|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:07 am
Kivi  Kivi pressed close to her brother for a moment and then settled herself in a more regular position. She didn't have a problem with blood or violence. That was silly. She did, however, have a problem with change and she worried that this challenge would bring about a lot of changes. "Can you see, Bren?" she asked. Because he was younger than her, Bren was also smaller, and so it was possible that he could not see. She doubted he would admit it, were that the case, but she asked anyway. She could always move over and let him sit next to Erykk, though she would have preferred to occupy the spot beside her brother herself. Brenning  "Yeah, I'm fine," Bren replied absently. Like Erykk, he was too engrossed in the fight unfolding before them to make eye contact or turn his head, though this was less unusual from him than it was from Erykk, who he admired a great deal despite his typical formality. "Why's Njal doing that?" he asked softly. "Isn't it dangerous to go in close like that when both fighters are equally fresh?" He didn't really know a whole lot about fighting yet, although he fully intended to learn and become the biggest, baddest fighter the pride had ever seen. But it did seem to him that if he were fighting Aesir and both of them were fresh and daisy like, he would want to make Aesir tired before he got close to him. Burzum  Burzum did not spare the other cubs nearby even a moment's glance, even though he could not help overhearing what they were saying. He had his tail wrapped tightly around his paws so that it would not be accidentally stepped on, but now he had to place his paw over the tip so that it would not twitch and betray his nerves. "Shut up," he growled at the group of cubs who were talking. He used his scariest growl, which bore a striking resemblance to a singer of heavy metal, though he had no way of knowing that. He just knew that it tended to produce results when he issued orders in that voice, as opposed to the lighter tenor which was his usual speaking voice. His dark eyes were open very wide as he watched his grandda respond to Njal's next attack, and his claws kept sliding in and out with adrenaline.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:23 am
Finna Finna couldn't say that she particularly liked that the group was talking behind her. She could hear Erykk too, and the fact that he sounded excited made her blood boil. She wanted to tear into him for that, if only to get this feeling out of her chest. If Aesir lost.. she didn't want to think about that. Aesir was strong, the strongest ever in her young mind! He couldn't lose.. Though she didn't dare ask her brother if it was possible, she was afraid of the answer he would give. So she glared behind her when Burz growled at them all. Thankfully he had thought the same as she. But she wasn't going to be telling anyone to shut up. She was too afraid her voice might waiver and give away her true feelings. Canicah Though she hadn't said anything, Burz's growl was enough to scare her into not doing so. She squeaked, pressing closer to Finna's side as she did. She was a great deal smaller than the two she sat with, and so she feared of upsetting Burzum, who was bigger than Finna too. She quickly turned her head back around, looking away from Bren. She didn't want to get him in trouble, and she knew that he was likely the only one she would talk to. She she just kept close to Finna and gulped. Erykk When the white male snarled, Erykk found himself glaring. He hadn't wanted to take the attention off of the challenge, but he had been here as early as that smaller juvenile. "Why don't you just mind your own business, kid." He said, his own voice low and deep. It was the voice he gave when he was warning the other. Though he wasn't looking for a fight, he wasn't going to look weak either. Then he felt his sister press against him, and he put an arm around her for a moment. When she pulled away, he shouldered her gently. "Don't let it worry you. Things will work out regardless." He wasn't sure of that, but Erykk was usually a calm force. It's what would make him dangerous as an adult.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:33 am
Under his usual disguise of Thorgnyr, the messenger of the gods, Raiden was about watching the fight like everyone else. He had been lying a little low since Ruzanski had been sent off, not really wanting to happen upon Kazul. And frankly, Raiden was just bad at staying in one place too long; it was amazing he had committed himself this much to keeping appearances around here.
He had managed to find himself a good spot. Well, good enough, because it seemed like cubs just kept pushing through.
Raiden wasn't as anxious or excited about this fight as most of those here, not being as emotionally invested in this ordeal, so he wasn't too engrossed to look around at the crowd. He was surprised Kazul wasn't here, but, then again... That was probably sort of his fault. It was about time, wasn't it?
He heard a question from one of the cubs, and looked back at the fight. Njal really was throwing caution to the air. But then again, this fight could very well be to the death; danger was a given. "He thinks he can overpower Aesir." Thorgnyr commented aloud, though not really trying to answer Brenning. The disguised god wasn't sure about who he thought might win, nor did he have a very strong preference. If asked, though, he probably liked the defending Warlord more, he had been very welcoming of Thorgnyr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:16 am
 Akatta had stayed patiently by her husband’s side as they waited for Aesir to finally arrive. Quite rude of the Warlord to be late for such an important challenge when the whole pride’s future was at stake, the freeborn thought to herself. It probably meant Aesir didn’t really think he could lose the duel today and that was a great annoyance to the usually good-natured lioness. Njal was a good, noble lion. A strong Reaver of few words but he meant every single one of them. She had faith in him.
Akatta eyed her husband with obvious pride as the match begun without showing any hints to the great excitement she was feeling. Even if she was certain Njal was capable of besting the current Warlord, many things could affect the outcome of a duel and she knew the great risk Njal was taking today. But, deep down in her core, the freeborn was certain her husband would be victorious. If the pride was to return to the old ways, he had to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:47 am
Aesir rose to meet this new attack from Njal, throwing himself forward and into it on the chance that he would end up the one doing the overpowering and pinning down. Since he did not have the initiative here, it wasn't likely, but it was worth a try. Aesir had a good deal of bulk to work with, all of it muscle, and he knew how to throw that weight around in a fight.
As he met Njal's attack Aesir reached forward to grip his opponent's shoulder's with his claws to draw him closer and hopefully take away much of his ability to use his foreclaws. Aesir had come to this fight without the furs and beads he usually wore, lest anyone say that they somehow gave him an unfair advantage by protecting him. As if he needed protection.
Aesir did not intend to hold this position, straining on two legs against Njal, forever. But it was worth trying to push Njal back if he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:48 am
Watching the cubs for a moment, Yu couldn't help but smile a little. Ah, it was good for them to watch this. Though he had to wonder, how would the current Warlord's grandcubs handle their grandsire possibly losing this fight and thus losing his position? He turned his attention back to the fight, grinning as the two lions moved. After a moment, he noticed Thorgnyr and went over. "I think he'll do it. I'm confident of it!" He looked to the fight again, eyes dancing. "I'll bet you anything on that!" If there was anything that could make this more interesting in Yu's opinion... It was a little friendly betting.
"I don't think this is the likes of anything MANY have seen!" He watched every move, mentally recording it all to memory. After a moment, he opted for a little small talk. "So, what do you do around the pride? You seem to be new here... Me, I'm a bard." He puffed his chest proudly. "And I'm going to make sure this fight is remembered for generations to come in song! The epic of all epic songs!" He'd have to find other bards in the pride and tell them the song, so they could all sing it. What fun was such an epic song if others weren't singing it, too? He could even get them to all sing it at once as a heralding song to the winner! Ooooh, how exciting this all was!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:11 am
Inari did not have strong preference one way or another towards who won... Whoever was strongest deserved it most, and that was who she would root for silently in her mind. As the battle began to heat up, Inari grew even more focused on watching their every move. She was surprised to hear the male beside her talking to her... In the middle of all the action!
She tried to muster up her patience, but patience was something Inari was frequently short on. She turned her head slightly to the male without moving her eyes from the fight. "If you're going to remember it in song, shouldn't you focus on it?" she asked flatly. There would be time to chat after the fight had finished. "But yes, I'm new here," She answered, slightly annoyed that it was still so obvious, something that she hid from her voice.
She was intrigued by Njal's "strategy," pushing straight forward, plowing through. A good but dangerous strategy for one who could manage it- she herself was too light to successfully do that with most... And as for Aesir, she watched as he worked with that move. Distance in a fight was key- it determined what you could and couldn't use, it directed the dance. And having plenty of distance was just as significant as having not enough!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:57 am
Njal's right paw was, well and proper, stuck. With the hold Aesir had on his shoulder, he couldn't really move it from its position grabbing on to the other male's side. His left paw wasn't too much better; though it wasn't stuck, mobility was limited, and at the most he could raise it to his opponent's shoulder. not ideal, as that meant he couldn't go for the face, like he wanted to.
Or did, it really? They were face to face now. There were no rules here, and they didn't have to stick to any moral code. With a snarl, he opened his mouth wide and went for a bite, whatever he could reach that would cause damage. There was also the pressing matter of getting out of this position, so still intent on knocking Aesir down, he angled himself slightly and began to redirect his strength to the side, putting more pressure on his left paw (which was in a much better position for this sort of thing) and letting go with the right. The idea was to swing Aesir; he wasn't going to fall just by being pushed backwards, the loss of balance might give Njal an advantage he needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:11 pm
 Aruná had joined the Stormborn in the middle of some very interesting times. She was familiar with the concept of fighting for leadership from her old pride, but she had only actually witnessed lesser rank duels. Her pride hadn't changed leader since before she was born. From the excitement among the Stormborn she assumed that this wasn't an everyday occurence here either. This had to be huge.
Watching the spectacle seemed like the right thing to do so the dark pelted lioness had been there early. She had watched the gathering pride members with great interest, and one of the lions in the crowd had pointed out Njal when she asked. She already knew what Aesir looked like, but he almost looked naked without his pelts and jewellery. She shuffled closer to the dark lioness she had seen standing next to Njal. She sat down and curled her tail around herself.
"Are you... kin?" she asked and motioned her head towards the ongoing fight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:46 pm
Hroarr was nearly beside himself with anxiety, but was doing his best not to show too much of that. He'd learned a lot in the recent months. He'd worked hard, fought for his own position, and won himself a Captaincy. But this... this was different.
He'd arrived early, and had been slowly pacing one edge of the ring where the fight was to take place. He'd offered to the gods and spent time in deep thought, trying to calm the inner storm and center himself. It had been partially successful, but he still was worried. This wasn't just a challenge to prove might or honor. This was for the position of Warlord. It would impact the whole pride. Regardless of the outcome, things would always be a little different.
Had he been younger, he would have cried out in anger when the challenge had arrived, would have shouted at Njel as he entered the ring, and pled with his father not to do this. A small part of him still desired to do all this, but he knew better. This was a matter of honor, but also a matter of law. This was how things worked for them, and if they did not abide by it, one and all, from thrall to Warlord, then they would not be a proper pride at all. No, this had to happen, regardless of his personal feelings, so he gritted his teeth and made himself sit still as his father arrived.
First blows were exchanged, and Hroarr was right there in the front, watching it all. His muscles quivered from time to time, and he gave off an intense aura of barely controlled fervor. But he kept control. Aside from the muscle twitches, he sat still as a stone, only his eyes following the movements of the fighters and his mane lifting with the breeze. Whatever came to be, he would not dishonor his father with unseemly and uncontrolled behavior.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:42 pm
Not long after he settled down to watch, a familiar lion joined him. Bousvor was pleased to see Yu and nodded in greeting. The bet made him glance at the black-n-gold lion. With Yu betting on Njal that meant he would back Aesir. He gave the other male a sideways glance. "Not betting on a thing you know for sure? That hardly be considered fair." The tawny male took his time considering the deal with his green eyes on the two lions below.
"I accept." A nice rabbit pelt wouldn't be hard to get, and it added a bit of excitement into the fight. The fight had begun and Bousvor turned his attention to watch. He realized Njal was wide open for his attack. He glanced at Yu then back to the fight. Woud Aesir take advantage of that opening? Most likely. It amused him when Yu went to talk to another. Surely if Njal won, the lion would find him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:21 am
She had been completely focused on the duel and so Akatta was visibly startled by the voice next to her. A quick glance at the other lioness had the composed Freeborn straining herself to hide her surprise. Why, she’d never seen this lioness before but her coat was so similar to that of Aesir’s line that Akatta had to wonder if she was somehow related to the Warlord. It couldn’t be that the Aesir had even more illegitimate children outside the pride that might join the Stormborn at some point.. right?
“I am. My husband Njal is fighting the Warlord. I’m Akatta.” From where she stood she could see Captain Hroarr Aesirborn behind the dark lioness. Honestly, anyone would suspect a family connection there. Even though she wasn’t particularly fond of Aesir, his somewhat strange children or his rule, Akatta smiled. She wasn’t one to judge a lion by blood alone. “You are an Outlander, am I correct? Do you have family in the pride?” This was her polite way of asking if she was one of the many bastards Aesir had spawned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:15 am
It must be nerve wracking to watch a loved one in this kind of fight. She wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a "to the death" kind of deal, but she was sure it wouldn't be fun for the loser.
"Nice to meet you Akatta," she said, "I'm Aruná."
Aruná hadn't had time to find out the whereabouts of her sister, and the question about family startled her. Her ears flickered back briefly. Being related to a thrall would probably not score her any points, but this lioness looked nice enough. Her tail curled tighter around her.
"Not that I'm aware of," she said in a strained voice, but then decided to be almost honest, "Well... My sister might have ended up here."
She hadn't dared to start asking about a thrall named Udongo, and she hadn't seen her sister among the thralls either. Mingling with the slaves might seem suspicious, so she hadn't actively sought them out. Bifrost was truly enjoying himself. He was never happier than when epic drama unfolded around him. First the impossible quest issued to Captain Ruzanski, then Breytast Vindar with all its potential, and now this! It was a good time to be a bard! Unlike his boring brother he didn't have to concern himself with things like accuracy and keeping neutral. Tasteful exaggeration was much more entertaining, after all. Many lions in the crowd had a lot riding on the outcome, but to the colourful bard this was a party. Cubs weaved in and out in the crowd, and Bifrost laughed heartily as they ducked between his legs to weasel into better spots. He was too large for that, so he had to resort to a combination of wiggling, pushing, loud compliments and flirty smiles to try to get through the crowd. He squeezed down next to, and nearly on top of his older brother Torbjörn. "Hello brother," he grinned, "Putting that superior memory of yours to work, huh? Want to compare notes later?"  Torbjörn cringed as he heard a familiar voice behind him. He knew his brother had to be here, since the bard would probably die from a broken heart if he managed to miss an event of this importance. But did he have to bother his long suffering brother? The tip of his tail twitched once, but his face remained stony up until the point when Bifrost tried to sit on him. Her grimaced and tried to move away without much success. The crowd was simply too dense.
"I'm trying to work," he hissed. He knew that Bifrost was just trying to annoy him, and the most annoying thing about it was that it was working.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 6:39 am
 Ember had been at the staging rounds for some time, though she had been settled off to one side, resting atop a flat rock where her silver-grey coat blended into the iron of the stone beneath her. When her father arrived, she had shifted but stayed in place, uncertain as to the proper procedure for such an event. As a b*****d-born cub she had never been altogether sure just where she stood in the pride and in her father's eyes. Normally this didn't bother the sleek lioness, with more of her mother's fae blood in her than perhaps the pride truly realized, she had never felt intimidated by her true-born family. But today was different. The pride would remember and talk about this for generations to come. There would be songs and poems and ballads. The lawspeakers would commit this day to their histories. Today.. everything would change.
The seer sighed softly and had committed her concentration to the fight just as it started. Truthfully, she felt torn over this. On the one hand, she was a priestess, and she worked for the good of the pride. On the other... she was still Aesir's daughter, and even though she hadn't always agreed with his methods, she was apprehensive about this challanger... Njal. Her visions had been strange and frightening recently, and she felt certain that this fight was the cause of it.
Spotting the familiar pelt of her step-family in the crowd she paused for a moment, before standing up and quietly slipping through the crowd, careful to avoid touching anyone as she ghosts through the avidly watching ranks, ignoring their whispers until she reached Hroarr's side. She hadn't really tried to get to know any of her half-siblings, being far too engrossed in her training as she worked towards her priesthood. But now, secure in her position and with the maturity of adulthood, she wished she had tried to reach out at least a little to them. Uncertain if Hroarr would welcome her now, she paused a few steps away, fire-hued eyes glancing at the vividly-marked male between watching the fight as the two combatants wrestled.
"Mind if I join you, Hroarr?" She asked softly, her usually enchantingly musical voice subdued.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 7:30 am
Quote:  This was the very moment he'd been waiting for. This was what he'd worked for ever since Gunne's untimely death. He had every expectation that Njal would win - after all, this was their last hope. He'd have done it himself (or so he said) if he hadn't been so old and creaky (a likely excuse) but his bones ached with past battles and he knew that his reflexes weren't quite as strong as they used to be. At least, this is what he used as an excuse. Thorgrim placed himself up front, right near the fray, and waited in anticipation, the spark of adrenaline pulsing just beneath his rusty pelt. He searched for his wife but did not see her - a presence drew up along side of him, and he could tell by scent alone that it was his niece. "This is it, Priestess. Are you prepared?" Quote:  "I am always prepared," Brynja replied with cool indifference, her mismatched eyes dancing across the gathering crowd. She graced her uncle with a slightly impassive stare, baring her teeth just a bit. "It would seem that our bargain has not quite been met, uncle." There was something different about her, something that reeked of scorn and a softly simmering rage that burbled just beneath the surface of the polished veneer she presented. "I warn you this," her voice dropped an octave and gained a reptilian hiss, "should nothing come of this, dearest uncle, and should I not receive the things I've been promised," her eyes narrowed, "you will regret this day." That being said, Brynja slipped away from Thorgrim, leaving her uncle to stare after her, slightly bewildered. Quote:  Dalla had waited patiently for Brynja to leave - it was likely that they had important words to exchange. Dalla, of course, really had very little to say to Thorgrim (and even less to say to Brynja) - in truth, she only wished to see Aesir fall - and she knew that Thorgrim felt the exact same way. It was why they'd worked so hard together to bring him down - up until the point where Dalla had become a pawn instead of a partner. She still wasn't pleased that she'd been wed to Thorgrim's dreadful son, but she was and so there was not much to be done about it, really. Sidling up to Thorgrim, Dalla gave him an amused look. "He is well prepared," she whispered in a soft voice, barely loud enough for Thorgrim to hear, "and he will bring us the victory we've worked hard to achieve." Dalla fell silent after hearing a soft grunt from Thorgrim. She felt a slight pang of regret. It was her own fault, really. Dalla only wished her sister was there to watch Aesir fall as Warlord. Quote:  He'd never been particularly close to his father. Herryk had more feyblood in him than Stormborn, and as such, well. He spent most of his time in the forest with his wife and children. It suited them, really, and Herryk was proud of his brood, of his wife, and of his status in the pride. However, Aesir was his father, and he could not help but feel a pang of worry strike his heart. He felt as if he should approach the proud lion that had sired him, perhaps wish him well - but Herryk was full of words that were not easily spoken. It had always been that way, and it likely always would. So Herryk sat, silent as he ever was, and merely waited for the battle to begin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
