SkieBorne
Aran'shale.... The duties that accompanied the title were many, foremost of which was prowling the pridelands, catching intruders, gathering demons and generally making himself look big and powerful. Morifaer had specified that he get to know the demons but... really, what he wanted right now was a moment to himself. He had much to think about and so, he was wandering in the further reaches of the pride, near the borders, in an isolated patrol.


Manda
Chaesha was currently ... rather hoping that the lands she sought were close. Otherwise, she would probably have to find a place to stop and stay for a while. When she'd encounted Jelani, she had never dreamed that their simple little daliance would result in anything. But now, here she was... half-waddling along with who the hell knew how many cubs squirming around inside of her belly.

She knew that a pride of demons wasn't exactly a place that should be considered -safe-, but at least if she could find them, she wouldn't be doing this totally alone. That would be nice, since it was getting harder and harder to hunt and every day her instincts screamed at her to hole up somewhere and simply wait for the birth of her cubs before continuing on.


SkieBorne
The scent of a female caught his attention, so far out, and he tilted his head as he adjusted his course to go in search of the unfamiliar lioness. It wasn't long before Drathir found her and he stopped, just out of sight and down wind, to observe this stranger. His brow knit together, however, when he noticed her waddle and a swell to her belly.... a pregnant female? Why was she coming thing way? It would be a death sentence for such a vulnerable lioness.

Distracted from his heavier thoughts for the time being, the Aran'shale approached and roared a greeting - a hint of warning in his voice as he stopped in her path, "You trespass, stranger."


Manda
Chaesha stopped then, but didn't back down. She wasn't afraid of some random male ... even if he did look rather large, and strong. If he attacked her, she would have to be careful ... but she wasn't about to just duck her head and give in. "Trespass? Upon what lands?" she asked, a bit of a growl to her own tone. Could this, perhaps, be the demons at last..?


SkieBorne
"Aikanaro'hini," He rumbled, "You come into the land of the demons... Why do you come? Speak carefully - mistep and your life is forfeit; and those of your unborn." Drathir nodded, indicating her swollen belly, and tossed his head, blunt in his speech and intent. He had little patience for these encounters but as long as they were fellow demons, he hand only to test them before granting them access.


Manda
A smirk spread slowly over the lioness's face at that, though. "Finally," she half-hissed. Snorting, she eyed the male, completely unaware of his rank. "If you want others to join you, then you really should make yourselves easier to -find-. I've been searching for months now."


SkieBorne
"Easier to find would make it more accessible to the weak, and I assure you - rogue - that we do not allow the weak to survive long." He arched a brow, "Besides, you cannot stay here without challenge unless you've my permission. I am Aran'shale Sil'in Drathir, Morifaer's representative among the demons... my word is law in this place. Mind your words."


Manda
Chaesha blinked at that. Whoops. Didn't mean to piss off one of the pride leaders on her first day. Time to make a biiit of a practical retreat, she figured. Bowing slightly to him, she let eyes lid. "I apologize then. I wasn't aware of your rank in the pride... but I will tell you that I am not weak." She looked up then, and her eyes flashed at him.


SkieBorne
"Can you prove that?" He asked, smirking in response, "In your condition, I could disembowel you easily." Snorting, the king took to circling her, "A test, then, once your cubs are born. Fight me then, and you are found lacking, I will toss you to the demons as a toy. Your cubs will... prove themselves worthy if they survive their youth."

Striking out with a paw, he lanced claws across her hindquarters, marking her. "I expect you to know your true name by the time you face me... What are you called?"


Manda
Chaesha flinched at his strike, but didn't cry out - accepting the swipe, and the scars that it would likely make. "Chaesha is my name," she replied then. "But if you are asking what the demon within me is called ... " she trailed off, raising a brow at him. For she knew -that- already, had known since she was young that she was not the only one in this body of hers.


SkieBorne
"Hmn?" He echoed, clearly leading her speak further, "Chaesha and...? What is your true name, demon? Tell me your nature." There was command in his voice as he loomed up before her, daring the rogue to defy him. "Share it wil those others as you wish, but you are bound by honour and more to tell me, Chaesha."


Manda
The lioness didn't seem overly intimidated by his looming, however, just swishing her tail once as she blinked up at him. Then she answered calmly, "The name of my demon is Mastema. She has been with me for a long time... "


SkieBorne
"Mastema..." He tried the name, murmured it a few times before he nodded his approval, "How long?" If this one had been a demon for many seasons now, then she possibly brought great news of use to them as well and he rumbled thoughtfully, "Have you come across any others who hear their demons?"


Manda
"I've known that she was there ever since I was small ... though she only told me her name more recently." Rumbling softly, she stretched just a bit. "I haven't met any others... though I haven't exactly been looking either. I was simply trying to find more like myself first."


SkieBorne
Drathir sniffed at that, the points that Chaesha had been gaining stripped by her lack of knowledge, "Hmph. I see. Your time among us will show if you're truly a demon or not. Pray that you are as strong as you think you are, rogue. I will be monitoring your status, do not doubt. When you are relieved of your burden, you will fight me. Understood?"

He waited for a sign of recognition before he turned away and continued on with his patrol.

What a waste of time. The fool would crash and burn if she was lying.


Manda
"Of course... I look forward to it," she replied, eyes flashing at him again. Though she didn't exactly think of her cubs as 'burdens', still... this had the feel of ritual about it. And so she wouldn't gainsay anything that he wanted of her.