs ever could.
With a defiant roar, he shoved back against Tanaka with all the force in his forepaws, black claws extended trying to keep him away from his neck, while at the same time attempting to use his long spiked tail as a painful distraction. It was times like these he was glad of his armour and spiked exterior, he might have been smaller but could prove a formidable opponent to his dangerous brother.
"Ahaha! HA! It's been too long since we last fought you know." he mocked from between teeth gritted with the effort of the fight.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:33 pm
"That's funny, I was going to say it hadn't been long enough!"
His words were a snarl, punctuated with a menacing snap of his jaws. There was one advantage to a full-force frontal assault, most of his body was out of range of his brother's spiked tail. However his extended paws and face were dangerously vulnerable, nor was he have much luck getting through that infernal armor.
So he'd have to use some strategy, or at least as much as his rage driven mind would allow him. Rearing back, one massive paw raised, talons glistening in the starlight like a serpent about to strike; the blow fell hard, aiming squarely for his brother's head. With any luck talons would find tender eyes, but more than that, it was a distraction. A sideward leap, he lunged at his brother's side, jaws parted, fangs hungering to sink into his brother's hide. If he couldn't go through the armor, he'd have to go around it.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:57 pm
Mrost was trying to keep his thoughts cool, not to let that beserker rage take him over that so often did on the battlefield. It worked against mortals but against his brother every single attack had to be perfect, calculated or he was toast. Mrost let the blow come down towards his head, only to swing around at the last moment in an attempt to catch Tanaka's paw in his fangs and parry the blow. He missed narrowly, his teeth clipping on air, Tanaka's claws catching his tender nose. He let out a snarl and with renewed fury swung around to face Tanaka, letting the blow land on his side so that he could launch an attack of his own, swinging one paw around with all the force he could muster in the direction of Tanaka's face, he had to put him off, make the blood flow into his eyes /something/ he couldn't let his mind support any more blows of that magnitude, the violet blood already worryingly visible.
He steeled himself, hoping that the last hit would land and he could throw his weight in in a shot at flooring the other lion.
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:38 pm
The instant his talons made contact, the lion's paw curled to sink his talons deeper, then jerking away in an attempt to tear and inflict as much damage and pain on the blue lion as possible, to spill that blood on the ground. But he was too focused on his own attack, barely aware of his brother's strike in time to protect his one good eye; his head turned, the blow landed solidly against the other, cutting through his thick mane and into the scarred flesh beneath.
A sharp roar pierced the air, echoing with rage. But the white lion never stopped moving, he knew doing so would only leave him open to attack, something he could not afford when fighting the lion who had always proved a match for him. One paw lashed out viciously at the blue paw, talons brandished. Oh how he wanted to tear the limb free, to rend it from his brother's body, to hear him scream in pain. The other paw he planted on the ground, twisting his body to bring his powerful hind end off the ground, rear paws kicking at Mrost's side.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:11 pm
Everything happened so fast that Mrost barely had time to plan his attack, simply hoping that through some miracle of endurance he could last out his larger brother. He wasn't good at one on one fighting, more used to having soldiers by his side than fighting outright. Still, this was what he lived for in one way, the thrill of the battle. Let the blood flow, even the pain felt fantastically real in a world deadened by time. He thanked whatever powers there were for the armour on his legs that protected most of their flesh from the blow that slashed his exposed toes, causing him to draw back with a hiss of pain, taking the hit to his side but not before swinging his tailblades around for a swipe in retaliation, once again relentlessly clawing, biting anything that would let him get access to an area that would debilitate his brother before he himself collapsed from his sustained injuries.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:40 pm
There are two types of warriors that seem near invincible, those that never seem to fall. There are those that seem to be untouchable, protected by some heavenly aura; and there are those that just keep coming, that never fall despite the degree of injuries they take. Tonight, Tanaka was the second type. He refused to give up, determined to protect his only daughter no matter the cost.
Despite the snarls of pain that emitted from his own throat, the blood that flowed as talons tore into his own hide, and in spite of the spiked tail that struck hard into his hind leg; the white lion kept coming.
Teeth clenched tightly, a low menacing snarl rumbling through his chest, falling from his jaws to echo through the earth, the lion stood on four paws for a moment, circling his brother, sizing up his target. Knowing better than to give the blue lion even a moment to recover, Tanaka sprang, leaping at his brother once again, talons bared. This time his pounce was higher and more aggressive, and more deliberate; his intention was to leap onto his brother's back where he could freely sink his talons and fangs into that infernal blue hide.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:52 pm
It was the fact that Tanaka's daughter was at stake that set Mrost very firmly on edge. He had dealt with fathers driven to incredible feats of endurance to defend a loved one, mothers who would take every hit to defend their brood. He couldn't compete with motivation like that for very long and was already breathing heavily as he threw his every muscle into service of the fight. He tried to take a moment's breather, to compose his thoughts and launch a new attack but before he could Tanaka had pounced onto his back. The spikes there were tough but nowhere near enough to even slightly deflect an attack.
With a grunt of effort he immediately threw all his strength into tossing both himself and Tanaka to one side, intending to try and knock him off balance by the unexpected moment, all the while trying to untangle wings, tail and feet and scramble back to his paws.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:19 pm
Fangs dripping like a venomous snake, the massive snarling lion lashed at whatever he could reach, jaws snapping viciously, desperate to overpower his brother, to drive him off, to send him back to the depths of hell from which he came. His brother's spiked spine was a hassle, a hindrance to his attacks that infuriated him all the more; and though they jagged uncomfortably at his underside, he did not seem to care or break his attack.
But with that much mass and multiple injuries, the white lion's endurance must have been running low, his breath growing heavy with each passing moment. Perhaps it was only adrenaline that kept him going, that gave him such terrible strength. Even in his fury, he knew that he could not continue forever, that if he did not gain the upper hand soon his energy would be spent. Even so he would not yield, he didn't have to win, just force the blue lion to retreat.
Jaws snapped, reaching for one of his brother's horns, talons curling in an instinctive reflex as weight shifted under him. He had to hold on, losing his grip now could give Mrost an advantage he could not afford. But his mass was too much, gravity to out of balance, and he felt his world shift, the ground looming before his firery gaze.
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