(( AIM RP between Manda (Mera'ksh) and SkieBorne (Drathir) ))
Well, that had been not much fun. Mear'ksh growled and grumbled to herself. She'd left to go hunting earlier but had only managed to mess things up so far. The one herd she had spotted had also spotted -her-, in a moment of bad luck, and had thundered off. And then, she'd just now missed catching a rabbit because she hadn't seen it in time. Stupid creatures. She would find something to kill! And hurt and bleed... soon ... sooon ....
Sil'in Drathir was out and about as usual, practicing his hunting. He'd graduated from rabbits and bugs a few months back and was now honing his skills in the impala department. He didn't catch very many and it was usually a long time between successful hunts but today... today, he felt everything was right. The herd he'd crept up on was unaware of his presence, there was a young one not too far away... almost within ambush distance. Scraping belly against the ground, ear laid back and expression eager, the crimson male could almost taste the fresh meat already.
Which was about when Mear'ksh happened to spot the same herd. Being a big younger than Drathir was, she was slightly over-eager in her approach (again), and one of the herd leaders spotter her moving. And with that, it was over, the herd turning almost as one and darting off.
Ah damnit! When the herd spooked, he had no choice but to launch into a desperate bid to catch his target. Unfortunately, the herd had chosen to dash his way and then, like a school of fish, flicked sideways to run. The press of bodies carried his prey away and the flash of sharp hooves was too dangerous to enter. Roaring in frustration, he tossed his head and flexed his paws as he glanced around. What had startled the herd?
Mear'ksh heard that roar and looked around - having made a frustrated noise herself. "Oh, was this your herd?" she called out suddenly - not really very sorry at all. She was just angry now that something else had managed to escape her.
"My meal, actually." He rumbled in response, catching sight of her, "If you can't even stalk why are you hunting impala? Try rabbits and let me catch my meals." Huffing, he stood proudly, obviously expecting her to come to him if she was to speak to him. Drathir had spent hours tracking and stalking this herd only to have it all fall away. Stupid girl.
"Because I wanted to," she replied at that, indeed moving closer. Not that the reply made much sense, but did she care? Nope, not really. "I think that it's your fault," she said then. "And I dont' want to hunt rabbits. They're too small."
"My fault?" He growled, not at all pleased by her statement, "How is it my fault when they towards me!? I would have been trampled had I not at least tried to chase one down... you did even do that, weakling." Temper flaring, he tossed his head again, "Small, yes, but appropriate for one possessed of skills such as yours. Go away."
"No," she replied evenly, not even responding to his insults. Would he attack her? Would he cause pain and blood...? That would be good...even if she could not eat right now, she could have blood. And she would have some of his as well ... yes, yes... come on now...
The fur along his shoulders began to stand up and his budding mane poofed in a show of (rather comical) aggression. "No? I said. Go away. Or would you rather I eat you?" He snarled, stalking towards her with his head low, "The weak are useful only in so much as they can fuel the strong. And you are weak."
"Just try to eat me!" she replied at that, laughing at the way his short mane poofed out. "You don't even look like you could eat a mouse right now, puffball!" Dancing backwards, teasingly, she tossed her head. Come on, proud male. Come and get me!
Drathir growled then and surged forward, surprisingly fast, to slash at her. Stupid, foolish girl! Disrupt his hunt then mock him openly? She'd pay for that. He'd been so very sure.... so sure. At least roughing her up would help him blow off some steam. "You're the one that can't even get near a herd of impala fool!"
Mear'ksh didn't even try to dodge him, at least this time, welcoming the pain as his claws drew blood from a shoulder. "I was near enough for them to run," she pointed out with a little smirk. Then she flew at him in turn, her own claws flashing out.
"Heh." Was his only reply as his expression darkened into concentration. A fight then? A fight she would have... how could she know such an encounter would only further prepare him for his eventual duel to the death with Iartuupe? How could she know she was helping rather then hindering him? The smirk that blossomed on his face was the only hint of his dark thoughts. Foolish girl.
When his paw connected, and it hit hard for he'd been expecting her to dodge, the weight he'd thrown forward overbalanced him and made it impossible to dodge her swipe. Growling as needle sharp claws sliced across his shoulder, Drathir kept going, opening his mouth as he tried to catch the back of her neck in his teeth.
Mear'ksh ducked that, though - as she didn't want to be caught just yet. She didn't mind pain, liked it in fact, but to be pinned down this early? Oh no, couldn't have that, not at ALL. Growling almost playfully, she snapped at his front paws, hoping to catch one in teeth or even just throw him off balance.
Kicking off when he missed, Drathir dodged to the side where he stood for a split second before slashing at her flanks and throwing his body at her sides, hoping to use his weight to his advantage. He was bigger then her, stronger too probably.
Mear'ksh snarled at that, and dodged away as well - though Drathir managed to draw blood again. He might be bigger but she thought that she was -faster-. If he pinned her, it would be over, but until then...
Ducking down, she darted over to one side, trying to get around him to claw at a shoulder.
Rising up and turning on his hind legs as he countered her attack, Drathir knocked her paws away. Attempting to grapple her, he knew if he could only just catch her... this would be over.
Oooh not yet! That wasn't any fun! With a little noise almost like a startled squeak, Mear'ksh ducked him again and charged -under- him since his front paws here in the air, toward his back legs. Knock him over, that was good!
He rumbled in startlement as he felt her dash underneath him and then take his hind legs out as he fell. But he fell forward, claws catching and digging into her sides. Facing the wrong way, he wondered just how he was going to pin her, keep her pinned, and turn so that he wasn't leaving any openings.
Mear'ksh yowled as his claws dug into her sides - trying to wriggle out from under him now.
Drathir grinned at that, and threw his weight to side, forcing the two of them into a roll as he dragged paws over her sides so that it might distract her long enough for him to properly pin her. And so, he tried just that.
Mear'ksh fought to get away from him, but when he rolled... he had her then, and the paid -did- distract her. Twisting, she yowled again - efforts to escape abandoned for the moment.
"Ha!" Triumphant, he pinned her to the ground, teeth around the back of her neck in what would be a killing blow if he followed through. For a few moments, Drathir remained where he was, panting, before he withdrew slowly, "Now go!" Nipping her hard enough to draw blood, he shoved her away.
Mear'ksh stumbled away for a few feet, but then she stopped and drew herself up. "Thanks for the blood," she said, bowing her head slightly with a rather crazy-looking grin.
Drathir simply sniffed at her, confused by her words. Ruined his hunt and she was crazy. It seemed a lot of demons were just insane... not demonic, but mentally unstable. Briefly he wondered if the gods liked that... insane demons. "Go. Away." His tone was flat as he waited a moment, ensuring that she was leaving, before also going his own way.
