Rogue: Paths to Redemption [Private; S66 & TRP]

[Harvs]

I was stunned. My heart might as well have stopped. At this point, the only thing standing between me and those hyenas, was my own brother. And he was telling me to leave him behind. The thoughts raced in my mind. We stood in the presence of those bloodthirsty canines, and we were but two tired lions. And he was telling me to leave him to face this threat on his own. He would stand even less of a chance if I were to abandon him. But if there was one thing I learned about Keto, it was that arguing with him got me nowhere.

I started to back away toward the desert, a tear falling to the ground. "But... I..." was all I could utter. What could I say at this moment? If I allowed Keto to fight, he would surely be killed. Three hyenas against one lion. And there were most likely more of them coming. No matter how strong Keto's will was, his body could not take him as far as he wished to go. I continued backing up until the soft grass was replaced with the loose feel of sand. I had moved further away than I realized. My mind was on so many thoughts. Would he survive? Would I survive? What did the hyenas want with us? I didn't even realize how much I was crying. I was practically bawling. The thought of my dreams coming true, the thought of my brother dieing right in-front of me. I could barely take it in my sleep. How could I hope to watch it really happen? How could I bring myself to leave Keto? The short answer: I couldn't. The long answer: I was about to find out.

I sprinted from the sand back to the grass in a matter of seconds, right in-front of Keto. I then turned and faced him, showing my saddened face. "Keto, I can't let you do this!" I shouted. If he died, then what would I have to live for? If we could have had this situation my way, I would have sprinted out of there, with Keto on my back, into the desert whether he liked it or not. Of course, I wasn't strong enough to carry his weight and still move with my usual speed; a price to pay for excelling in speed. But if it had to be done his way, then I would not let him go down alone. I exchanged my look of sadness for a look of anger and determination. "If I die, I die by your side!" And that was that. I took a firm stance right next to my brother. My fears of death vanished right before my eyes as I glared up at the canines, ready to fight... or die trying.

[TheRoguePrince]

In one moment I had gone from a matyr's death to something meaningless. Kasi had just declared his intentions and might as well have signed his own death warrant. As strong as I was, and with all the desire I had to fight, I couldn't stand here and watch my brother sacrifice all we had fought to attain. The hyenas wouldn't await long to attack, and we couldn't just stand here and wait. We needed a plan. "Kasi...", I said, "if you really mean this, then listen. We don't stand a chance here, not in the open, we have to get out of here.", but how could we escape? As far as the eye could see, the sands of the desert stretched out like a vast ocean. The hyenas would have no issue tracking us at this range, and would catch us quickly, so what to do?

The issue pressed me for a few seconds, before it suddenly came to me, what if we did attack? Certainly I didn't mean a legitimate assault, that would be suicide, but perhaps we could frighten them, after all, we are lions. I quickly stepped nearer to my brother. In a whispering voice I quickly layed out the plan, "We have to feint, when I say, you take one side of them, I'll take the other. We have to buy some distance between them and us, and that means forcing them to fall back." As much as I hated the idea of putting Kasi into danger, I also realised that it would be no better if we turned and ran. At least this was we could have a little fun before we fled.

I could only hope that Kasi's nerve could hold up to his words. This attack would seem like a blatant attempt at getting ourselves killed to most, but would he see it as our last resort? As is was, I couldn't simply out run the hyenas. Sprinting to Kasi's side had taken quite a bit out of me, and I could feel the sluggish movements of my legs. After we got out of here, I would need rest, and food, but most of all rest. I drew shoulder to shoulder with my younger brother, if this went wrong, this could be the last time we ever showed each other we cared. The least I could do was spread a bit of confidence, even if I didn't believe it myself.

At last I saw a movement from the hyenas, they we growing impatient. It was now or never, I growled and took a step...

[Harvs]

Standing at my brother's side, I felt confidence, determination, fearlessness, and the strength of twenty lions. Of course, I was still but one lion with an older brother by my side, but the feeling of courage was simply overwhelming. How could one being instill so much power in my heart? Simple, he was my brother. And now, whether we lived or died, the world would see us as brothers. As different as we were; one strong as a mountain, one swift as the wind, all would see us as the two who defied what life had given us. We would be seen as the ones who stood up against tyranny and malice. As the ones who cursed the cruelty of the hyenas and their foul leader who had cursed us. And history would see us as the two brothers who were willing to give their own lives for each other.

When Keto spoke the plan to me, I nodded my head in understanding. The plan, while dangerous, was our last chance. We were both at a disadvantage in distance for a sprint into the desert. And my brother especially would have a difficult time keeping a good distance ahead of the hyenas. A feint would work much better for gaining an advantage. I could see a hint of worry in Keto's eyes. He was concerned about something, most likely about my putting myself in harms way. I gave Keto one final look before our courageously insane plan took hold. "I'll be fine Keto. Don't worry about me."

Unfortunately, I wasn't too sure about that statement. There was no surefire way of knowing that the hyenas would retreat when we rushed them. If they did decide to retaliate, then we would be killed in a matter of minutes. Seconds if there were more than three hyenas. But the less stress I could put on Keto, the more chance we would have of succeeding in this crazy movement. I glared back at the hyenas.

Keto took a step forward. Father, please help us was my last thought before I mirrored him. Making sure that my speed would keep up with his, I didn't want to get too far ahead of him. Not now. Keeping an eye on my brother's speed, I rushed at the hyenas on the left, praying that this plan worked. Hoping to high heavens that the hyenas would turn and run any second now.

[TheRoguePrince]

Time slowed, each movement seemed to last an eternity, each heartbeat a lifetime. I kept glancing over at my brother Kasi, watching him go into action for the first time since we lost our Pride. I let loose a ferocious roar, the whole point of this strike was to scare our erstwhile pursuers off while we made good our escape. The hyenas seemed taken aback, good, perhaps we might survive this day after all. I could only hope that my own endurance, and Kasi's bravery, lasted long enough to carry out this ruse. Either way, at least there would be no uncertainty as to what happened to us.

All I could think of was how desperate we must be to try this sort of thing, ordinarily I would have no problem quelling three hyenas, but that was then. Over the last few weeks I've been slowly wearing down, and now our only hope is convincing them that we are more formidable than we really are. Our attack has clearly taken them by surprise, and now we must continue our assault and wait for a response. Hyenas were quite stupid, and numerous or not, we still had a great deal of impressive force against them.

The most important thing in my mind though, was how much I disliked this whole thing. Kasi had gotten himself into one of the most dangerous situations imaginable. My little brother had thrown away his chance of escaping cleanly in favor of staying here and helping me. I was quite impressed by how much he cared, but I was was furious that this was going to be a life or death situation for both of us. Alone there was an almost certain death awaiting me, but now we share that. He loved me that much, how I wish I deserved it...

All those times I had gone off by myself instead of being a good brother, and still he cares. Perhaps that was just because I'm all he's got left, but maybe it meant something more. Father always said, in time you two will be all you have left. You have to learn to get along, you're all you've got. Now that has proven to be more true than he ever imagined, or did he?

[Harvs]

I started to worry, the hyenas kept their ground as we approached them. They seemed braver than we had given them credit for. But they had to retreat. It was our only hope of living. Perhaps we needed more than just rushing them. Keto appeared to be ahead of the game, roaring viciously at the hyenas. Before even thinking about it, instinct kicked in and I roared along with him. It was one of the few times in my life that I had roared. I remember doing it once to impress a female lion in our old pride. Also another time was a contest with my brother to see who could roar the loudest. But those were the only two times I could remember.

Keto and I came even closer to the hyenas. So close in-fact, that I could smell their overpowering oder. It almost brought a tear to my eye, it was so horrid. But I had to withstand it. We had to stay strong and courageous. That was the only chance that the hyenas would cower from us. Finally, we came not but twentyfive yards away from those bloody canines. I shot a glance to my brother who was still rushing them without regrets. I however was becoming afraid. If the hyenas didn't retreat now, then we would have delivered ourselves right to them. In one more desperate attempt to make them flee, I opened my mouth again and let fly a roar twice as powerful as the first.

Am I dreaming? I thought to myself as I skidded to a stop in some loose gravel. My mouth was ajar in total awe, as the hyenas turned and ran from my brother and me. Their frightened yips filled me with happiness. The plan had worked! My brother and I stood victorious in the midst of the bloodthirsty killers. Words could not describe my joy with the success of Keto's plan. But it wasn't over yet.

I looked at Keto with a small smile and then took off to the desert. This wouldn't be the last that we heard of the hyenas. We would face them soon after entering the desert. And they would be even more intent on killing us after we had tricked them. Our only hope was to get as far away from them as possible. If we could create a good distance between us and them, then we may just make it yet. I stood on the border of the desert sand and the grass and waited for Keto to catch up. I had already proven that I was not going to abandon him at any time.

[TheRoguePrince]

By some strange twist of fate, the plan had worked. Kasi and I had faced down the hyenas and forced their retreat, and now it was time for ours. The desert loomed ahead of me, where my brother sat waiting. Kasi was rightly the fastest lion I had ever heard of. I had eaten his dust once again, but that wasn't in the usual laughing matter. I was almost too tired to go further. Outrunning the hyenas wasn't really an option, we would have to confront them sooner or later, and I would prefer later. We could hide our trail in the shifting sand quite easily, and find some place where I could rest. That had better be soon though, I hadn't the energy to last much longer. Kasi had risked himself for me, and I'm repaying him by holding us up...

I drew close to my brother and slowed to a crawling jog. I panted heavily and looked at my brother, "If you ever put yourself in danger for me again, I'll kill you myself if we survive..." I know, a little rough, but I was exhausted and angry all at once. Together we limped off into the desert, and onward toward our destiny, but the day was far from over. I knew that Kasi was scared, and I can understand why. He knew as well as I that the hyenas weren't gone forever, and we both knew that I was holding us back. Why didn't he just let me die so he could escape?

I glanced at him once more, and thought of all those times we had gotten into trouble together. He was my one friend, and the only person I had fully trusted to begin with. Now he was all I had left. I admit that I had a soft spot for him, and only him. I don't mean this in a strange, unnatural way. I mean that he is the only one that I allow to see through my stoic attitude. His blood was the same as mine, and that would ever be true, from the day we came to be, to the day that blood flows upon the barren earth... He was my only bond of loyatly. The only lion I would ever risk myself for.

[Harvs]

I stood and waited for Keto to join me on the border of grass and sand. I still had some energy left in me but I was still stunned from what I had done. Was this really what Keto's presence granted me? The courage to face my fears head on? It was quite an amazing feeling, but apparently Keto didn't like what had happened. Why not? We survived this day. And now Keto was threatening to kill me for my stupidity. I looked at him with a puzzled expression. "It worked didn't it?"

I knew that he was only exhausted from this horrid turn of events, but he would have to hold out longer. we have a long journey ahead of us. I jerked my head to the desert yonder to motion that we should get moving. There wouldn't be much point in putting our lives on the line just to wait for the hyenas to discover that we didn't really attack them. I jogged along side Keto and spoke nothing. We had to conserve our energy, what little we had left, until we reached our destination. Where it was, or how far out, we didn't know.

---

Hours after we set out into the desert, we began to tire. Keto from his short bursts of sprinting, and me from my dehydration. I was unable to get a drink before we left the jungle, and there was little we could do about either of our problems right now. I occasionally glanced back, and to no surprise, the hyenas weren't behind us. The day stretched on for what seemed like an eternity. The sun's intensity was increased tenfold in this horrible desert sand. If what my father said was true, then the sun's life was certainly not a remorseful one. I really shouldn't be doing this to myself... thinking about our family. But I cannot help it. The thoughts flooded my mind in an unforgiving onslaught of memories.

One memory stayed in my mind. The memory of Tamaa, my possible mate. She was just like me; competitive, fun-loving, and we both cared for Keto. Though I openly expressed my compassion for him, Tamaa usually suggested her care for him in a more subtle manner. Bumping into him on purpose, competing with him in races and fights, and occasionally taunting him. But when I was away, she would always keep Keto company. Though she loved us both, we shared something stronger than friendship. We were merely a week away from being wed. But then... the massacre happened. And my beautiful Tamaa... died right before my eyes. I literally watched as she breathed her last breath... and as her lifeless corpse fell to the ground. As did my heart.

No! I can't think of these things! The only one I have left is Keto. He is the only one who understands me now. All the others died on that day. And this was the result of the hyena's efforts. Two wandering rogues, bonded only by our love for each other. Keto risked his life to save mine, and I risked my life to save his. If we stayed like this, the hyenas would have a difficult time bringing us down. But we needed to find shelter soon. An oasis, a cave, anything to shield us from those killers. I admired, though, Keto's bravery. Seeing a hyena for the first time in two weeks, and he didn't flinch once. He dove right in-front of me to defend my life. I smiled at my brother through the misery of this intense heat. If I had to be stranded out here with anyone... I'm glad it was will Keto. My only friend in this cold, dark world.

-------

Deep within the bowels of the hyena's sanctuary, the king of the bloody canines sits in quiet bliss. His fruitful efforts of taking everything from his prey made him as happy as could be. And now was especially happy. His army had taken another pride's life. All who inhabited that land had been removed. And the king sat on his throne holding a lion skull in his paw.

"Um... Your highness?" A lowly hyena scout asked as he approached the tyrannical mastermind. The king looked down from his perch. "What is it scout? Report!" He shouted with a growl. The scout stuttered for a moment or two and then continued. "We have discovered a new land to take. Shall I move the troops in?"

King Ri leaned down from his throne and and looked at the scout. Ri's light gray fur stood out from the other hyenas, but the biggest difference between him and his army, were his black stripes along his body. The other difference was his short black mane stretching almost all the way down to his tail. His muzzle bore a sinister grin. He knew that now there was more joy to come. He had more to take now. The lives of a new pride were as good as his.

"Yes. Send word to the troops. Find the advantages of the territory, the disadvantages, their numbers. The usual. You know what to do." Ri said to the scout. He didn't reply, simply left with all haste. There was a silence in the throne room as Ri leaned back down. He looked at the skull in his paw and smiled. "Oh Scar... you poor diluted fool. You knew not the power you held in your paws. Well... never you worry. I have succeeded where you have failed."

[TheRoguePrince]

The Sun was the worst thing about it all. There was nothing I could do to hide from it, or to counteract its effects. My brother just didn't seem to understand why I had said what I did, and I wasn't about to explain why. I had never been particularly good with sharing my feelings with people, but I couldn't just let Kasi keep risking himself like that. I knew that I had come across as a complete jerk, and that was how it needed to be. I was sorry I had to do that, I truly was, but if I lost him, it was over for me. I couldn't make it alone.

So I trotted on behind him, keeping an eye out for any sign of pursuit, but nothing came. We had pulled off the greatest trick in the history of our Pride's conflicts, but it was far from over. Along with my eye for enemies, I kept a lookout for some manner of shade or water, which we needed else we die of dehydration. Kasi seemed to be on the verge of just falling out of stride and collapsing on the ground beneath him. I had to do something, and fast...

I picked up the pace a little bit and came alongside Kasi. "Come", I said, "Get on my back, I'll carry you." I meant every word, for just a few seconds before I had spotted something ahead, an oasis. I didn't know if Kasi had seen it, but it was the best news I had had in weeks. I didn't know if Kasi could make it on his own, but I had ever intention of making sure he did.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He was only hired help. All he had ever been in his whole life in the pack was extra muscle to throw around. From the days of Scar and now with Ri he had never once been appreciated for what he did for the hyenas. It was always, "Hey, you! Go spy on this Pride!", or, "hey stupid! Go make sure his highness is informed about or latest find!" Never once did someone say something nice to him. Now he had to tell King Ri that they had lost two lions, or did he?

Never once in the history of the pack had someone ever lied to Ri, so why would he suspect it of him? Not dying was a rather good thought right now. Yes, that was a very good thing indeed. He walked into the room where the King lay, and waited to be adressed, and oh had he story for him...

[Harvs]

I looked down at the sand as I walked along this endless sea of broken hopes. My mind still wandering around the memories of olde. It seemed like a distant dream that had plagued my mind. But this was no dream. This was real life. And if I wanted to survive, I would have to keep my hopes alive. I would have to stay with Keto until we found the light again. It was the only way I could keep moving. But even now, my movements were becoming more and more difficult. Unlike Keto, I was unable to get a drink before we fled out safety... and now it was taking its toll. I could barely breath, and before I knew it, my legs slowed down.

I wondered if Keto had noticed my slowing in speed. He would no doubt be worried for me in this desert heat. And as if on cue, Keto jogged up to my side and offered to carry me. More like ordered it. Not only was he the older brother and knew what was best, but he knew me. He could tell just from the tired look on my face that I couldn't go much longer. And so, with a tired nod of my head, I walked over to my brother to allow him to carry me. Perhaps he saw something that I didn't? Or maybe he figured it would be a last act of kindness if we were to die out here. But whatever the case, Keto had never strayed me wrong before.

I lay on Keto's back almost closing my eyes to the bright intensity of the sun. This was not how I imagined spending my life. I never thought that I would have to deal with something like this with only my brother to keep me company. I never thought that we would be fleeing for our lives from our own homeland. I never thought that we would ever be in a situation like this. With all the strength I could muster, I took a deep breath and asked my brother. "Why did this happen to us?"

-------

Ri held onto the skull and chuckled a bit, thinking of Scar's failure. Only taking one land and not even killing anyone? Some king he was. Just thinking about how much pain and misery he had caused was enough to set him off. Ri's chuckle died down as he finally noticed the hyena in his chamber. He quieted his laughter and called down "Ah, Kumata. Please come closer."

Not looking at his minion, but rather the ceiling, he called down to Kumata "I trust that the land has been completely purged of all life, has it not?" Ri's goal was simple: take everything that he could. His most prized possessions were the lives of the animals he took. But he enjoyed taking the love and trust. The land and the happiness. The last thing to go was the life of the land. Leaving nothing but a desolate scar in the earth. On the once proud land that once stood, nothing remained. It was his only joy in this world, and as long as there was more to take, Ri would keep taking.

He laid in silence awaiting Kumata to answer his previous question, though he already knew the answer. An undoubted yes. The answer had never been otherwise. Else the pack would pay dearly for their mistake.

[TheRoguePrince]

Despite my single minded desire to reach the one place my brother could get some water nearby, I was struck dumb by that question, why? What had we done to possibly deserve this? Everything that had happened to them for the last several weeks had been much like a living hell. All of this the sick plan of the hyenas, the one thing in the entire world that I saw a reason to annihilate... "I don't know Kasi, but I intend to find out." and I would.

My brother, as light as he was, seemed to weigh infinitely much compared to usual with the added weight of the glaring heat bearing down upon me. I wanted nothing more than to drop down right there and sleep, yet I knew that if I did, neither of us would live to see the next night. So I carried on, through the heat and across the shifting desert sand, staggering toward a spot of green that slowly grew before me. At first it was nothing more than a spot of green. Then it grew, and I could see a few trees. Good, some shade, and if there are full sized trees, then there must be a source of water.

It seemed like ages, during which I almost lost all perception of my environment, only that one thing within my vision, and the weight upon my back. I thought so many times that I would simply black out and let myself end it all, and so many times I almost did. Yet just as I began to do such, my foot landed on something soft, but unlike the sand, it was grass. I fell to the ground in exhausted elation... but not before I saw something huge looming over me, even bigger than my father, the King of our Pride.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kumata slowly approached Ri, which took enought bravery as it was. Ri was a rather imposing hyena, with bright, feral eyes that scared you just by looking toward you. Luckily Ri seemed to have no intention of doing that to Kumata, whom he deemed to be too lowly to look upon. At this point he was not sure if he was grateful for that or annoyed that once again he was being ignored. Right now that didn't matter, his king had asked him a question, and he had to answer it. It was time to make his choice.

"Yes, your Highness," he said, "the land is now devoid of life of any kind, especially lions." Which, technically was true, as the two lions who had escaped were nowhere near the lands they had just seized. As a matter of fact, there was even a chance they were already dead. That would be for the best, because if ever Ri found out they were alive, Kumata would be no more.

Kumata waited silently or his King to dismiss him, which could come none too soon. An audience with Ri wasn't a thing to be covetted, and often it was fatal. More than a few hyenas had perished as a result of some offense they had commited, and now Kumata was commiting one himself. He gulped silently with apprehention, oh how he wished those lions were dead. As soon as possible he would get some hyenas together and find out, or end it himself.