[PRV] (Hiam/Kasdeya)

[Kieko]

The past several days had left Hiam even more irritable than usual. The pain was enough to stand, but the humilitation... He couldn't stand to be around anyone like this. He hadn't even visited his family, and had went out of his way to try to avoid them. The way his mother looked at him, pitying... And his brother... him. He loathed him now. He had seen Hiam at his weakest, near death from lack of blood.

At least the pain was not as bad today. The growing cub bent over the edge of the stream, looking down in an attempt to see his reflection. The side of his face had been badly bruised and torn by the antelope's hooves, and there was a large gash where the horns had punctured his cheek. It wasn't even that big of a buck, surely he'd have been able to take him down...

Hiam snarled and slammed a paw down into the water to obsucre his reflection, the shame building too great for him to look at himself. He was not supposed to be weak! He was suppose to be a demon! A hunter, a killer, a murderer... But he wasn't. Not yet.... He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he slipped into a moment of brooding.

Kasdeya felt proud of herself for being able to convince Mahewa to take on her offer. The older male had agreed to train with the cub in order to help her achieve title of Heir to the pride. Making her way back from the borders, the cub seemed at ease - until she caught site of the skeletal cub, Hiam.

In her attempt to harden herself to emotions, Kasdeya had done an impressive job avoiding all members of the pride she felt a strong emotional connection to. Of these was Abeni, priestess of the Aikanaro'hini and mother to the male cub before her. Narrowing her eyes, the female felt her hairs suddenly stand on end and a hiss escape her muzzle. He had been cute when first born, but soon after the cub appeared a threat to both her position in the pride as well as her place in Abeni's heart.

Upon further inspection Kasdeya noticed that Hiam was badly wounded and clearly sulking. The damage done to his face was not simply a scrap with another member of the pride, but an actual attack from something else. As the cub felt only a slight worry for the other, her body relaxed and her hairs flattened.  

[Kieko]

Hiam didn't notice the other cub until a few moments after she'd seen him. His body tensed, claws unconciously extending to knead the ground. He didn't need someone seeing him like this... Especially someone young as well, who would more than likely rub it into his face. But he'd show them... He'd show them all!

He jumped to his feet and turned towards her, eyes narrowed, though one was swollen to badly that there wasn't much of a difference. "What do you want!?" He then noticed that it was Kas... He blinked a couple of times, then scowled again. He remembered the older female from when he was a baby... he remembered how strong she had seemed back then. Hiam might have admired her, but he'd never admit it. Especially now.

Kasdeya watched as the cub suddenly jumped to his feet and hissed a demanding question. With a hiss of her own, the female's body arched threateningly, "That is none of your business!" In truth, the female hadn't planned anything. She was simply leaving from her meeting with hewa and happened to stumble across Hiam. Kasdeya was almost taken back by how quickly the wounded male reacted to her presense. A part of her wondered if he would remember her or if Abeni might have mentioned her name. Did Abeni think about her?

Growing again, Kasdeya began to sidestep away from the male, keeping her gaze locked on him. If he had met her before her arrangement with Hewa she might have jumped on the opportunity to train with another cub or start a fight in order to gain triumphant scars. In her current mood, however, Kasdeya wasn't looking for a challenge. If Hiam wanted to present one, however, the female was never one to back down from a fight.