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 Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:00 pm
 Phlegyas narrowed his red eyes, and yawned. The breaking of the sun over the horizon called him to wake, but the adolescent raised his upper lip in a snarl. His head still held a dull throb, and he knew shaking it would not help the manner in the least bit. And so he stayed in that manner, his body twisted from a restless sleep, and his jaw on the floor of his cave. The sun proceeded to grow larger and reach higher as the lion refused to stir. He sighed, stirring the dust of the floor, and sending the dirt into a frenzy, and he sneezed. His whole body jerked, and with a groan and another sigh, he brought himself to a sitting position, from which he could better look out on his father's lands. Some of his fellow pride members were probably beginning to wake just as he, and others were just as likely going to bed as he rose, demons that came out only in the night.
Gathering more of his facilities, Phlegyas curled his tail around his body, and groomed his face with a paw just as dirty, yawning and biding his time until he would feel obliged to leave his shelter.
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:23 pm
As he wandered farther from her den he started to think of making a run for the boarder. He had tried to escape before and the guards knew his face all too well. He would have to be content with avoiding her.
Being surrounded by so many other demons made him terribly nervous at first. He forced himself to look inconspicuous. After a while he started to notice most of them weren’t paying him any attention. This was probably because he had wandered quite far from his mistress’s den now. Besides, he rarely saw any night demons. Some of them probably didn’t realize he was a slave. This concept was a little strange to him. He almost wanted to laugh. Me – a demon! How ridiculous! Ha-ha-ha!
He was no demon. Unlike them, he had morals and stuck to them. He took ethics seriously. That made him so much better than them. It didn’t matter that he was subservient to a female of such despicable immorality, that he was tormented almost daily by the clearly insane… that he had almost no freedom… that he was forced to make due with less food and little sleep… that he had lost his kingly status and fallen to the rank of a pitiful ********>
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:00 pm
The prince watched dully as lions strode past, some older than he on routine business, and some younger than adolescence, yet just as fierce as their elders. Unwittingly, it was one individual lion that caught his red eye. His head turned to follow him without much interest, until he began to look, instead of just seeing. The male was brown and scarred, and somehow familiar, though he didn't even know the lion's name. Standing, he watched as the lion walked on, trying to put his finger on just how he thought he knew the male. The browns were what threw him off. The colors of his back and belly were not the allotted or praised purple or reds, or shades of grey. Furrowing his brow, though still nagged by his headache, Phlegyas took to following the lion, still puzzling out the identity of him.
For some reason, something else about the lion looked off... He didn't look antsy, instead he looked like he was trying to hard to not to seem anxious. Phlegyas glanced around, looking for any other sort of sign, but all he could see were more dark demons, which only set him more stedfast in his belief that something about this lion was not right. Could it be an infiltrator?
Obviously not, any other guard or demon would have mauled him upon stepping foot of the pride's lands.
Or enslaved him.
Phlegyas narrowed his eyes, and tried further to rack his brains to put a master to what must be this slave, but he came up short. Huffing in impatience, he instead loped to the lion's side, uncaring of his age when juxtaposed to the adult. He matched his strides, and looked at him, sizing him up further until he spoke. "Just who are you?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:42 pm
Someone’s coming up behind you. Act casual!
With the adolescent matching his stride Rasi fought the urge to pick up his pace or flee. When asked his name he felt a lump in his throat. If he told the demon his real name he might be recognized. If recognized he would undoubtedly be dragged back to his mistress and swiftly beaten upon his return. Since he did not plan on being taken in without a fight, since his adversary was a male, if he fell in battle his pain would be doubled as Nil lay fresh wounds on fresh wounds. Only one option was open to him: lie.
Rasi was an illustrious liar, at least he used to be. As a cub he spun wild tales to the delight of his mother and older sisters. But being in the presence of a demon, even a young demon, gave him a vicious case of stage fright. Come on Rasi, time to man up! He swallowed the lump in his throat and croaked, “Uh, Jehu.”
A poor start. If he worked quickly he might be able to save himself. He would never get anywhere if he kept thinking like a slave. What would a demon say?
Rasi looked at the youth with narrowed eyes. That marking on his back looked like one of Rhaen’s. This couldn’t be Rhaen’s cub, but Rhaen had a brother in this pride, one of the leaders, Iarsomethingorother. There was a good chance this was his kid. Great. Now he really had something to worry about. Rasi slowed, gathering his resolve as he tried to stifle his frantic heart. Despite his best effort the young demon still caused his fur to prickle. “Who are you?” he demanded.
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:37 pm
Phlegyas narrowed his eyes in return, mostly from disbelief, but in equal parts discomfort. "Doesn't sound familiar? Who admitted you? Verge? Iar?" As his name was requested, he raised his head a little, more eager to flex his authority than his muscles. "I am Iar's son with Posca, the Goddess of Decay, Phlegyas, Tarenai of this pride." His introduction was so well rehearsed it too was monotonous, and he really preferred the opportunity to lie to new members. But this was fine too, he supposed. The lion threw out his chest, and used his boomy voice copied from his father in his introduction, and could only watch the lion's reactions. Would he squirm? Or brush it off.
The purple adolescent considered for a moment trying his seer power for a vision of this 'Jehu's' past, but he knew such signs were scarce, and he could end up with sight of his future, rather than his history, or perhaps even just wind up watching him sleep in his cave this morning. The more he was tempted to use it, the harder his head pounded, and he flinched a fraction of an inch closer to the brown lion, reaching out with his paw, but cringing and taking it back, putting all of his weight on the offender, as though by doing so he wouldn't be tempted any further.
It's not worth it. Nothing good came from his visions.
Phlegyas thought back to his first, and his heart hardened at the memory, turning his face into a stone cold scowl. "Answer me!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:35 pm
“Verge,” he stated, holding his voice steady. All he had to do was imagine the beating he would receive from his mistress coming that much sooner. No matter how big and frightening this youth pretended to be, he was nothing compared to the terrible lionesses who had captured him and made him from a king into a lowly servant. His code of ethics prevented him from fighting back against their blows. Phlemy-a** here was a young, strong male. He couldn’t seriously injure him – that would incur the wrath of Iar – but he could at least shove back.
He straightened, making himself larger. His heart was pounding so hard and so fast he imagined the demon could see it knocking against his ribs. “I assumed he was the only male I needed to fight to join this pride. Do you always challenge new members this way? Or do you think you’re stronger than Verge?”
Let’s see him answer that with a straight face!
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:51 pm
Ah, Verge. It couldn't be said of a demon that one was kinder than the other, but he was by far more level-headed than his own father. Curious, however, was that he bore the mark of Moriafer on his muzzle. Just who had given it to him? His red eyes narrowed and Jehu raised more questions than he was answering. He returned Jehu's posturing with another step closer. He threw up his head, adolescent forelock covering the shining eye with the jagged mark.
"I know I'm stronger than Verge! Better blood flows through my veins than his or any of his heirs." His voice was a deep growl sounding much more adult and fierce than could be expected upon first sight of a pale purple lion. Now if only he could get closer... Though they stood toe-to-toe, he took a step back, and walked past the lion, circling him, and calculating, he watched and lightly, he nudged his shoulder, and in one of those brief and few flashes, he had a vision.
It was of a younger Jehu, easily distinguished by no scar on his nose, and he looked uneasy.
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:28 pm
The earth and air vibrated with furious roars. Two adolescent lions, one brown and gold, the other blue and white, threw themselves at an older male lion. The older male’s mane was thin and dull in color, and his joints knocked when he moved. He fought the younger males with calculated skill. Although his body was old and weary his golden eyes flashed with a piercing intellect and his roars still shook the roots of every tree.
By this time the lionesses had taken noticed, but those that reached the site of the fight were held at bay by a different group of females, all of which looked related to the two adolescents. The largest of the lionesses, a female whose fur was colored in waves of blue and cold, was clearly the mother of the young males. Some of the lionesses were so shocked by what they saw that they dug their paws into the earth and stopped cold, which only made them easier targets for the attacking females. Cries of surprise and anguish erupted from the pride’s females. They had been tricked! The band of lions led by the blue and gold female, their guests, had turned on them, and now the lionesses were standing between them and their king.
Though their king was old, he fought with the wisdom of his age. He could have thrashed these youngsters in single combat, but out-numbered the youths were quickly wearing him down. With each swipe of his massive paw his breathing became heavier, his attacks more uncoordinated. As the fight dragged on, blood seeped from dozens of wounds on his flanks and torso. His flank was drenched in blood after the golden youth tore off a sizeable chunk of flesh, part of which still clung to the old male’s body, flapping and splattering blood. Some of the lionesses stopped trying to break through the band of assassins. Their eyes bulged, mouths hanging in bleak horror.
In a flash it was over. The blue adolescent attacked the old the male from the side, drawing his attention away from the golden brother. As the old male reared, his eyes blazing with a life that shined like the sun in spite of his weakened body, the golden brother leapt up and sank his teeth into the side of the old male’s face and tore the flesh from his skull. Blood overflowed from the open wound like a river swollen and in a matter of seconds the old male’s face was obscured by a wall of red.
Before the vision could reach its terrible conclusion, Rasi shoved Phlegyas off with a deep, threatening growl and turned about to face him with every inch of his fur standing on end. He had reacted out of fear rather than malice, but his nerves were wound up so tight that his face became a mask of pure aggression, for that was all demons seemed to understand. He was too goddamned tired of yielding to their abuse. For once he stood a real chance of fending off an attacker without compromising his honor.
Yes, honor was important to Rasi. In this pride of monsters it was the most important thing in the world because it was the one thing that separated him from them in any real sense. Without honor he would have attacked his female captors, lowering himself to their level. As long as he had his honor he knew he was better than them.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:55 pm
Phlegyas was more than shaken by what he had just seen, and at the shove, he lost his balance and the heir tumbled to the ground. It took him a good second to regain his facilities and clear his head before he jumped to his feet to face the male. He too, reacted from something other than anger, he was in shock. More from the vision, than from the blow. It was unclear to him just what had taken place, obviously it was a younger lion, and he'd been able to deduce the relations between lions, and understand the coup... But the violence. Maybe this male was right in joining the demons after all. But why had he left the ruling pride after he and his brother had so obviously won? Maybe it was familial conflict, he didn't know, and wouldn't ask.
He raised his upper lip, baring his teeth and assumed a defensive posture. This male could be a real threat, and Phlegyas didn't dare underestimate him, and deep growl came from his throat.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:08 pm
Privately, Rasi could scarcely believe what had just occurred. He had actually knocked one of the heirs to the throne to the ground without retaliation. His chest felt as though it would burst from the rush of pride after having knocked one of Iar's sons on his a**. Someone must have seen them, too. Rasi heard laughing.
Suddenly Rasi realized that he was the one laughing. The laughter rolled off his tongue like blood from a fresh kill, vivid and full of mirth. A moment ago he would have been horrified to have drawn so much attention to himself. But he was committed to the laughter now and he had to keep going or be caught. He swatted his paw through the air teasingly. "Oh, my prince, seems I caught you off guard! My apologies, that was most unfair."
He didn't want to over-step his bounds. But it was hard not to.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:24 pm
Phlegyas hadn't taken the offense he should have at being knocked to the ground. He wasn't himself during or after a vision. But this reaction provoked him in the worst way. His deep bellowing growl drowned out Rasi's laughter, and he snapped in the air, his jaws snapping hard in the wake of a brown paw. The hair stood at attention down his back and the gleam in his red eyes was brighter than ever, and the thirst for blood only now making his maw curl into a vicious snarl.
"Commoner! I'll put you in your place. I doubt you could do much harm without your blue brother here to fight your battles." His claws dug into the earth as a substitute medium for the lion's flesh. Battles in the demon pride were not unheard of, and any one Phlegyas started with this male would be well understood when reasoned away as a fight for honor. However, the amount of damage he wanted to cause would probably be frowned upon. To hell with it! He may not have been Iar's favorite, but no doubt his father would be proud of his demonic heir.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:04 pm
The snapping teeth and flashing red eyes did little to stir Rasi's sense of self-preservation. He had endured terrible suffering at the claws of his mistress and her little band of she-demons; their tortures granted him a more intimate understanding of the nature of pain than he ever had as a spoiled king, but he did not think of pain now. His small "victory" over the heir had inflated his ego far too much to feel the sting of those claws. For the first time in ages he felt like a king again and Iar's heir was just some upstart brat, a nuisance to be dealt with.
But what Phelgyas said next dispelled the fantasy like a strong gust of wind. If he had any sense he would have tried to weasel his way out of the fight then and there, but Phelgyas blew that away too.
He erupted with a roar that was made not of sound but of wrath and hatred and revenge, and he threw himself at the youth with all his strength. Even though he was not as strong as he was when he felled the old king, even though his mistress had weakened him and filled him with pain, he threw out all his doubts and cares and sense of self when he threw himself at the prince. With every bone and muscle, his entire being cried out: Traitor! Traitor! Kill the traitor!
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:46 pm
Hah, that had done it. He watched as any sort of humor Rasi was feeling died. He deserved more than that. Phlegyas blinked and his ears swiveled forward. He had less time than he would have liked to respond and prepare for the sudden charge, all he managed to do was duck his head to one side and he took the full brunt of the assault on his shoulder. The lion heard the loud 'pop!' of his joint, and rolled the shoulder black into place. With this momentum, he threw his own weight forward and with a precision that even he didn't expect for being untrained in the ways of battle, he lunged with his claws unsheathed and with open jaws aiming for the lion's scalp.
It was unusual for Phlegyas to engage himself in anything physical beyond hunting, and the fervency that he fought with was new. And even stranger... It felt amazing. His blood was rushing faster than it ever had in any hunt, and just as thrilling was this new sense of his own life hanging in the balance. However, Phlegyas didn't dare think for an instant he would lose.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:19 pm
Blood dripped into his eyes. Rage built up a dissidence in his mind, so that the blood did not seem to be his or belong to Phlegyas. He paid it no mind. He beat Phlegyas back with his claws, striking where his mane was still thin, and charged at him a second time with claws flashing like hungry daggers. There was no motive in his attack except to inflict pain and beat Phlegyas into submission.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:45 pm
Rasi's paws hit Phlegyas near the spot of his mother's paw-mark, crimson blood mixed with red markings and a large gash was torn into his shoulder. When he saw the male rush for a second attack, the adolescent maneuvered to deflect the brunt of the blow with the better part of his hurt shoulder, while still striking out against the brown mass. However, a miscalculation, or an unprecedented move one of the fighter's parts left them at a stalemate.
Their claws were held at the other's throat, poised for the final slash, but neither moved. Phlegyas' breathing was heavy and labored, blood from an unknown wound trickled down his face, and flies were already attracted to the torn flesh and buzzed about. Not to be the first to back down, he narrowed his eyes, wondering how Rasi would play this one, and reminded him of the threat by gently pressing his claws into his enemy's neck.
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