[~ Private RP with NukaKun ~]

[Applejack]

Nuka slowly opened his eyes and found that in his sleep he'd moved closer to Tupa. With a small flush of his cheeks, he got up when she pulled his ear, but stumbled and fell. Thankfully, Tupa had moved, because his muzzle passed where hers was just a few seconds ago. Realizing what would have happend, he blushed to a deeper shade and quickly picked himself up, trying to retain what dignity he had left this morning. He slowly followed Tupa and smiled softly, wondering about yesterday. "So, I'm sorry about yesterday," he said, appologizing once again as they picked their way down the path slowly, side by side. "I reckon we should most likely go separate ways since Baya will have a bloodlust for me. Do you rememer the way back that I showed you?" He sighed inwardly, as he would have liked nothing more than to have walked into the mound flank by flank with her, but he knew the dangers and risks. Any of their forays had to be kept a secret.

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Vitani woke slowly, stretching silently from the spot she's passed out at the night before. She got up, stretching out even more, then looked down at her paws. Memories of yesterday slowly filled her head, and she remembered that she had a 'date' with Baya. A fun sparring match. She just prayed that the lion didn't find that she was boring and decide to gut her. She shook her head and pickd her way out of the mound, sidestepping the sleeping forms of lionesses. As she walked outside, Baya's strong scent hit her like a brick wall. "Baya, where are you?" she ventured to call out as she looked around the area outside the mound.

[Baya]

Tupa smirked as she shook her head. "Like I said before, stop apologizing. I'm not one to press on you for that." Tupa pointed out as he pinched his cheek one more time. When he asked if she knew the way back, she gave him a curt nod. "If Baya asks you where I am...tell him you have no clue. Just hope he doesn't catch that you are lying..." Tupa said in a sing song tone as she began to go on a separate path. The last thing she needed was to jump in front of Nuka to stop Baya from killing him.

//

Baya smirked as a familiar scent played on the air. From the spot he was sitting in, he turned his head slowly, the termite den not being too far from him. He noticed a single figure coming out from the den, looking around and apparently calling his name. It could be none other then Vitani so boldly calling his name out, challenge in her voice. He slowly crawled on his tummy around the termite den so that he could surprise her from behind. She didn't battle him as promised yesterday, so Baya wasn't about to wait for her to take the first strike. When close enough behind her, Baya let out a short growl as he jumped at her.

He didn't have her pinned from behind for long, as she started to roll around with him.

[Applejack]

Vitani growled as she was leapt on and pinned with ease. Using some of her strength and energy fresh from the early morning, she managed to push him up and started to roll around with him, Scuffling around. She would let him fight now, and begin to pick up on his style. She let a thrust of energy and pushed hard, attempting to pin him again. As soon as she had him on the ground, she leaned down, a smug smile on her face, and traced a claw along his throat jokingly. "Tag," she said, plucking a strand of his fur, and let it fall to the ground. She looked down at him, waiting for his move. She braced herself, ready.

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As Nuka picked his way up river, he slowly settled into the stream, allowing the current to carry him past where he wanted to. He enjoyed floating in the river, even though it got him chastized. Sighing, he made his way out of the river and slowly padded back towards teh mound, taking the long way so she would have time to play off that she had not been with Nuka. He smild a bit fondly at the memories of the nuzzling they had done that night and looked at the grass as he slowly made his way back into Outland territory, tracing patterns in it. He jumped across the log that led into the Outlands and then padded up an outlooking hill, sighing* If only he diddn't have to be secretive about his feelings, but, she was right. It was too soon for him to even try, and it would only end in one of them dying.

[Baya]

Baya chuckled as she traced her claw along his throat. "Round one is yours. Round two? We'll see." Baya snarled as he pushed himself off his back and rolled around with Vitani some more. Their snarls attracted spectators; among them Zira who was wondering why in the world him and Vitani were fighting. Baya ignored them as he and Vitani continued to fight. Eventually, he came out on top with a maniacal cackle. Zira watched curiously what Baya's next move would be, making sure to be prepared to jump in if he was planning on finishing Vitani.

"This is why fighting you is my entertainment." Baya cooed as he pinched Vitani's cheek roughly, and got off her. "The outcome is very unpredictable." Baya snarled with another cackle. The lionesses all looked confused and so did Zira.

"What in the pits of hell are you two doing? Why were you fighting?" Zira asked to clear up her own confusion.

"Why not?" Baya mused as he looked to Vitani. "I promised not to fight others, if she promised to satisfy my lust for battle. Don't you worry, I won't end her life. Not while she amuses me so much." Baya pointed out, his smirk still nice and wide.

[Applejack]

Vitani got up in a flash, panting, and rubbed a paw on her cheek. "At least this way," she pointed out, panting slightly, "I'll stay in top physical condition and learn how to properly kill a brute." She shook her fur clean of dirt and and stood proudly. She had to admit that fighting Baya was fun. "Same time tomorrow," she said, looking at him with a challenging glint in her eyes. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing that her confidence had been broken as soon as he had shifted the tides so quickly. She would have to train harder so that, eventually, she could pin him both times! Turning away, she padded slowly off towards the gator watering hole.

[Baya]

Zira smirked slightly as she walked Vitani walk off. Baya was serving more of a purpose with every action he took! Not only did he serve good as a hunter, but provided Vitani with motivation to grow stronger and become a better fighter. Perhaps this demon of the desert was just the tamed evil that her pride needed.

"What are you grinning at?" Baya asked with a monotone, as he glared at Zira. After hearing what kind of mother she was, his view of her only darkened. He didn't necessarily hate her, but in his mind she reminded him of his own brutal mother.

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all dear." Zira said as she held the smirk on her face, and made her way back into the den. Many of the lionesses approached Baya slowly, with looks of interest and some with a twinge of desire.

"You took Vitani down like she was nothin'. I gotta say, that is alot of strength you got..." One of the lionesses commented. Baya snorted.

"She could pin me once. That is more to say than any of you." Baya murmured simply as he followed after Vitani's trail, afraid that the lionesses would just annoy him throughout the day. When he caught up with her at the crocodile watering hole, he smirked.

"You know I wasn't holding back, right? That was all you." Baya mused. "Next time, I want you to try harder. There's no fun in winning, if your opponent is disheartened." Baya pointed out as he sat beside her. He sat there in silence, not really knowing why he needed her company to feel more comfortable. Perhaps it was because they shared more then just strength, but a history of pain, abuse and ruthlessness.

//

Tupa had made her way back by the separate path, and whilst she was making her way back she noticed that near the crocodile watering hole Baya was just sitting there in silence with Vitani. Tupa giggled silently from where she watched, which wasn't too far. There was definitely tension between them, she knew, but she also knew that if Baya didn't feel something for Vitani that she would've very well been killed in their first battle. Tupa always knew Baya had a soft spot, but for someone like Vitani no less!

[Applejack]

Vitani looked over at Baya with a look of slight wonder. "You mean, that was all your strength? I thought you were still toying with me." She shook her head and sighed, looking back to him once more. "I wouldn't put it past you, that is." She smiled softly, a slightly interested look on her face. "If you want me to try harder, then I want you to answer a question for me," she said, turning to face him. She had to know the answer to the question tat had been eating at her. "That is, if the big bad Baya can stand answering a question to his seeming rival." In her mind, she was running through the possible answers he could give to this question. She was pretty sure he would probably swipe at her, but she shrugged anyway. She had to know the answer. "Why do you seem to value my strength so much if I was nothing but a strange lioness trying to kill you the other day?" She looked at him, locking eyes with him, a curious look spreading across her face.

(Sorry for the smaller posts. I'm trying to come up with things without powerplaying your character XD)

[Baya]

[Again, I'm not gonna judge you based off one or two posts xD]

Baya pondered her question for a very brief moment, and smirked at the first answer that came to mind. "Well, you don't cower for one. Two, your stance is one that suggests its all or nothing." Baya pointed out. "Something I haven't seen in anyone else. In the desert anyway. That, and you aren't the worst looking lioness I've come across." Baya said the second part, almost jokingly. Though, it wasn't far from the truth.

Tupa's ears twitched at their conversation, and her heart skipped a few beats! Did Baya just compliment Vitani? On her LOOKS? Something that Baya had once told her was meaningless as love or mating or compassion? Today was going to be interesting indeed! Though Tupa couldn't sit here all day. She began to make her way back to the termite mound, exciting thoughts running through her mind. She had to tell Nuka! Or was that not the best plan? He might go and tell Zira, and she might be totally against the idea of Vitani and Baya getting any closer than comrades.

[Applejack]

Vitani nodded slowly, listening to what he had to say about her stance and conficence. She opened her mouth to thank him, but then he continued on to say that she wasn't too bad looking. Her mouth frozen in mid-speech, she slowly started to close her mouth, the shock having hit her. Sh ehook her head, realizing it must have been her hearing things, and prayed that her face didn't betray her thoughts for once. "Thank you," she said. "You and my fighting will help me condition myself and become even better than before. Though, I might become a bit of a problem for you." She grinned tauntingly and pushed at Baya halfheartedly, attempting to push him over. When she failed to, she sighed "Guess the only reason I managed to pin you was the adrenaline rush."

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Nuka finally had made his way back to the mound, but after seeing Vitani and Baya leave, he figured that he didn't need to fear anything at all, so he slipped into the mound and then walked back out, pacing slowly outside. As he glanced over, he noticed the root that Vitani had once bit and tugged, training her jaws and neck. He smiled and then chuckled softly as he remembered snapping the root with a claw, sending her flying. Those had been the fondest memories he had of his early years here in the Outlands. Hell, some of the only good memories he had of this stinking wasteland.

[Baya]

Baya smirked. "Don't thank me. Just get stronger. One of these days you might just have to kill me. I'm hoping you meet up to that challenge." Baya murmured as he looked into the water. As he looked at his reflection, his heart began to race as his eyes focused on the scar across his right eye. He growled slightly, and panted. He back away from his reflection and closed his eyes, shaking his head.

//

Tupa finally made it back to the termite mound, and smirked as she saw Nuka near a small and dead tree. She trotted over to him, and flexed her ears back. "You won't believe what I just saw! Baya and Vitani were getting along! Baya complimented her fighting and she was so calm and happy! I mean...I dunno your sister, but Baya has never taken such interest in a lioness before!" Tupa said with a grin.

"And if Baya and your sister end up getting closer, he might not leave! Then I won't have to." Tupa whispered, putting the pieces of reason together excitingly.