Usare - Manda
Sil'in Drathir - SkieBorne


Oh, this promised to be -fun-. Usare grinned wickedly, almost smirking as he sauntered off away from the den. He didn't think anyone had seen him go ... and even if they had, he'd just tell them he intended to do some 'patrolling'. Which really meant he was going to go prowling around the borders. And just maaaaayybe over them a bit - which wasn't exactly allowed. But he wanted to find something to chase off, so he could look good! So he might just have to hunt something down. And if he did, oh well. Not like he was gonna get caught, anyway.

Having been napping near the entrance to the den, Drathir blinked a sleepy eye open as he sensed someone pass. Catching sight of tha wicked grin, he flicked an ear and settled back down for a moment, giving Usare time to leave the den proper before rising and, yawning, following after. Once outside, he playfully reared up and batted at Usare's hindquarters, "Where're you going?" Probably some place he wasn't supposed to go... not that Drathir could talk. He'd been leaving to hunt on his own a lot recently - learning through trial and error how to catch rabbits.

Having been concentrating on being -quiet-, Usare jumped just slightly when Drathir batted at him, and spun around with a little growl. Then he relaxed just a bit when he saw it was his brother and sat down, chest puffing out. "None 'f your business," he said, trying to be tough. He wasn't really very good at lying, though.

"Mmhmm. And that's why you jumped. Scaredy cat~" Circling around the other, he grinned, "You're going somewhere... I'm coming too. " The way he said it implied a strong 'or else'. Winking, Drathir flicked his tail and inspected his claws as he waited for Usare's answer.

Usare frowned at that and batted at the other. "Shut up," he grumbled. But he really didn't -mind- having his brother along, so he gave in after a minute, his own tail-tip flicking about. "I was goin' to ... explore a little. Near the borders," he half-whispered, ears tilting forward.

"Ooou..." He leaned in, looking around furtively and smiled, speaking in hushed tones, "Borders huh? That'll be fun.. prove we can stand on our own. Have to keep away from those one patrol though..." Drathir's eyes sparkled. It would be a game and the looser would be brought back to the den. And probably yelled at for being disobedient. But such was the price for glory. "C'mon then." Bunting Usare with the side of his face, Drathir moved off.

Usare hissed and bounded ahead to get in the lead - shoulder-checking his brother on the way. It had been -his- idea, he was gonna get there first!

Drathir growled and cub-roared at his brother as he stumbled to the side, running to catch up. It might have been Usare's idea but Drathir thought himself more at home in the 'wilds' surrounding their dwelling. He would get there first. Scout the path and be the first to discover anything new!

It wasn't long before he'd run beyond the limits of the pride's dens and into the tall grasses of the savannah that stretched on as far as the eye could see.

Usare was still ahead ... though barely. That was, until he tripped over a rock and went rolling along with a little yelp. Ow, stupid rock! Stumbling up, he half-limped back to the thing and snarled at it - smacking it with a paw without really thinking that that might hurt, too.

"Clumsy~" Drathir laughed as he bound by, zooming into the grass and running a half circle before coming to stop at the edge of the grass and blink at his brother. "Careful! If you break a paw, you won't be able to patrol." Smiling, he dug claws into the dirt and stretched, yawning once more. "Think anything's out here?" He lifted his head to listen to the night but only the bugs and the grass made any sound.

Usare winced and spat out a few words he was -pretty- sure he wasn't even supposed to know. But it made him feel better, anyway. A bit. "I know that," he snapped at the other and plopped down to lick at his paw for a minute. Then he looked up again. "I dunno. You're so noisy you probly scared everything away," he said. Nevermind -he'd- been the one making more noise...

"If I'm so noisy come find me!" He answered the other's curses with a few of his own and a haughty laugh as he backstepped into the grass and disappeared into the foliage. "Come catch me!"

"Hey!" Usare called out, then frowned. Ok fine. Two could play -this- game. Crouching down, he wiggled hauches about and tried to sniff at the ground and pick up his brother's scent. He was so going to find the other and then beat him up...

Drathir hadn't thought of his scent and thus there was a relatively straight trail through the grass that then veered off to the left. He was busy hiding trying to decide if this pile of rocks was a decent hiding spot to consider that Usare might catch up.... he'd run a fair ways in.

Usare grinned once he found the train and started padding along - though being careful in case Drathir had tried any tricks. But it seemed really simple... ah ha! and there up ahead he could just see the other through the grass. Grinning, he left the trail and started circling around to come toward his brother from a totally unexpected direction.

But Drathir decided that that pile of rocks was not what he wanted in a hiding spot and turned to move on, walking straight towards Usare. His gaze was cast up at the stars above and the way they twinkled and danced. Briefly, he wondered if those were demons too... or gods. Minions of their gods maybe? What /were/ there? The pondering was short lived, however, as the breeze shifted and he thought he caught Usare's scent. Pausing, his eyes narrowed and he scanned the area before him.

Usare was still watching the other, though... and he noticed when the wind shifted - quickly crouching down. Crap! he didn't want to get caught, he wanted to catch -Drathir-! Carefully, he tried to move over to one side, out of the wind.

Blue eyes continued to scan the grass as he dropped into a stalking crouch, ears laid back against his head and step near silent. Something was out there... he could tell. Slipping through the grass, he headed in the direction he thought he'd smelled his brother in.

By that point, Usare had managed to get off to one side... but then he lost patience with the game and came running out of the grass, aiming to pounce on the other. "Gotcha!"

But that shout and the pounding of paws against the ground startled Drathir... his instincts screaming for him to avoid the attack. And he did, darting off with a cry of surprise. A few seconds later, he realized what had happened and spun around, one leg giving out with the sharp turn such that he fell but he scrambled back up and charged back at Usare, intent on beating him up for that.

Usare growled at that and changed direction - paws scrambling at the dirt as he tried to move quickly enough to catch Drathir. But he was just a bit too slow and his brother caught him first. Usare wasn't about to give up, though - rearing back and batting at the other with front paws.

Rearing up to meet Usare's strike with his own in a much smaller version of the vicious fights the older lions would get into, Drathir growled and hissed and tried to seem intimidating. And then there was a decidedly loud snap of branches not to far away, puncuated by the heavy footfalls of something large running. Stopping, ears immediately laying back against his head, Drathir leaned against his brother and looked in the direction the sound had come from, whispering, "Hear that?"

Usare froze as well, sitting up quickly - and then crouching down again. Couldn't let whatever it was see them... "Yea," he whispered back. Eyes widened, then narrowed, and he hissed, "Intruders!"

He nodded and dropped into a crouch as well, slinking towards the sound. "Let's show them why the we Aikanaro'hini are to be feared." Grinning mischievously, he glanced back as Usare, waiting for him.

Usare smirked in return and got up to follow the other. "Definitely," he agreed with a firm nod. Time to show these guys who -really- ruled the lands around here.