|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:58 am
Hiam stretched, his back coiling and popping softly. He yawned as well, lazily, then stood strait, glancing around. The cub was currently perched on a rock not far from the volcano, looking out of the demon's territory... A light smirk tugged at his maw. Some day he'd rule this land... Perhaps not literally, but all would fear him just as much as if he was the king!
His claws kneaded at the rock for a moment, then he hopped off and down onto the ground. The muscles in his legs and torso had grown since his early childhood. He was fairly large and bulky for his age, which only added to his firey ego. Once he had trotted a few paces he glanced over his shoulder, dark eyes narrowing. "Hey! XIANG! Hurry up!"
The youngest of litter shifted his head, he lay on his back, belly to the expanse of sky above, he shifted and blinked to his brother, and when understanding dawned on him he was clumsey to right himself and in such a hurry to follow, he stretched his hind legs on the move, first one and then the other, then yawning wide. It wasnt often that Hiam would allow him along when he went wandering, so when the chances came, Xi would always take them. "Where you heading?" He asked, just to judge Hiam's mood, Xi had grown well since his kitten days, but he was still smaller than his brothers, lanky where they were bulking out, and not for lack of trying, he climbed and explored as much as they did, but usually much closer to home.
It was true that usually Hiam prefered to be alone when he as off wandering and plotting his greatness... But today he felt like hanging out with his little brother. ...Which meant he was in the mood to order someone around. Perhaps a hint of tormenting. Who knew how he'd act later in the day. When he saw his brother following he turned back to the path ahead, trotting a little faster. It was easy for them to wander off... now that they were a bit bigger and capable of taking care of themselves, Abeni has devouted most of her time to her priestess duties. In fact it was rarer for them to live in the priestess' dens... Others of the pride weren't allowed there, and slowly they were weaned away, curling up on there own in some other small den. Hiam never admited that he missed his mother, nor the fact that he often times curled up against his brothers when they were both asleep.
He walked off, heading towards the grassy lands around the mountains. Occasionally he'd stop to get his bearings, then move on again. He seemed in a good enough mood, grinning lightly to himself even though he was silent.
Xiang took the silence for what it was, and was quiet himself, he was observant enough to know what was going on, most of the time, he though so anyway, and didnt mind following now. He had to hurry to keep pace with Hiam, his brother seemed determined, so maybe he knew where they were going, Xiang sure didn't, if Hiam decided to leave him behind for some other adventure, Xi would spend the day searching out home, he had forgotten to also observe around him, and not just his brother leading.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:19 am
Hiam glanced back to check if Xiang was following still, then started to move faster. He was nearly running now, as fast as his small legs could take him. Hiam was more muscles than limb, so wasn't the fastest around, Xiang would surely be able to keep up, at least barely.
He moved over rocks, crawled over and under dead trees, and finally slowed, panting heavily. His ears flickered around, listening for... something. Searching for something specific, it seemed.
"Hmmm..."
Running almost full out to keep up, Xiang didnt dare call out to his older brother to wait, surely that would only cause him to go faster, instead he gritted his teeth and did his best to keep his gaze trained on the flame red furry tip following it over and under until the dark boy was satisfied with his run, at least, Xiang hopped he was, he quelled the urge to pant hard and tried to breathe deep through his nose, unsuccessfully and flopped to his belly as Hiam searched, when Xi had caught his breath again, if given the chance, he's stand and step nearer to Hiam watching him. Otherwise he would set to following him again, remaining silent, unless questioned.
He turned suddenly to the smaller lion, his eyes wide. "Xiang... Do you hear that?" A cruel, wide smile crossed his maw, and he slowly walked forward, crouched low to the ground. He peeked over a mound of rocks, to a small herd of antelope not far away.
He ducked down again and gestured for him to come closer, his eyes still wide with excitement. "Xiang... what's the biggest thing you've ever killed?"
Fanning his ears wide, Xiang nodded a little bit, worried, that smile on his brothers maw wasnt the worst thing that he could think of, but it was quite high on the list. Xi swallowed as his gaze followed Hiam and then was still as he peeked at the antelope, already seeing the other 'worst things' in his minds eye.
"Ah, umm, nothing big, lizards, thats all... you know, ah ah no, a rabbit, I think." His voice was nothing over a whisper as he stammered his responce, his own eyes wide as well, but with different emotions.
"Ah, me too.... But today will be different." His gaze turned back to the antelope, and he grinned widely. "I'll go and hide down wind. I want you to jump out and chase them towards me, so I can pounce one of them... Got it?" His tail was flicking to and fro, his claws kneading the ground with anticipation.
He didn't even wait for a reply. Quickly but stealthfully he started to stalk away, making a wide circle around the grazing herd.
"I, me? But! Hi-hiam..." Xiang's voice hissed after Hiam, but he didnt dare raise it further, instead he crouched there shaking just a little and doing his best to keep his brother in sight for as long as he could, he didn't want to jump out early and have them all run away before Hiam could get into the position he wanted. Xiang waited for a minute after Hiam vanished into the grasses, and then another trying to convince himself that he could even scare a herd of animals so much bigger than himself into running at all, but in the end he was more afraid of not trying and having Hiam angry than, trying and having nothing happening.
Steeling himself and clearing his voice softly, Xiang jumpped out of the bushes, he had seen it done, from far away, granted, but all he thought he needed to do was get them moving, right? He ran at the herd, with no skill, making noise in the grass and calling too, not quite a roar, but trying, running at them full tilt.
Though Xiang is small, the antelope's instincts are to run. The larger ones paused to glance at him, blink a couple of times... Perhaps they felt the demon in him, even if it was small. Or maybe they smelled more lions hidden, then... either way, they ran. Strait towards Hiam.
The small lion lept out of the bushes towards a large buck, his mouth opened wide with a roar.. well, as much as a kid could roar. It was a bit high pitched, but it was a roar no less. The full grown antelope faltered, and Hiam lounged at him...
Only to be met with a face full of horns and hooves.
The herd outstripped Xiang in a hurry, and the cub was left coughing on their dust as the large animals pelted away into the grasses. He continued to run after them, but he slowed now, turning his head this way and that, searching out his brother and or the antelope he was sure would be downed...
"HIAM?" Xiang called, turning around, "Hiam?" He'd heard him roar but now he wasnt sure where it had come from, and he was worried for his brother.
The cub was left on the ground vomiting and spitting up blood, his face a mess of flesh and bone. The antelope had nicked a cheek and ripped it open with a horn, and a couple hooves had nearly smashed in the rest.
He forced himself not to cry. Adults didn't cry. Demons don't cry. Instead he roared with the flustration and agony of the incident, trying to paw at his wounds.
Xiang had not thought that anything bad would happen to Hiam, he had seen others with scars or scratches from hunts, heard of accidents happening, but when he spotted the splash of deep red, so much more of it than he was used to seeing the worry froze in his core and Hiams roar echoed in his ears. He rushed up to his brother and looked over the wounds, realizing he didnt have any idea what else he should do, he bent his head to lick at the wound, trying to see the extent. "Hiam, the blood..."
The roars continued, but now the aggression was turned on Xiang.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He screamed, a clawed paw flying wildly towards him, slashing through the air towards him. His left eye was swollen shut where the hooves had hit him, but the other was wide, the reds of them shining with the blood. He stared at Xiang wildly... and accusingly.
He pushed himself to his feet and crawled away, leaving a trail of blood that poured from the side of his face. "Get away from me!" He roared, panting to catch the breath that was knocked out of him. "This is your fault, you ran them in the wrong direction!"
Xiang was too close to fully dodge in time, or he wasn't expecting this blow, either way, the small claws caught his cheek, ripping and he stumbled back. The rake mark stung, but the words spat at him stung further, holding a paw to his cheek in surprise. "I didn't mean to, Hiam, I didn't know where to run at them!" He shook his head, "I'm sorry, but, -Hiam-" he said the name forcefully his own voice quaking, "You're bleeding so much, let me help you, what should I do?" Xiagn followed but kept his distance.
"Just get AWAY!" He screamed, growling and baring his blood stained teeth at him. Then he turned and ran. Or... tried. It was fairly easy to if not catch up with him, to follow. He left a trail of blood that gave away his direction.
He was growing slowly weaker from the lack of blood, but still he ran on, panting and stumbling occasionally. He just has to get away. Away from his brother, the shame, and the realization that maybe he wasn't as big and bad as he thought he was.
That stopped Xi in his tracks and he watched his bleeding brother trail away through the grass, his fear and worry remained a hard stone in his stomache, but he couldn't continue to call after Hiam only to be pushed away so roughly, he wasn't his brothers nurse or something, if he could run still he was alright enough, right?
He wanted to leave, being out in the open was still a danger, he had no idea which direction home was, no, he looked to the sun in the sky, he did have some idea.
...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
