Te: Manda
Drathir: SkieBorne


Te shook his head slightly - making a little noise of frustration. He wasn't even sure how things had gotten to this point. Iartuupe was dead, leaving his brother the sole leader of the pride. And now there was to be a tournament to decide a new leader. Not to mention that it was one of Vergil's sons ... Te's nephew Sil'in Drathir ... who had challenged and killed Iar. Te didn't get it. What the hell was the POINT? Growling softly, Te turned and stalked off - not really wanting to think about this right now. Maybe he should just take a walk around the dens for a while...

Drathir, still limping and sore from the fight, was laying at the entrance to his den, his slave safely tucked away from the time being. He'd met glances and comments with irritated grunts as some spoke criticisms and others support... and ground the truth of the matter even further into his fur. The challenge had been accepted, the end results, however, controversial. And the sheer publicity of the matter ensured that word Iartuupe's death would reach all ears by week's end. There would be no hiding from this, no time out of the spotlight. He was the prince who'd slain the fearsome Iartuupe, he was the reason the tournament had been triggered. Him and him alone.

And yet... despite the trepidation and conflict that roiled in his heart, it was contained by a cool confidence, a steadfast knowledge that his actions were sanctioned by the highest law of the Demons. His god, his ruler and surrogate father... Morifaerion had decreed this be done, had taught him to fight for this purpose. And this ipurpose was to usurp the one who was no longer needed. He held the god's favour, no one else, and his god believed in him. Believed in him where even his own father had shunned him.

And it was this knowledge that bolstered his confidence, allowed him to meet others' gazes and to rest, as he was currently, with eyes closed and tail twitching from the turmoil of his thoughts.

As Te wandered, he just so happened to pass by where Drathir was resting. The red lion paused for a moment, gazing at the younger male. Damn, he really had taken a beating from Iar, despite having destroyed him in the end. But still. ********. What the hell, man.

Eyes narrowing, Te brought a paw backwards and then slapped Drathir across the face with it, claws retracted.

Caught entirely off guard by the swat, the young male was rolled onto his side from the force of the blow and with an angry growl and a fluffed tail, he sprang into a standing position and hissed quite loudly at Te, "What the hell!? What gives you the right!?" Stunned, and aching - he'd rolled onto his bad shoulder - Drathir seemed at a loss for words and action.

Who the hell just walked up to you and struck you like that? At least he'd had the respect to call Iartuupe before killing him!

Oh now wasn't -this- good. Maybe a good fight - be it verbal or physical or both - was just what he needed right now. Not to mention he had a bone to pick with Drathir. "The right? Who says I've gotta have a 'right'? Shouldn't anyone be able to come knock some sense into an idiot like you? What the hell gave YOU the right to kill one of the Aran'shale?"

Drathir's hissing turned into a sure growl, the rumble just under a roar, "Morifaer. I answer only to him, demon. Who are you to countersay his decree?" He lifted his head, ears laid back and teeth bared, "I am no idiot!"

Te blinked at that, and then laughed. "You don't know who I am? But you're saying you're not an idiot? Ha!" Beating a paw on the ground for a moment, he shook his head. Then he stuck his face right in close to Drathir's. "Listen, kid. You may think you're hot stuff, and that Morifaer is all that. But he's not. He's a manipulative, vicious b*****d. Probably he's using you for his own gains, and that's it."

"Why would I know who you are!" He retorted, rearing up halfway, "And why should I care?" This male was particularly arrogant! Shoving at Te, he moved to brush past the interloper so he could find a quieter place to rest but paused when Te spoke ill of Morifaer.

"Morifaer believed in me when my own father threw his support at a weakling. My father cares only about his self. Verge'lian and Iartuupe were no different in that respect... they both believed me incapable. Both believed me undeserving... that Amin, the weakling, was a better candidate, a better heir. Amin. Morifaer saw me when Verge'lian would not, he has been a better father to me then my father could ever hope to acheive."

Venom laced his words as he spoke, a clear, deep-running wound that festered with hate. "Do not speak of me on how Morifaer is a b*****d - from where I stand, the betrayer is Verge'lian."

Te snorted at that. "I can believe Verge can be blunt. Abrasive, rude, and sometimes really dense. But deliberately shun someone else? His own son? Nah. If he said that you're not up to doing something, then you're probly not up to it. Despite everything else, my brother's a pretty good judge of character." Smirk.

Drathir stiffened at that, a sharp intake of breath hissing through his teeth, "He is wrong, just as Iartuupe was wrong. Explain to me, then, demon, how I am less then my dependant, soft, emotional brother? Explain to me how I do not have the potential, the ability? Verge'lian spoke of me as a promising youth then abandonned me in the next breath. I wanted to take after him, to follow in his footsteps. Do you know what it is like to be betrayed by your idol? By your hero?" He half-roared, turning around to glare at Te, "He has no brothers. They are dead... ghosts he does not speak of. Do not toy or jest." The edge in his voice hinted at the respect he held, even now, for Verge... and, perhaps an echo of some buried wish to continue in his dream - a dream Mori had made possible.

Te's eyes narrowed at that, and he slapped at Drathir again. "Don't talk to ME about how it feels to be betrayed by someone. Your idol? Told you that you sucked? Awww, poor little baby. My brother and my LOVER nearly killed ME. Years ago. And he was also manipulated by your precious Morifaer." The last was a low growl, very nearly a snarl. Drathir ... seriously had NO idea of the buttons he was pushing here.

The prince blinked as he was struck again, this time braced for it, and lifted his head back slowly, eyes blazing with anger. "Not only does Verge'lian lie, he betrays his own blood? And lays with his own brother?" Disgust crept into his gaze and he tch'd loudly, tossing his mane, "You would defend him, then, despite your very words playing into my opinion? You... you disgust me."

Turning away, he deliberately presented his back as he moved off with a sniff, "Go back to your precious brother, then. I've no need or want of you and he has no need or want of me - my potential, my skill and thought are of no value to him. If you agree with him, look on Iartuupe's corpse and find my truth. You, and he, are wrong."

"Morifaer is my mentor, Verge'lian chose a weakling. I am demon and I will walk the true path of our pride. Be gone."

Te growled at that, tail lashing. "And I'll tell you again that all Morifaer does is LIE and manipulate! Yes. Verge and I love each other. How is that so unnatural? Love comes in all forms. So does hate. And Morifaer is twisting you into a being that does nothing BUT hate. Is there anyone or anything that you care about now, aside from yourself?"

Stepping forward a bit, Te stamped a paw against the ground. "You think that all this pride is about is killing one another to gain a higher position? You're wrong. And you're an idiot for believing Morifaer's lies."

Drathir stopped short when Te cut him off and stood, cool and confident - long since finished with this conversation. "What my father does is his business. That you are... with him is your choice. I care, but what I care for is none of your concern, fool. I am not so stupid as you make me out to be. Our world is brutal, where the strong survive and the weak perish. Had I not killed Iartuupe, he would have slain me. Would you be happier, knowing your lover's son was slain by the insane and unsuitable Iartuupe? Is a life worth so little? When I've served my purpose and I can no longer defend my position, I expect a similar end - all around you believe the same as I. It is the way of our pride. Morifaer is not the problem, it is Verge'lian and his distance. Distance that cuts him out of the pride. Where is he now, I wonder? If he held such issue as you do, would my own father not have spoken to me? He has not and therefore he cares not. Worry yourself with other things. I am done here." His eyes narrowed as he waited to see if Te would indeed back off.

"And if you hadn't called him out in the first place, NONE of this would have happened! Besides that... the issue isn't even that you killed Iartuupe. You think I liked him or something? Fffft. Could care less about HIM. I don't even care what you think of my brother right now. I don't speak for him. What I have an issue with is your actually -trusting- Morifaer." Shaking his head, he made another rude noise.

"You're the one going on and on about how demons work and how things should be. About being brutal and not being weak. Well, in case you forgot, Morifaer is the god of DEMONS. Maybe you're the one who's weak. To allow him to play you like he is. And what's even more pathetic is that you can't see it. And you'll refuse to listen to anyone who does. I wouldn't be surprised if you DO end up getting yourself killed."

"I will not be killed, not by you, not by anyone else in this pride." He shot back, as he moved off, "I know only what's been done and said and Morifaer's actions are far more trustworthy then Verge'lian's. Prove to me otherwise." Drathir spat, lips curled in disgust, "Can you not comprehend my view? Is it so beyond you, you are blinded by your limited vision? I was alone, abandonned by the ones who 'cared' about me. Heh, such a farce - I am not so blind as to allow it again. I have grown, I understand more, and Morifaer has offerened guidance where Verge'lian sought only his ghosts. Tell me what you would do, hmn?" To him the answer was obvious, straight-forward. There was no need for discussion.

"Go away. You make me sick."

"Me? I'd keep trying to earn Verge's respect, instead of running and hiding under Morifaer's wings," Te smirked at that - his own obvious answer. "You want proof? I could tell you over and over again how much of an idiot you are to trust Morifaer. But you wouldn't listen, would you? Because you're so very convinced that he's your best buddy right now."

Te shook his head, then laughed softly. "Fine. I'll go. But when your little fantasy falls apart... you can bet I'll be there to say I told you so." And with that, he turned his back on Drathir and walked away. Slowly.

"I was working to earn his respect, then he threw it all out." He scoffed, "There is no illusion in Morifaer's offers. Not for me. Perhaps you should consider what happened to have your dearest brother fall out of favour."

"Tch, Go to hell, stranger. You're no family of mine. Keep your criticism to yourself, I'm sure your lover will drink your news up." Mirroring Te's movements, Drathir departed, headed towards the forest and the cool soothing waters of the river there.