Pride before Fall [Amadeus]

[Kina]

(OOC: Discussion.)

Midday heat was well upon the baked savannah, roasted gold grasses slowly fading to decrepit brown. They rustled as they swayed in the breeze, cracking softly as a small figure easily wove through it. It really wasn't a wonder she hadn't met anyone in the area yet. Anyone who lived there would know where the water and shade were. A heavy sigh escaped the dust colored lioness' muzzle, the dry wind playing with the somewhat longer tuft of hair upon her head. Returning to the task at hand, her slender paws ate the distance in the dried ground as she emerged from the longer grasses to open plains.

Nothing was keeping the sun from beating down on her now, the ceaseless wind even not helping her surroundings. Eventually slowing as a large crevice caught her attention, meandering in that direction to investigate. Tifu allowed herself to slide down the rounded and cracked riverbed, poofs of dust following her paws as they scraped the surface.

A trickle barely wide enough to set her paw in was all that was left of the stream. Yet, it was flowing ever so slightly. Perhaps it gathered?

Her ears perked forward as she followed the thin trickle, padding quietly along the deadened lands. Her mud colored tail tuft hung close to the ground, although it twitched slightly in anticipation. By the time she reached what was left of a waterhole - a pit in the ground with a some pooled in the bottom - the sun had begun to wane. It's angle offered some shade with the high sides of what was once a large waterhole, at least providing some relief for the weary lioness. Shadows from a different angle suggested trees were actually alive, although it was difficult to tell with the rotted stench of a long-dead animal nearby. Still, the water was cool to her parched throat as she lapped at the edge of the pool.

Glimmering silver flashes catching Tifu's sharp amber gaze as she lifted her head, ears perking fully forward in interest. Dinner.

Creeping closer to the water, the dusty lioness' attention was riveted on her pending meal. Stock still, one paw raised slightly off the ground ass he watched her prey. The fish drifted here and there, slowly getting closer. Her paw rose as she shifted her weight.

It darted away as a rock splashed into the waterhole.

Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. A large shadow paused, before turning to descend into the mostly empty waterhole. The golden-brown male's large paws covered the short distance quickly, green eyes flicking briefly towards the fish with a glimmer of interest. "Can't say I've seen you before, Mbaruti," the male commented idly, his rust colored tail tuft slowly swishing to and fro as he observed the dainty looking female. But there was no mistaking the sharp glower directed at him, either. Seemed he'd been right in calling her 'poppy'. The little lioness could very well be a flower of war if she could back up her glower. Of course, it was doubtful.

"I wouldn't imagine. Now, if you don't mind, you're scaring the fish," Tifu returned shortly, boldly staring the larger male in the eye. A faint smirk seemed to twitch his lips as he stared down at the lioness, unmoving as his shadow remained on the water. Making it quite clear it was his waterhole, apparently.

"You seem to have a bit of a one-track mind, haven't you?" he queried, chuckling softly.

"Have you got nothing better to do than to be a thorn in my side?" the lioness countered coldly, turning back to the water. Watching the fish still, undeterred and still planning to catch one.

"It really is rude to intrude and not even offer your name, you know ..." the male mused, ripples spreading across the water as he withdrew his paw from the surface. Once again scaring the fish away.

A short laugh escaped her muzzle, looking back to the large lion. "From what I can see, your manners aren't really the best either," Tifu said, tail lashing irritably. Hot, tired, and hungry; she was not in the mood to deal with a territorial male. And she was not about to bow down to him simply because he was bigger than her.

Shaking his head in amusement, as faint 'tsk-tsk' was audible. "The way I see it, you're not really of the stature to be rude on whim. Not unless you've got the brawn to back up the brash tongue," the lion added, a low purr of amusement rumbling from his throat.

Her ear twitched. "... Did you just call me a runt?" the lioness hissed, lithe muscles coiling at the spark of anger. Fighting words.

His purr seemed to shake with barely contained laughter at her fierce and bubbling anger, the spitfire of a lioness clearly amusing him. "There really isn't much else to call you, Mbaruti."

A paw slammed into his muzzle at full force.

The lion's amusement cut short, snapping to full attention as pain blossomed to the side of his face. Three slender scratches running along his upper muzzle to his nose, blood welling at the cuts. Regarding her intently, a slight smirk twitching his muzzle. "Well, well ... Not bad, little girl. I suppose you've earned my name - Takua."

An angered growl threatened to fully escape her throat. "It's Tifu!" she spat, fast growing weary of his slights at her size. Glaring fangs at the lion, dark claws scraping the hard dirt. Takua was begging for another set of scars to go with the one lancing down his back. And she would be all too pleased to give it to him.

[Baya]

Baya's ears flexed around as his dull blue eyes opened slowly, the sun shining into them for a moment. He growled as he covered them with his left paw. He stood slowly, and stretched within the mass bed of sand that he was sleeping in. The young rogue shook sand from his light brown fur, and sleek black main. As usual a single strand would always try to rebel against the conformity of the others and stuck to his face. He moved it aside with his right paw.

It had been quite some time since Baya had encountered another rogue; almost a whole week. Food and water were not hard to find for the battle-torn rogue. Though it disappointed him that he could not fight. He stretched out his claws in the hot sand, as they had not been drawn in awhile. He frowned. The desert was getting quite boring. He began to walk, in search of food or water.

He would walk through the desert, passing a cactus or two every now and again. There were burrows for desert rabbits and other such small creatures, but they were not occupied. The frustration of not being able to find some food or water was building on him as the heat was torturing him with her scoring gaze. He spotted the watering hole not too far from another empty burrow. Though there was the problem of another lion being right there. Baya's blank face sprouted a grin across his muzzle. He would get to drink, and to kill! This was surely a mirage!

Baya didn't even care if it was. There was his chance at some water and a good fight! The male slowly began to trot towards the watering hole. Before he could get there, he noticed a smaller creature walk up to the watering hole and begin to stick her paw into it. The fish that roamed the watering holes weren't generally long lasting. They were usually small and not too tasty either. Why this little female wanted to catch them was beyond Baya. He stopped, as he noticed the male was speaking up against the female being there. He figured he'd watch for a moment from not to afar.

Baya didn't know what the snide male had said, but his reward for it was a nice smack in the face. Baya cackled from where he sat, enjoying the strength of the female. If she could put up a good fight against him, perhaps he would let her live, just for what she did to that male. Baya noticed the male taking a fighting stance and figured this was his time to jump in instead. "Only cowards pick on the meek. I hope this isn't your watering hole my friend, because if it is I'm going to have to kill you for it. Hope that's Ok." Baya growled from behind the male, as he made his way towards him slowly. He then looked to the female.

"Don't get the wrong idea my dear, you are next." Baya growled, with a sickening grin.

[Kina]

The large male openly laughed at the other arrival's comment, small droplets of blood trickling down his muzzle. "Meek? I think not," Takua chuckled, low voice tinged with a vague purr of amusement. One ear pricked towards the arrival behind him, keeping careful measure of where the threat was. Never losing track of the unidentified male, but also keeping the furious vixen well in his sights as well. And to think the day had seemed dull. "As for the waterhole ... One might call it mine. But I haven't exactly had the need to defend it before now, have I?"

Tifu's soft growl deepened at the arrival's quipped comment, lowering her already small stance somewhat. But not in a submissive manner. That was all too clear. "Then we'll see you fall as well. It's no skin off my teeth," the lioness countered, ears pinning against her head. The petite, dust colored female watching both of the larger males carefully, her sharp amber gaze noting each and every detail. From their strikingly similar emerald green eyes, to their sharply contrasting golden-brown and mud colored pelts. But the most notable difference was that Takua was more of a rock than the arrival - He having a build not unlike her own, one that was made for speed.

This would be interesting indeed.

[Baya]

"In the desert, there is ALWAYS a need to defend something like a watering hole. Though you wouldn't know that. Your fighting stance is that of a coward. Ready to run when you see you cannot win. Though I'll let you have comfort knowing one thing; your death will be nice and swift." Baya cackled, as he tilted his head. His eyes locked with the other male's, and within seconds Baya pounced with a snarl.

They weren't tumbling about for long, as Baya's scars were signs of his experience. He managed to pin the other rogue down, without much effort. His eyes gleamed as he raised his claw, to go in for the kill. To his displeasure, the other rogue got out from under him with a rough tug, making Baya fall over on his side. He quickly collected himself and stood once more, growling at the male. "I guess you aren't as weak as I took you for. This will be more of a challenge." Baya said with a smirk, as he looked over to Tifu.

"Or I can give you the pleasure of dispatching him my dear, it seems that you already got a head start." Baya snorted as he looked at the wounds on the rogue male's face. [sorry for lack of content. Didn't know what to type x-x]

[Kina]

Takua chuckled softly at the arrival's words. Desert? There was still grass, even if dead. What fantasy land was this lion entertaining? The golden-brown lion half-turned to face the darker male, only for the half-crazed one to barrel into him. He hit the dry ground with a thud, immediately rolling as the brown lion's paw rose. An amused purr rising once more in Takua's throat, regarding his temporary opponent with something akin to scorn. "If you cannot land a single strike, you're a long way from killing me," the larger male scoffed, tail tuft slowly twitching.

Tifu's amber glower, however, was far from intimidated by the brief scuffle. While the simple maneuver by Takua upset the arrival's balance enough to unseat him, it was something she'd learned to do early on in her life. Keh. She chuckled softly at the wiry lion's comment, claws scraping the cracked ground. First he promised death, and now he was offering her to kill her first offender? An odd mind he had. "I don't suppose you're waiting for an invitation?" Tifu queried coolly, regarding the pair without even a glimmer of fear. If they were going to attack, they may as well do it.


(OOC: It's fine, XD. *Pats.*)

[Baya]

[Wooo \;o;/]

"A single strike is alot more than I need, Zuzu." Baya snarled as he pounced at the other lion again. His slashes were quite heavy, but very slow. That was probably the reason he couldn't land a single hit. Baya growled in annoyance. "The least you could do is try and hit me back..." Baya said, as he panted from all the attempts at hitting the rogue. His eyes narrowed for a moment. This might just be the other male's plan, to tire him out by dodging his attacks. It wasn't going to happen.

Baya got into a more defensive stance and began to circle the male. "In the desert, the vultures are the ones that circle their prey. Then again, they are a simple omen of death. Your death that is..." Baya growled, waiting or the lion to attack him instead. "Though I wouldn't say you look very appetizing. I wouldn't even pick at an ugly corpse like yours even if I was a buzzard..." Baya jeered, with a cackle.

[Kina]

The larger lion's amusement only mounted as he dodged each progressive strike, soon resulting in the scrawny brown rogue panting as he glared a hole in Takua. His muzzle twitched in barely withheld laughter, finding the dark maned rogue's frustration all too amusing. "I'd hate to ruin your fun," Takua purred, tail tuft twitching ever so slightly. Only to suddenly lash out, claws flying towards his opponent's scraggly and thin mane - Something that barely protected his vitals at all.

Tifu took the opportunity, though, to move away from the squabbling lions and get a better vantage should they turn on her. Her small paws quietly padding across the cracked bottom of the waterhole, unnoticed and unheard. And now, instead of being nearly confined in the very entrance near the puddle, having the entire empty waterhole to fight in when they got over their own petty fight.

[Baya]

"It isn't easy to hold your composure now, is it?" Baya snarled as he moved slightly to his right so that the slash hit him in the shoulder instead of his neck. While the other rogue took pleasure in landing a blow, Baya snarled in pain. There was a wide grin on his face however. "Never wound, what you cannot kill, zuzu!" Baya cackled as he quickly retracted from the lion's claw and slashed the lions front ankles swiftly. A cool breeze silently blew by, the dried grass now stained crimson. Baya cackled as he had the other male at his mercy.

Baya's blood dripped slowly from his shoulder. It stung a great deal, but he's had much worse out in the desert. This might just be a step up from that actually. His eyes fixed onto Tifu, noticing that she had taken better ground. Smart girl. She might be more of a challenge then this one. Baya turned his gaze back to Takua. His heart hammered in his chest from all the adrenaline of battle. "Now tell me. Without your front paws for the rest of this battle, how do you intend to beat me, hmm? A soft main land lion like you could never have even thought of killing me. Every scar I bare is of every one of my victories. The chunk you took out of me...well. That might just heal over completely with time. You weren't worth fighting." Baya snorted.

Baya didn't feel like killing Takua. He didn't seem to be worthy of death. He had to live in shame, knowing he had lost his precious watering hole to an out lander. "I won't kill you zuzu. Though next time I see you...I will. Never come here again, or I'll make sure I'll take everything from you before I give you death." Baya growled. Baya's attention now turned to Tifu, wondering when she would strike him.

[Sorry for the endless god mods x-x. If this isn't what you want to happen, then you let me know.]

[Kina]

Wet warmth slid underneath his paw as it slashed across the wiry rouge's shoulder, dampening and staining the male's pelt. But Takua only seemed to smile - His composure wasn't damaged in the least. The jibe at his 'inability' to kill provoking a short bark of laughter from Takua, lunging forward as the rogue struck again. A hiss of pain escaping him as claws scored across his main striking foreleg, blood running down the suddenly weakened limb. A low snarl coming from the large lion, ears pinning in decidedly clear dislike. But despite the scrawny rogue's taunting, a slight laugh mixed with his growl. "You have no concept of planning ... I don't need to defeat you in one little squabble to win, fool," Takua said softly, a throaty rumble of his growl mingling with his words.

He was far from shamed. He was already weaving a way to even the score. It didn't take a genius to realize that the insane minx would be taking up residence at the waterhole. "Keh ... Moron," Takua snorted, rolling his eyes as he walked away, a contemptuous flick of his tail accompanying his words. Masking the slight limp of his injured leg, but moving quite well considering. As for the female vixen ... She would be worth finding again. Not many had that gall. He would give her that much credit.

But Tifu, on the other hand, was making no bones about standing her ground. Turning her back on this lion would be begging for injury, obviously. Which left one choice - To dispatch the threat. But rather than openly growling, toting about aggression as proudly as the brown rogue did, she was entirely silent as she stepped closer. Looking as if she were about to simply walk past him, casting the male a bored sidelong glance - Only to whirl on him, extended claws raking at his ribcage as she ducked around him, careful to stay out of pinning reach.

[Baya]

Baya smirked as he watched Takua leave. It wasn't often he left his victim's alive. This one, he wanted to make an example of in these lands. If there were any rogues occupying this dead mainland as well, he wanted them to know his name. Baya the demon of the desert. His attention was on the female, taking in the fact that she wasn't looking at all like she wanted to fight. When she walked by him, Baya was planning on flanking her quickly, but unfortunately she had her own plan of deceit. Baya growled as his side was torn, a small trickle of blood running down his side. He quickly trotted backwards. He looked to his rib cage, then back at Tifu.

He wasn't angry at all. She was a small and frail looking thing, but she could fight. She already did more damage than most females had ever done to him in battle. It impressed Baya. A grin spread on his muzzle. "You seem to be a tad bit smarter than most I've fought. Then again ,you got to compensate for that size somehow, hm?" Baya jibed, with a quiet cackle. He smirked as his claws extended out, scratching up the dried stone and slightly dirt ground. He looked into her eyes for a moment, not quite seeing much fear.

"Well my dear, it's your move." Baya offered, baring his teeth and letting out a warning growl.