Inheritance of Chaos [Invite]

[TheRoguePrince]

Ash, thick, choking ash filled the air and coated the ground as far as the eye could see. Every breeze or sudden gust brought forth a new storm of the terrible stuff, which served only as further reminder that he would have to leave soon, forever. Keto turned his face from the land he had once called his home, trying to hide the coming tears, but from whom? He was alone, that terrible truth had not struck him immediately, but when it did it had come with a wash of agony and soul ripping fear. He had wished all his life to be left alone, and he had gotten that wish. His home, his family, every living thing in the once beautiful land was gone, burned in the great conflagration that had forever changed his life. The thought sicked him, and he choked, trying to hold down the contents of his stomach, which was practically nothing. The land could no longer provide for him the way it once had now that the herds, those that had survived, had moved on.

He stood slowly, carefully shaking the settling ash from his warm brown fur. Even now he wished that he could change what had happened, the terrible war, the destruction, but he couldn't change the past. The wounds on his body were almost healed now, and once they were he would have to accept that he would be scarred forever. The one that bothered him most was a three clawed mark across his right cheek. He wouldn't be able to hide that, and no lioness would ever look upon a male with such disfiguring marks. No, his fate was sealed now, but what fate was that? He had no home, no purpose, no drive. What was there to live for now that Keto, the prince of the land before him, was no more. Did he even have a name any more? He asked himself these horrifying questions over and over again, trying to find a solution to his dilemma. Nothing seemed to come to mind though, no hope remained to him. Did he even want to live?

Whatever he decided, he had to leave this place behind. A mixture of anger and despair filled him as he started to walk toward the barren plains beyond the waste behind him. At last, his face set in a grim expression, he decided that he did have one purpose left. Keto would find out what had happened to him people, and why. He would have his vengeance upon whoever had done this to him if it was the last thing he did, and it probably would be. The Sun was fast setting before him, and his dark form was little more than a pin prick against the vast emptiness around him. For the first time in his life, Keto felt overwhelmed, and his troubles were only just beginning. Out there, beyond his sight or knowledge, there were forces in motion far beyond him, and he was running a collision course with the first step along his journey...

[DGFone]

Not too far away, another lion was making his way through the charred and gutted terrain. Even though he had already lived as a rogue for only a short period of time, Delano liked to think that he knew everything he needed to know, and that he was prepared for any challenge that he will ever stumble across. And walking through this recently burnt area was no different. True, the ash and smoke was slightly unnerving, but Delano hid his discomfort with a small sigh. There was nothing to be afraid of in a recently burnt area, and all he needed to do was cross it as quickly as possible.

Walking over to the top of a small hill, Delano looked around, surveying his surroundings. Everywhere he looked, the land was darkened from a fire that had swept though the area recently. Some ash floated up to his nose, causing him to sneeze suddenly. He looked around quickly after this, searching for anything that might have heard him.But after nothing moved, Delano became reassured again that no one heard him.

Just in case, he trotted down to the bottom of the hill, choosing not to stand out on the horizon. After a few moment's time of though, he decided that it wasn't the smoke nor the ash that were unnerving him, but something else. Normally, if he looked, Delano would be able to spot some sort of life form. A bird, some other ground dweller, everywhere he had ever been, there was plenty of life. And yet now, even though even the skies were clear of birds, even of vultures, Delano felt like he wasn't alone. Maybe the ash really was getting to him...

Breaking into a gentle trot, Delano bean moving again. The sooner he will leave this place, the better. As he ran off, he didn't know that he was about to meet one of the biggest challenges in his life.

[TheRoguePrince]

Darkness came upon him, but Keto couldn't have cared less about the light, nor did he wish to have anything to do with it. There were wet streaks on his face from the tears he had shed, and a fierce snarl set upon his muzzle as he glared out into the blackness, hoping desperately for something tangible to vent his turmoil upon. As horrible as the fires had been that had consumed his home, and even greater one raged inside him, threatening to consume him and all he had ever been. He had lost everything, every memory he had was now founded upon nothing, such that he began to question his own identity. Once upon a time he might have gone to his father for aid, but even thinking about him right now was painful beyond measure. No longer would he have a guide to depend upon.

Keto had always been the careful sort when it came to travel, and despite his inner war, was keenly aware of the eerie silence about him. Nothing stirred in the land, not even a breath of wind to comfort his mind in the sense deprevation of the pitch darkness. Clouds covered the night sky, and nothing seemed capable of penetrating the cloak of heavenly malcontent. Perhaps the Great Kings were angry at him for not dying as he should, honestly, Keto no longer cared about his past, especially fairy tails about his ancestors. Let them be angry at him, for all the world let the rain pour down upon him, at least he would know someone still cared, even if that care was in destroying him.

Nothing stirred though, and seemingly as if they had read his mind, the angry Kings let him believe no one still cared, the cruelest thing they could do to him. As he walked, uncontrollable spasms racked his body as he tried to prevent himself from breaking entirely and cry as he felt. Weakness was the last thing he needed right now, not only for himself, but also in order that he might spite the forces seeking to cause him pain. No, he would not cry, and he would not stop. Somewhere out there lay the answers to his query, and he would find those answers. His anger was growing, despite the confusion and despair he felt, it was the anger that touched him most. Anger at the futility of it all, his own impotence to stop it, and worse, his own lack of control in his destiny.

Someone had stolen everything from him, and he was going to return the favor. It was once said that one should dig two graves before they set out for vengeance... Someone else was going to have to dig them this time.

[DGFone]

With the coming of the night, the air cooled down, making travel easier. But even as he gained a little bit of speed in his strides, Delano was surprised to discover that by the time darkness fell, he had yet to enter any land that was not burned to the ground. Stopping to examine his surrounding again, Delano half heatedly brushed off some ash. His trek through here had left him so thoroughly covered in ash and dust that he had stopped bothering trying to keep himself clean. That can come once he will enter a place that won't cover him up all over again in just a few moments.

Letting out a yawn, Delano looked up at the sky. Sure, he wanted to get some rest now, but he didn't like the idea of spending the night covered in ash. He had already coughed or sneezed so much from this stuff, that he felt that lying down on it will be the end of him. Or at least of his throat. So once again, Delano broke off into a trot again, heading in the same direction that he was walking in for most of the day already...

And stumbled upon a lone set of tracks that were no his own. Excellent, food! Delano examined the prints in interest. Whoever made them was walking fairly slowly based on the distance the prints were apart from one another. Grinning slightly, Delano turned away from where he was going and began to follow the tracks, eager for a meal. Running through the darkness, he checked every now and then that the tracks were still below him, made easier by the fact that like him just before, whoever was making them was moving in a straight line.

Slowly, out of the darkness, Delano finally spotted the source of the tracks. He frowned when he identified it as a lion. Great, so much for a meal. He thought of turning and running off, but curiosity got the best of him and Delano sneaked closer to the lion, making sure to be silent as he moved. It was a male lion, looking roughly as young as Delano was. Probably a new rogue. If that were the case, Delano felt like teaching this male what happens to rogues when they don't look around often enough. "Hey, you!" He grinned, reading his muscles should a fight ensure.

[TheRoguePrince]

The voice startled him for a moment, but he snarled at himself for not being more careful and turned to face his antagonist. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Keto asked with a hint of his inner rage in his voice. The rogue, for that was what he clearly way, seemed to be looking to pick a fight. Everything from his posture to his arrogant attitude seemed to beg for trouble, and undoubtedly that was what he was after here. He gave a look over of his opponent, dirty, malnourished, obviously on tough times, that was no way to live, not for a lion.

Keto might have felt sorry for the rogue some other time, but now he had made the mistake of picking a fight. If there was one thing Keto wanted right now, it was someone to show just how angry he was about his fate. He glared at the rogue in expectation of some arrogant response, fully prepared for the inevitability of what was to come. Finely honed muscles rippled below his fur, and he knew exactly how to use them to his advantage. When it came to fighting, Keto wasn't the one you wanted to pick a fight with first, especially when he was like he was now.

He quietly picked apart his opponent while he waited expectantly, each second a valuable tool for getting a grip on what his opponent had to offer. Fortunately, this ruffian seemed intent on causing trouble, and would likely not stick around if things got too rough. These rogues were not the honorable sort, and Keto was going to do what he had always been told he would have to one day. He was going to have to prove to this rogue that he was not to be toyed with. Sure, it had not been a rogue his father had planned on him showing, but it was essentially the same. Only this time.... he was going to have to try to kill his opposition.

He quivered a little bit on the inside, more killing had not been what he had hoped for when he left...

[DGFone]

Upon hearing the anger in the lion's voice, Delano glared at him, taking in a breath in preparation for the clear hostility the other one was showing. "You're new, aren't you? You are new to being alone?" He eyed the lion carefully, sizing him up. In order to buy him some more time to analyze his opponent, Delano kept talking. "The way I see it, things are simple. We are in the same place. This means that you will, inevitably, cause my prey to run off."

The lion he was getting ready to fight was sporting some scars, healing over from some large fight in the past. Delano made a mental note that this lion fought before and survived. "I don't like my food from running off, so there is only one solution. You either run away yourself, or I will have to kill you."

The lion still didn't move, but Delano could see that something was going on. Even as the fool tensed up in preparation of a fight, Delano could see some uncertainty in the lion's expression. This is an advantage he can use in order to show the lion who's boss around these parts.

"So, made up your mind yet? Which will it be? Flight or fight?" Delano watched the other lion, weary for any sudden movements. His boast was quite big, but Delano was prepared to back his threat up if he had to. Should this lion choose to fight back, Delano was ready to show him how rogues are tougher than they look. His eyes fell on the scar above the lion's eye. "That's quite a scar you've got there. If you won't run right now..." Delano grinned, making sure to show off his sharp teeth, "you should prepare to get another one."

[TheRoguePrince]

With that, his uncertainty was quelled. Enough was enough, Keto decided, glaring angrily at his opponent, "I know if might be hard for your pathetic mind to comprehend, but there is NOTHING here that I want." He said this, not to try to escape, but rather to keep the lion guessing as to his intentions. Keto was stilling analyzing his foe to gauge a weak point to strike at, and right now that seemed most likely to be his pride. The sheer audacity of the rogue's boasts were enough to show that, particularly calling him out for his scars. For that, there could be no mercy, perhaps a rogue could tolerate such marks, but he would not take any solace from knowing he had survived.

Keto slowly began to pace around his enemy with his curators eye still cast upon the lean, dirty frame of the tenacious rogue. "I take exception to being threatened though..." Keto said through a thick layer of annoyance, "I don't take that too kindly at all." It was obvious the rogue wanted a fight, to bully the new kid on the block, but the new kid wasn't going to tolerate that. The lion had made a huge mistake when he had chosen this course, for a lion with nothing to lose, and enough rage to compensate, was the last target you could ever want. For that he was going to have to learn his lesson, and Keto had absolutely no reservations about dishing out that lesson. No, he would not be getting any more scars today, but the rogue sure would.

His long, sharp claws flashed out threateningly, and his lip curled back just a little to expose the tips of his set of dagger-like teeth. Long years of self-imposed solitude had conditioned him for survival without the help of the Pride, and now that he was alone permanently, that memory would serve him well. Striking at the throat was out of the question, he decided quickly, the mane was too thick for that. Keto decided quickly on another course of action that might catch his opponent napping, despite the obvious wariness he showed. The fight was inevitable it seemed, so he might as well make sure that he was the one dictating the terms by striking first. It was the least he could do, considering the fool was so kind as to present himself as a target of opportunity.

With lightning speed and uncanny precision, Keto launched himself at the lion's side, claws already in motion, aimed with fatal intent to disembowel his foe and end the fight quickly. After that, he would make him suffer...

[DGFone]

Delano watched in alert as the lion's claws extended, and prepared himself. So this lion was choosing to fight rather than run. Delano let out a low growl as a warning. "One last chance. If you run, it will be much easier for both of us." He watched in alert as the lion moved closer to him instead. "You asked for it." Just as Delano was about to lunge at the lion, it was his opponent that made the first move instead.

Slightly surprised, Delano jumped to the side, just narrowly missing being hit by a sharp set of claws. Turning to face his adversary again, he saw that the lion was already lunging again, and this time, Delano did not have enough time to dodge the attack. So instead, he leaned down and allowed the lion to ram into him, sending the two of them rolling on the ash covered ground.

Quickly jumping back up onto his feet, Delano flashed a toothy grin at his opponent. "That's all you've got? You'll need to try harder if you want to even get close to beating me!" It was one thing he learned very quickly early on: the madder your enemy is, the less they think straight, and the more mistakes they make. If Delano can taunt this lion into making a bad move, he will be able to quickly end the fight, and proving to the lion that Delano is not to be messed around with.

[TheRoguePrince]

Taunting was a move for the desperate, deep down this rogue knew he was outmatched, even if he denied it to himself. No, he had learned his lesson about letting emotions control your actions, even if he intended to use the rage inside him to focus his energy. His anger from his recent trauma would not be allowed to cloud his mind, as the rogue seemed to want. The desperate defense he mounted was an obvious sign that he wasn't as confident as he seemed. He and the other lion were now entangled in a brawl, not a fight of tactics, but rather one of brute force and wills. One that Keto was more than prepared for.

Coated in the ash from the recent fire storm, Keto struck for the vulnerable parts on his opponents body, ribs, guts, joints, anything he could get at to gain the upper hand in the fight. This was a fight to the death for him, and nothing would stop him from winning, or taking this rogue down with him should he somehow lose. Keto channeled his anger into his body, working to fuel his movements with the energy he would not have without adrenaline. The fight was perfect for Keto, just what he needed to vent his distress, and the rogue had given him just the excuse he needed to do it.

His teeth flashed and his claws swept back and forth in the close space of the engagement, seeking to make contact with his opponent. The ash got into his mouth, and the bitter taste of it helped nothing about his attitude. Eventually he knew the rogue would wear down, and either succumb to the force of Keto's blows, or try to escape. Either way, Keto intended to get his satisfaction out of hurting this rogue for what he felt, hell, he might even be one of the ones who had done this to him, and that only made the killing all the more satisfying to the former prince. His first satisfaction of tangible destruction since his lucky survival...

[DGFone]

Expecting an easy victory over the newcomer, Delano was shocked when the lion was able to put up resistance. What's more, the lion did not seem normal. His attacks were powerful and driven by a sheer rage that Delano had never seen before. Under a constant stream of bombardment by his opponent, he realized that it would be a good idea to flee instead of risking a severe injury due to this deranged lion.

But as Delano tried to back off, the lion right moved forwards, and Delano didn't dare to turn his back to run. Unable to run away, Delano was barely able to just keep himself from losing his head. His confident grin was now a fearful grimace. At one point, Delano was able to get a look at his opponent's eyes, and the gaze he saw sent a chill coursing through him. This guy is insane! He was about to decide if running away might be a good idea after all when another attack reminded Delano that retreating won't help him. This lion was out for blood - his blood.

Both of them had been able to get some blows at the other, but Delano knew that he was losing. While living alone had made him strong, he wasn't able to keep his strength up for long, and while Delano was beginning to tire out, his opponent seemed as fresh as ever. Once again, he found himself moving backwards, but this time not out of his own accord, but simply to keep himself from getting gauged by either claws or tooth.

Not looking at where he was getting baked up to, Delano tripped over a burnt tree root and fell, crying out in shock and fear. Right away, the other lion was on top of him, getting ready to tear his head off. Out of sheer desperation, Delano looked at the lion, hoping that the fight can end now. "Stop! Please stop!"