What I've Been Through [PRIVATE: AC & Nakisisa]

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga normally had a lot of patience when it came to taunts, since the torments he had received right through cubhood have given him quite a thick skin. But the fact that this was not one of his usual tormentors, coupled with the various insults that had just been thrown, and finalised by the act of spitting on him, and topped off with the bad day he had already had, finally caused that thick skin to break.

Instinctively flinching as Bardu's spit smacked into his cheek, he wiped it away, before turning back towards Bardu, a low growl rumbling in his throat, and electricity crackling in his blue eyes. He was enraged, and he knew everyone could see it. Bardu was just another bully, and he was sick and tired of bullies in his life. But he stood his ground. Maybe he could give Bardu a taste of his own medicine, first.

"Look who's calling who a coward," he reponded, his voice low and cold, his stance tensed, ready for a fight. "You, Bardu, are the real coward here. You are nothing more than a backstabber and a bully. you use threats and insults to make others feel small and weak, and I bet it makes you feel really good inside, too. It's pathetic, having to resort to such low, cowardly tactics to make yourself feel special...you must be so proud!" he finished, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

A small part of his mind told him this was not idea, that he was very possibly turning Nala away from him by doing this, but he shoved it aside without a second, he was simply too angry at Bardu to care. He could see that the black lion was a bully, and Tanga had quite simply had enough of having to deal with them. "So, who's the real coward, huh? Me? Or you?" he said, lacing his voice with an insulting overtone with the last words, as he crouched low, his claws fully extended, his legs bunched, ready to spring in any direction. He did not taunt back at his tormentors often during his cubhood. but when he did, the result was usully a swift, enraged strike, as the bully's pride always demanded revenge for the slurs being hurled at it.

[Nakisisa]

"You're calling me a coward then Leopard?" Bardu asked as he turned and walked off. He walked past his mother who gasped, and then into the shadows, and since it was still dark, his abilities kicked in, as he stealthily moved about the grass. "Am I a coward?" He kept asking over and over as he moved about surrounding Tanga, knowing it was a scare tactic.

"If I'm a coward, then why don't you fight?" He asked, Jumping out, claws extended, he aimed for Tangas side, Teeth Barred, a deep Roar emanating in his throat

[AustralianChaos]

As Tanga watched Bardu melt into the shadow, he grew even more frustrated. "Yeah, you're a coward!" he called back, watching all around him for any sign, turning constantly to make it hard for Bardu to get a clear shot at his back. "If I'm the coward, then why aren't you taking me on face-to-face? Too scared I'll beat you if you don't get to start with a backstabbing surprise attack!"

But Tanga knew his situation was problematic at best. Bardu wanted to fight him over Nala, and with his black fur, it was all too easy for him to blend into the shadows, and stalk him in the grass. but in the end, Tanga got a lucky break, as Bardu taunted him one last time, then jumped, giving Tanga a moment of warning.

Even as Bardu leapt from the grass, Tanga instincts kicked in. He had endured plenty of physical abuse as well as verbal taunts, and as such his reflexes were top-notch, he ducked under Bardu's roaring lunge, before turning and facing the black lion, snarling ferociously as he advanced slowly. "Fine! Have it your way, Bardu!" he yelled defiantly, before lashing out, lunging at Bardu, trying to catch the lion off-guard after his failed attempt to surprise him. The shy, meek Tanga was gone. With his life in danger now, almost all conscious though was tossed aside, and he was running on adrenaline and battle-honed instincts. He just hoped his vicious childhood had given him enough experience.

[Nakisisa]

Bardu growled, he had missed the easiest attack in the book, but he still had to test Tanga. "Fine then, I will" He growled, dodging the vicious assault Taga was throwing at him, Backing away, he acted like he was on the back foot, until he saw a small opening, where he could leap forwards, and bite at Tangas Neck

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga, in the meantime, was all business. He had been bullied all his life, and now, having had first Kulinda, and now Nala bring his self-esteem up, it was time to turn the tables. His small frame did not give him much brute strength, but it did give him a speed and agility most lions were very quick to underestimate. Keeping his head low to ensure that almost everything aimed at his head and neck would be foiled by his thick black mane, he focused on small, jabbing strikes, darting first one way, then the other, never really committing to a full-blown wrestling.

He almost literally danced on his feet, keeping himself moving as he ducked and weaved through Bardu's various attacks, and watched his opponent carefully. His nimble frame seemed to be giving him an advantage, but Tanga was still on alert. He had learned the hard way that all it could take was one moment in a battle to decide the victor, and this was one battle he did not want to lose.

Deciding to put Bardu under the pump, he went in for what he hoped was a decisive strike, lunging fowards suddenly, he struck out with his left paw, aiming for the usual target of the muzzle. But at the same time he brought his right paw out as well, lashing out with everything he had at Bardu's shoulder, unprotected by his mane, hoping that the fake attack by his left paw would allow his right to at least score a hit, which would leave Bardu's left leg in pain, and make it harder for him to take offensive.

[Nakisisa]

Watching the lion fight gave Bardu a deep insight into the lions workings. However he was small and fast, dodging most attacks, and counter attacking well. they broke apart for a moment when Tanga went for a decisive move. Bardu was stunned, he hadn't expected the lion to use such a strong combination of moves, yet he held some admiration for the male, he was a good fighter.

Thinking fast, and knowing he had mere seconds to come up with a plan, Bardu dropped to the ground, as to avoid the attacks, but he rolled onto his back. He knew the lion would be traveling at speed to make the attack even more effective, so he used that to his advantage. When Tanga flew over him, he used his back legs to kick Tanga in the stomach, and then push him further than he needed, directly towards a big tree.

(( Similar to the move Simba uses on Scar at the end of TLK ))

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga had not expected Bardu to duck under his two-tiered attack, and so overbalanced and flew over Bardu as his swiped hit nothing but air. He felt Bardu's leg kick his stomach, and before he knew he was being flung towards a tree. Knowing this was going to hurt, Tanga simply curled up as best he could in mid-air and prayed for a miracle.

In the end, he felt his shoulder and cheek slam into the tree, while the rest of his body missed, causing him to spind past it and crash into the ground a short distance away from both the tree and Bardu, the breath knocked out of him. The only reason he was not unconscious was because his mane had cushion most of the blow to his cheek. But his shoulder had not been so lucky and it ached horribly.

His vision swimming horribly from the crushing blow, Tanga got to his unsteadly, growling and limping as his hurt shoulder protested. He did his best to ignore it, though, and turned to face Bardu once more, his determined frown now mixed with a pained grimace. He had endured pain like this before, sadly, and knew he had to fight on through it. Advancing cautiously, limping slightly as he avoided putting weight on his injured shoulder, he watched Bardu carefully, waiting for any sign of what his next move was going to be.

----------

While the fight progressed a short distance, Simba was compelled to approach Nala, who appeared to be calmly watching on. He winced violently when Tanga struck the tree, and was amazed when the undersized lion got back up and limped back towards his opponent. "What are you doing?" he whispered to Nala. "Tanga's going to get killed!"

[Nakisisa]

Nala too winced at what Bardu had done, she had forgotten how aggressive he could be, but seeing Tanga limping she knew exactly what he would do next. "Simba, wait" she said to him before he walked into the fight.

Bardu walked Towards Tanga, he knew exactly what he had to do. Quickly he dashed towards Tanga, and hit his injured leg, taking him to the ground. "You have fought well, but now, it has to come to an end. Bardu growled, "Normally i would give you a choice of a quick or slow death, but how could I kill my Father?" he asked before giving him a lick on the cheek

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga roared as Bardu struck his injured leg, distracting him, before throwing him to the ground, pinning him down. Tanga struggled as best he could, but knew it was hopeless. He had no weight or strength to use as leverage against Bardu, so all he could do was wait.

When Bardu finished speaking, and actually licked him, Tanga froze, laying pinned under him in complete, shocked silence...his mind repeating one word over and over; what?

"What?" In the end, he actually voiced his confusion, completely stunned at this turn of events. He had expected, as Bardu implied, to be killed, or at least driven away...this action from the black-furred male was completely new and unexpected.

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Simba's jaw dropped when the ended...in a completely different way than what the copper-maned male was expecting. He turned to Nala, absolutely stunned. "What in the name of the Great Kings is going on here?"

[Nakisisa]

"It was all a test" Bardu said, helping Tanag up, as Nala nodded her agreement. "I wanted to see how strong you were, and let me congratulate you, Father" Bardu said as Nala whispered to Simba, Told You So Nala then got up and went over to help Tanga. "I'm sorry if i was to strong, or offensive, but i had to make you believe it was a true fight" Bardu said, licking Tangas head, quickly followed by Nala