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Hiam lounged on a large rock not far from the dens he usually slept in. It'd been many weeks since the hunting accident... He'd been wounded badly, physically... as well as his pride. He'd become a recluse, staying away from the pride as much as he could... even his family. But things had changed.

His wounds had healed. The growing youth now sported a large scar across his right cheek, a constant reminder of his ignorance. And around his shoulders laid the skin of the antelope that had done it. Yes, Hiam had tracked down the beast and killed him, viciously ripping it apart until there was nothing left but a bit of hide and the skull, which he now wore proudly. Now that his pride had been mended, Hiam had returned, lingering around his old dens. Though he didn't go seeking out anyone.



Xiang was limping again, making his way back to the small den he used for his own, from the outskirts of the pride's lands. He had a scabbed gash along one forearm, a little reminder he'd gotten in his latest fight with another of the demon cubs. They always had something to prove, and though Xiang was learning with each bout to hold his own better and give as good as he got, (some of the time,) he always seemed to be the one to relent.

Today he still held his head high, every time he was told he wasn't demon enough, or that he should be a slave to the strongest members of the pride, that only fueled his determination to become stronger and better, he was still one of his mother's sons, just as good as his brothers, despite his pale coat. Though he would never speak that sentiment aloud.



The young lion paused in his musing, glancing over towards his smaller brother. It was almost as if he'd grown even more the past few weeks. He was larger and more muscular but also.... mentally larger. He held his head high and radiated some kind of authority.

"Xiang." He muttered shortly to draw his brother's attention.



Xiang ears caught the sound of his own name and he turned his head to find Hiam resting on a rock above, "Hiam." He spoke the name as a return greeting, there was no coldness or open dislike in his voice, but inside Xiang was still unsure if he had forgiven his brother for that day, and now to see him after he had all but vanished for weeks, and he was wearing that skin and skull as prizes... Xi continued past and then turned to climb up the rocks to the dens, he tried to keep the limp hidden, now that he knew he was being watched, for all the good it would do him. "Good to see you." He added as an after thought, it at least, -sounded- polite.



Hiam narrowed his eyes slightly as his brother walked past him. How dare he act so arrogant... Did he think now that he was somehow better than him? Since he'd seen him so weak and injured... The dark cub was silent and still, narrowed eyes locked on the pale fur.

When he spoke, Hiam considered things for a moment, trying to tell if Xiang was being sincere or sarcastic... After a minute of intense glaring, the larger cub slinked off of his perch and stalked towards his firey brother. "Is it? You don't look too pleased."



In the time it took Xiang to climb to about level height with his brother, he felt the glare follow him the entire time and was now tensd, his short claws gripped the stone under his paws, but he didn't shrink back from the coming form of his dark brother. "Isn't it. You are still my brother, even if you do not wish it, and a part of the pride. Why would I not be pleased to see another demon, alive and well." In the time they were apart the fights and scuffles that Xi was apart of added to the scars and scratches that crisscrossed his limbs and sides, none were deep or impressive, but the collection was growing none the less.



Hiam's eyes scanned over the length of Xiang's side and tail, then snapped back to Xiang's gaze. He frowned, then sneered, stepping closer. "Been fighting alot, brother..?" He sneered the name, eyes narrowing to dark slits. His muscles coiled, claws raking the ground.



Golden eye were quick to catch the stance of his oldest brother, the way his muscles moved under the dark fur, his ears backed automatically at the sound of the claws on the stone. Xiang guessed before the question was voiced what Hiam was thinking behind that pale mask, those dark eyes, but he wouldnt be the first to move. "Only to defend myself."



It was odd, and... strange... That Hiam was jealous, in a way. Jealous that others had attacked Xiang. It wasn't so much that he cared, it was more the fact that if Xiang fought others and won... what would that say about him? His younger, smaller, and pale brother was fighting others, securing his place in the pride.

Hiam couldn't stand for it. He wouldn't. A low grow errupted in his throat, and he moved closer, his black claws extending further. "You fought back then?" He sneered, starting to stalk around him. "Think you're tough now, eh? Think you can fight back..."



Xiang turned with Hiam, not giving his brother the chance to get behind him, he smiled inwardly thinking the gash on his leg didn't sting so much anymore, he didn't feel the pain at times like these, he saved that all for later, all four of his paws were steady on the ground. "I don't think anyone would really prefer it if I just lay down and took a beating, anyone but you maybe?" Xi let just a little of his grin show.



Hiam snarled with rage, now baring his teeth at his brother. "You little..." He muttered, then stopped himself. He smirked then, wickedly, now getting up in his face- as if daring his brother to do something about it.

"You should prefer it... It's your place.... Nothing but a lowly slave."



His own growl started in his chest, his own claws scraped at the black stones under their paws, his pale fur bristled along his neck and he would not back down, even if he had to fight a hundred times over with Hiam... "I am NO ONES slave!" Xiang spat the vile word right back at his brother, snapping his teeth in his face, bracing his hind legs against the hot stones, readying himself to take a swipe, maybe add another scar to that masked cheek. Xiang's anger bubbled over.



Hiam was startled by his brother's bravery. He blinked a couple of times in suprise, then he sneered loudly, his own rage reaching a breaking point as well.

"On the contrary, brother... You will be my slave." He grinned evily, maliciously. "You will serve me. You'll lick my paws if I so wish it!"



"Never!" Xiang roared and then he took a swipe with his left paw at Hiam's face, he wasn't thinking of the outcome, only to take a chance to wipe the sneer from his maw. Xi had had the lingering feeling since introduced to the prides' slavery, that -that- was what his brother wanted, to own him, for Xiang to serve Hiam, to see him meek and broken, "Not ever, Hiam!"



A bit of blood trickled down his cheek where Xiang's small claws had torn into him. Again, he blinked, his eyes now wide with shock... Then his vision went white. He could no longer think, even breath... His demon called for blood. The small lion roared with rage and lounged towards him, onto him... His front paws tearing franticly towards Xiang's flesh.


Abeni had been walking near by, heading towards her dens after a bit of hunting. She paused suddenly, hearing something... A roar that sounded familiar... But she'd never heard it so furious before. Frowning, she turned and started to jog towards the fight.



Xiang couldn't move from his brothers' path in time, he could only defend himself against the coming attack now, but he did it with weeks of fighting knowlage, he twisted his face away, biting Hiam if chance allowed and protected his stomach, he hissed when the black claws cut into his back or his sides, again and again and tried to get in strikes of his own, not aiming - just lashing out, kicking with his hind legs if he was knocked over, growling furious the whole while.

The dust settled after a moment, and on the ground lay Hiam, a bit of blood dripping from his mouth. His eyes were barely open, though they remained fixed on his mother. The expression on his face was pained and grief stricken, as if she had just died... And she was. She was dead to him now, along with that slave... He let himself mourn the loss for only a moment, and then his expression contorted into something more ugly and warped, a look of pure, unwavering hatred...

Slowly and shakily he pushed himself to his feet again, though this time only barely. He could not fight them both and hope to win. He knew that. But it didn't matter now... Now he wanted something more. They would suffer as he had suffered, but ten times over...

Abeni had turned away again, stepping back towards her youngest son. She didn't nuzzle or touch him, she only stared for a moment with a tense frown, the weight of what she had just dont making her shoulders slump. She had cast aside her eldest son, the prize of her womb by the pride's standards.. To defend her smallest. What would the pride think of her? But... she allowed herself to push it aside, and after she was done looking Xiang over, she stepped past him, her head hung in her own mourning. She knew things would never be the same.

Hiam stared at them for a long moment, barely able to stay on his feet. Then he spit in their direction, slowly turning away and walking towards the horizon. Not running. He'd never run from them.. He pretended to hold some dignity. And when he returned, they'd beg for death.


Xiang watched the play of expressions across Hiam's face through a haze that blurred his vision, he stood rooted. If he moved towards them again, he would be the one to defend, to attack. These things always seemed so black and white after the worst was over, but had the worst happened yet... His eyes shifted as his mother passed him, a similar vein of thought on his own mind. Now, no matter how he may think, no matter what he may feel, he had to be the best, the strongest. He had to be -demon-, there was no room for anything less, she had defended him for the last time, the most important time, but not again, he would rather be killed than to cause any of the pride to look down upon his mother, to do anything that would cause her harm or shame. Xiang continued to stand as she walked off, as Hiam stared, when he spat at them. He continued to stand until he turn and walked off, laying down again to clean his wounds, to keep his blood and strength from seeping in to the earth, only after his brother was out of sight.