The Waiting Game (Kitisho, Ngao, Umoja, Mapatano)[FIN]

[Ary Keeyara]

It seemed, perhaps, her luck had run out. Her compensation for her sight was able to get her mobile, but it was as useful as if Kitisho had mind reading abilities. He could predict her moves and she could not even see his. She was hooked like a fish, the skin of her shoulder ripping as he tossed her over him. In the air she felt worse than blind; all she could feel as the air rushing about her. Only vaguely could she even tell which way gravity was pulling. So she twitched and lurched, hoping to land well enough to stand again.

She was simply lucky she didn't sail over the cliff itself. With a thud she tumbled and jerked to the ground. It sounded as if something, maybe a paw, had snapped in the impact. But she was in so much pain as it was she couldn't tell anymore. Gritting her jaw she thrust herself upwards to her feet, barely keeping her balance.

Kitisho wasn't coming at her just yet, in what must only have been seconds. There was no sound from Hofu. But she could hear Kitisho moving. If she didn't do something he'd be on her again and he'd know how she'd respond each time.

Luck. It was all she had now.

Without a call from her companion she jerked towards what she percieved to be his location. She came out a bit to the side, unintentionally, making upper cut strokes with both her front claws. She didn't even know where at him she was striking. Hofu worked as her eyes on the defensive...but playing defensive against this brute? It was digging her own grave. It was now or never.  

[Bloody Anubis]

His movements were that of a stalking predator as he came after her, muscles rolling with vitality despite their aching. The mixture of blood and sweat seemed to hang in the very air, just on the tip of his tongue. It was his milk and honey, and now it was sweetened with the opportunity for retribution.

She had taken something from him when she had escaped from him that time before, and he had taken and taken and taken from her for it. Her vision, her health, her resilience by threatening all she stood to defend. It still wasn't enough.

Ngao was on the offensive again, trying to gain ground again. She was off somewhat, however, seeming so pathetic in his eyes that it was almost a shame to strike. Kitisho decided it was time to end this, claim his final prize that she had to offer- her life. Not making another sound, he twisted and reared onto his back legs. Paws slammed down into her shoulders, claws in her back. Her neck was open to him and he yanked her closer, snarling something close to a purr and he leaned in to bite into her neck and rip away what was his.

It was over.  

[Ary Keeyara]

She felt her attack fail, felt the weight he threw on her shoulders painful. In such a position there was no doubt he'd come in for a lethal blow. Perhaps she should have thought it was over, that she had given it a good run, fought well considering the damage he had inflicted. But she refused to give in, not when she could still move. Not when she could still do something.

Using the last of her strength she pushed up from the ground and forward, attempting to throw him off her as he was surely already off balance. As she felt his paws lift from her she event lashed out with a few strikes of her paws before pushing back, tumbling in the opposite direction she had shoved to get away and get free to fight once more, for how ever much longer her body would last. It didn't look like it'd be long.  

[Bloody Anubis]

The bigger they are, the harder they fall, right? Kitisho's weight was against him, and while he clawed at Ngao's hide to keep him stable, he could already feel himself tipping back. And then she was gone, her final shove sending him fully off-balance and reeling. As he tipped back, he saw the jagged rocks of the gorge far below and knew he would not be able to stop himself. He already knew he was dead before he was falling.

Ulinzi's scream pierced the air above, his wings tucked franticly to pull him into a dive. He flew harmlessly past Hofu, a mere glance of air against Ngao, and dipped over the side as well, "Kitisho!"

He was bitter and outraged- HOW could this have happened? A mere female, blind female had managed to overcome him? He could still fight, he could still live. It wasn't his time to go!

But when his back began to graze the rocks he was ready. As his Bonded tore frantically at his chest to try to stop the impact, only he would see the great lion grin. Feeling himself being torn apart, feeling every ounce of himself crush and try to come up his throat, he was still in a better place. Once he got past his pride, his winning streak, he was able to revel in the pure and utter satisfaction of finally being defeated.

He was overwhelmed almost instantaneously, his spirit and strength escaping with one final breath. Then he was only a body.

Ulinzi cried out once more and was silent, coming to rest on the mangled chest of his bonded. His wingspan could nearly encompass half of the lion, and the soft brown appendages draped themselves over the fallen warrior now. Kitisho and he, their relationship couldn't quite be called a loving one, but then again that was what had suited them both. The martial eagle would still mourn him, his strength, his ability to keep true to himself despite the company he ran with and the actions he had to preform. But it was that inability to desire anything but fighting that did him in the end anyway. Ulinzi had the vague sense to realize that this was probably what his lion wanted. Still, he could not bring himself to accept this death so easily, to just move on. There would never be another Kitisho.