[PRP] I'll Have My Way (Msiba/Mach/Unyevu/Ukweli/Peke)- FIN

[Nuxaz]

At the sound of the roar the cub shivered and couldn't help but look back. When he did he was horrified by the sight. Msiba and Machafuko had the advantage over both Ukweli and Unyevu. His mouth opened as his lungs filled with air as he gasped. No! These males were getting hurt because of him! They could be seriously injured or worse! Even with those thoughts running through his head he kept thinking back to himself. Back to how everything effected him.

He needed to start running again to get away from this huge mess. If he didn't well...well Kuruka and Dumu would end up sad and he didn't want that. Not to mention he didn't want to be stuck with those weird, mean lions who kept talking about him as the seer cub they had been looking for. They didn't make any sense to him.

As he stood there trying to decide what to do he was nipped painfully on the ear. "Ow!" He cried out instantly turning his attention to his bonded. "What was that for Nguvu?" He growled his brows knitting together in a glare.

"Run!" The raven shouted at him before it dawned on the cub.

"Oh right." Peke replied before shaking his head and starting to run again. Might as well get as far away as he could while they were occupied.  

[MoonRazor]

Somewhere, distantly, he realized the cub was running. Soon, he knew, Peke would find a place to hide, or be far away enough that by the time Msiba and Mach finally went to find him again, they wouldn't be able to. A whisper sounded in his head, stick with the plan! But it was too late for that now. Self control was all but gone. He had Unyevu to thank for that.

But the seer had pushed him too far, this time. Unyevu had always counted on being kept alive, Msiba knew, because they needed those seer powers. Those visions. But that was all over now. Peke was a seer, with abilities just as strong as Unyevu's, and Peke was a cub. Cubs were impressionable.

And before too long, Msiba would have his paws on that cub. He would have the cub to teach to their purposes. Unyevu was no longer needed. After all, the lion was only useful until his usefulness ran out. That had now happened.

"Shut up," Msiba snarled, only barely noticing the crimson lion's futile attempts at self defense. The seer was in no position to be bargaining for anything. Though the fact that Unyevu had chose to beg for the cub's safety in the face of his own death sparked in the pale lion's mind. So this was what it meant. To be selfless.

Then he put the thought out of his head. No. Nobody was selfless. Selfishness was a way of life, it was undeniable.

"You see, Unyevu," He snarled, his voice low, gruff. "Everyone is dispensable."

His sapphire eyes flashed as he stared at the lion pinned beneath him. Killing the defenseless. Hah. It was not cowardice, this attacking a lion who was not prepared for it. It simply meant that he, Msiba, was more powerful. Preparedness did not factor into the equation.

He stretched his head forward, staring into Unyevu's eyes. Imprinting his face there. Because Unyevu was about to die - they both knew that - and now the only question was, what would be the last thing he saw? Msiba. That was what.

"I have my seer cub, now." He said with a small shake of his head, his gaze never leaving Unyevu's. They would be the last words the lion ever heard. Msiba would make sure of that.

His eyes narrowed as he prepared for it. That final stroke that would end Unyevu's life. Anger burst from the lion, and with another snarl his teeth sank deep into the seer's throat.  

[Light Atago]

Machafuko felt the bird's talons hit his mane. Stupid thing, why hadn't Mtalia gotten there first?? She had been caught off guard, and now launched herself at Viza. She had no intent of harming him, really. The lammergeier was only attempting to keep the other avian away from her bonded. If he had been lazing, she wouldn't have bothered, she might've even cawed that he had it coming to him! However... Machafuko was different right now. One of those rare moments of inspiration, when he actually worked. And it was for that reason that Mtalia felt an obligation to keep the fight "fair;" lion versus lion.

Machafuko- if he had any common sense at all- would've been after Peke by now, but the male had a one-track mind, he was focused on making the old lion regret the day he'd stepped between the brothers and their goal. He leapt backwards off of the grey lion and then lunged again, not aiming to hit anything with his claws at all The male would regret it, he'd make sure it would hurt, yes... Hurt and hurt bad. Machafuko would aim for somewhere along the spine, upper spine. Not anywhere near the shoulders, they were too solid, but just a little bit lower. If he connected, he'd sink his teeth in hard. He'd get Ukweli out of the way.  

[Chibi Sheepcat]

Viza shrieked when the other bird got in her way, swiping her talons at Mtalia instead. This lion didn't deserve to be bonded to a bird. Surely Hestia would have sided with the pride that had saved her mate, not some stupid god-killers. But there was little the lanner falcon could do to help her own bonded, now that the vulture was in the sky with her. Viza might have been faster but Mtalia was big enough to get in her way. With another shriek she took to circling the battle, dive bombing Mtalia's head whenever the vulture lost focus.

Good, Machafuko was still focused on him. By the sounds of things, Msiba was also occupied. Peke was running now, and the pair of them had somehow managed to buy him a little time. But at a terrible price. Still, who would have thought it would be Unyevu fighting on his side? Ukweli made a silent prayer to their goddess for him. May she have mercy on his poor soul. The next collision was more painful than the last, as the old seer had no means of dodging the blow. Machafuko's teeth sunk in where intended and Ukweli roared when they hit the ground. His lip curled as he took a swipe at the other lion's face, but it was a weak gesture. The old seer could no longer feel his injured leg, only the deep wound on his back that was slowly staining his grey fur red.

For a moment he pushed against the ground, willing his legs to support his body for a final attack. One more time. One more attack was all he needed. By then Msiba would have killed Unyevu and gone after Peke. But his legs wouldn't co-operate, and Ukweli did not rise. He could only level Machafuko with his best, patient stare, feeling his vision begin to darken around the edges. Run Peke. Do not let them catch you.  

[Atheare]

Unyevu stared up in horror at Msiba as it became more and more clear that his death was upon him. He wanted to protest, fight for his right to live, but the weight of the situation was too great. He could do nothing to stop this, and he was sure that Msiba knew that as well. All of his hate and spite towards the pale lion faded to be replaced by agony and remorse. He regretted that he would not be able to protect Peke any longer, he regretted not being able to defend his family or make a difference in the world.

He regretted leaving Chozi alone in this cruel place.

Unyevu's pale blue eyes locked with Msiba's, his entire life flashing for an instant before fading away to be replaced by the face of the green lion, the one that would end his life. As much as he wanted to hate him, Unyevu found that all his hate had gone. In these last moments of life, he did not despise Msiba as he had before. He did not blame him for what had happened before. He only blamed himself. As much as it pained him to admit such a thing, Msiba had been right. If he wanted to change things, he should have done something.

He should have done something before it was too late, as it was now.

Unyevu's cries of agony came to a halt as he felt Msiba's fangs pierce him, barely hindered by his thick mane. All the desperate pleas were caught within him before he had a chance to say them as his pure white mane was quickly stained a brilliant sanguine red.

For a moment, Unyevu arched his back from the pain, unable to cry out, but then he felt nothing. The edges of his vision began to fade and he saw only Msiba standing over him, his jaws drenched in the blood of the seer.

'Peke... Escape...'

No, even thinking was too much effort. His head throbbed as his vision continued to fade, as he made one last feeble attempt to speak, but it was no good. It was over now, and he would have to accept it.

All went dark, and the seer's entire body went limp. He was gone.  

[Light Atago]

Machafuko could taste the seer's blood. He could feel it ooze between his teeth. Just like when he licked his lips last time he was around Elea. Lion blood had almost a... sickeningly pleasureful taste. Perhaps it was just his love of meat. Perhaps he was really that morbid. He chuckled from behind his grip at the feeble attempts that his opponent was putting up. The claw to the face was quite amusing to him. It managed to draw blood, but barely.

He had no time to pay attention to Unyevu. He sunk his teeth in more before releasing the old coot. "That'll teach you not to get in the way, old man," he said, standing tall above the grey lion. "Keep your nose in your own business." He held him in place with one paw while he spoke with his brother. "I'm going after the boy, you Msiba?" It was now that he saw his brother's jaws covered in blood, much like his own. The difference? Msiba had taken a life, Machafuko left his victim bleeding for now. He knew the elder lion wouldn't give them any more problems as-is. And Unyevu? His mane was starting to match the rest of him. "Good riddance," Mach muttered, sapphire eyes lingering for only a few moments on the crimson lion. He licked his lips to taste that savory flavor once more before giving chase to Peke.

Mtalia had dropped herself just before those talons would've hit her, letting the other bird fly right by. She stuck with Mach from then, their business here was most certainly finished. No need to hang around and fight battles that had no purpose. She took off with Machafuko, when he left.  

[MoonRazor]

He stared down at the lifeless crimson lion, pinned beneath his claws, watching as blood seeped from the fatal wound in Unyevu's throat, staining his thick mane a deep, vibrant red. He took a breath.

The seer was dead. That much had sunk in. And that meant... His mind whirled at superspeed, hitting marks and spinning right by them. Senses hyperalert. He heard everything, felt everything, smelled everything. And yet he saw only the body of the seer that for so long had been a thorn in his paw.

No longer would he have to deal with Unyevu's griping, his attempts to foil all of Msiba and Mchawi's plans. In his place would be Peke. And the white raven. They would learn, they would be molded into exactly what they needed. And Unyevu would have given his life for nothing.

Because Msiba would catch that cub. He would make certain of it.

There was no such thing as remorse in the lion's eyes, nor did it dwell in the recesses of his heart. All he had done was given Unyevu what he had deserved, what he had been practically asked Msiba for since the very first day. It was all inevitable, the pale lion knew. If not today, Unyevu would have died tomorrow. Or the day after. Or perhaps even months after, or years, but one day, it was bound to have happened. Destiny.

He glanced at his brother, only then realizing that the old seer - Ukweli - had been present. He had noticed a form, but it hadn't so much registered in his mind. Taking another moment to calm his mind, return to the thoughts of catching the little seer cub, he nodded. "Yes."

They would catch the cub. That was all Mchawi had intended for Msiba to do, and with Machafuko, he would track Peke down, no matter which lions attempted to get in their way. They would all end up bleeding or dead. He would be stopping at nothing.

((/fin? -will stick it in the title but whoever wants to add a last post can?-))