Some months ago.
There were few things Vlam loved more than running full tilt down the side of sand slope. The way it had the tendency to give just when you were least expecting it, and send you toppling mane over tail all the way down to the bottom. If you were lucky you didn't bash your head on the rocks on the way down, but that was all part of the fun. Perhaps not the smartest way to spend his time... but if Vlam was known for anything, it wasn't being the smartest lion in the Motoujamii. He did things because well, he damn well could, and why not. And he was celebrating.
Training had gone well that day. Well enough that he was starting to get hopeful for a promotion. Surely the entire pride could see what a sturdy warrior he was! His tutor, between her rough words, had always given him praises. Even the regents themselves had taken the time to watch him spar! [Well, to be fair they had been watching the entire class of trainees spar, but...! How could they not notice how marvelously he'd shown?] It made him practically thrum with delight, and sink his paws deep within the warm sand. All his opponents had been defeated that day, sure enough. The whole pride would have to be talking about him.
He was wind tossed and covered in dust. The roll down the hill had made for some good venting, but hadn't left him in the most well composed position. In fact, he'd been so enamored with himself in that brief, fleeting moment that he hadn't even noticed Armada approaching at all. It took the sound of the older lioness abruptly clearing her throat to grab his attention.
“Celebrating, I see?” the strange-eyed lioness said in that...strange way she often did. His mother claimed her to be a rogue born, like her. Perhaps that explained the odd accent. But there had always been something odd about Armada. He didn't make any effort to hide his straying eyes as he assessed the female in front of him. She certainly wasn't bad looking, if a little manish.
“Indeed!” He chimed merrily, allowing the sand to slide through his claws. “You were there, weren't you? I believe the regents themselves were pleased!” He let his paws pulse again through the hot sand, as if he could hardly contain himself. He was waiting for Armada to gush. That was what she came here to do, wasn't it?
Instead, Armada seemed confused. He leaned forward and tried to dismiss the look from her face. “You, you did see the fights, didn't you?” He said again.
That seemed to be enough to wipe the look of confusing off Armada's face. She shifted her shoulders in a slow, rolling way [that he found surprisingly attractive]. “I did. I was watching my students, after all.” She strolled towards him, those odd eyes of her unblinking. “I think you were reckless. These are spars, not blood baths.”
Ah, so this was how it was going to go. Vlam let a low chuckle flood through his large frame, and he looked aside. “Oh please!” He falsettoed. As if to show his smugness, he started to lick his paw. “Don't hurt my little babies! Hehehe. Maybe you should train your students better! I can't help when they get hurt.”
Armada bristled. Did she ever blink? She had strange, strange eyes and he couldn't say he cared for them. “You little brat,” She spat. He heard her suck in air, like she was about to explode in a lecture. Oh, this was the exciting part! This was not his first lecture on 'playing nice' with others. In fact, he knew them almost word for word by now. He waited, expectantly, for her to begin.
So, he was rather surprised when instead of words, his ear was struck by the rough cuff of a paw. It wasn't a slap. It was a punch, right to the head, and he felt the blood flow immediately as he rolled out of the way. “What- what the hell was that?!” He roared. She didn't seem to be making a return attack just yet, so he lifted his paw and rubbed his stinging ear. b***h b***h b***h b***h-
“I'm not going to argue with you, Vlam. If you want to play rough, then you'd better be ready when someone takes offense. I oughta take out one of your eyes. Maybe then you'll learn a little humility!” She snarled. “If you think I'm just going to sit around and watch you bad mouth my students then-"
He wasn't exactly above hitting a lady. He struck her right under the jaw, and watched with delight as she staggered to the hot sand. Hah! "Some teacher," he scowled. "Aren't you supposed to pay attention to what your opponent is doing? Isn't that lesson one?" He also wasn't above overkill. In fact, he was somewhat known for it. The white lion lept over the staggered female, and gave another sharp cuff across the back.
This time, Armada did not stumble. She wheeled around, and caught him sharply against the shoulder. He was a broad lion, so it did little to shake his footing. But he could feel the stinging mark her claws had left. She hadn't raked him, but she certainly hadn't blunted her blow either. And just as quickly, she was returning for another blow. Somewhere in between the dance, he heard her muttering something about arrogance.
"Just fight and cut the lecture," he muttered. "If you're trying to teach me a lesson you're not doing a very good job of it!"
Armada snarled and slammed him across the face. Hard enough to make the young male see stars. He stumbled backwards and put a paw to his face, groaning in surprise. Wasn't the first rule of sparring not to go for the eyes? What the hell?! But before he could cry in outrage, she was starting up her damn talking again. "You aren't a bad fighter, Vlam. But you are a miserable person. If I was in charge, I would have ran your a** right out-"
"What about my a**?" Vlam half tauned. He was still rubbing his nose, and used the brief moment of Aramda's surprise to nurse it. It wasn't the first time he'd had a crazy lioness flailing at him. Unfortunately. "I think you're insane. We want the strongest fighters, don't we? What does it matter if a few people get hurt in the process?"
Armada plowed another hit across the side of his face. "Because we're trying to build an army here. It doesn't matter if you're the best fighter the entire savannah has ever seen, if we can't even pair you up with a single other person! All I seem to hear about you are sexual harassment complaints and unprovoked bloodings! And I guess your own superiors are too cowardly, or too goddamn arrogant to even consider that maybe you might be-"
He wasn't about to take that! He gave her another quick hit. "I do what I want! Hah! All I hear is whine whine whine whine my babieeeesss. Why don't you have some babies of your own and get off my case, lady?!"
She practically howled in frustration, and lashed out at him with a number of quick swipes. So this is the way it was going to be? He thrashed back, and before he knew it, the two were tearing into each other. Armada was clearly skilled... but, Vlam had more then just size on his advantage. Whenever she got a good hold on him and seemed to be just seconds from doing some real damage, the white lion would throw her off with sheer weight. Armada would skid across the sand and launch back into a counter attack.
If he could give her anything though, she put him on the defensive. She was so wild with her attacks that he could hardly gain footing. The best he could do was counter her whenever she left an opening, and use the force of his throws to do the most damage. He had an idea to simply wear her down- but she was wily. Once her plan seemed to be tiring her out, she switched it up and made him come to her.
He knew he was being baited, but it was hard not to let his pride not get involved. He took the bait and charged towards her, and before he knew it the red lioness was leading him on a merry little chase about the dunes. Whenever it seemed as thought he might simply give up- she stopped, and they tousled. Then one of them would get kicked out of the fray, and again it continued- racing out and ramming into one another until they were both sore and bruised.
But it was interesting how close aggression was to passion. It wouldn't be the first time he got caught up in such things, although he likely bragged about it more then was actually truth. Somewhere stumbling around in the hot sands the game had gotten less about beating one another up, and more about who had the upper hand.
In the end, he wasn't sure he won, but he was a little more then pleased in the outcome. His pride wouldn't let him stop the fight himself, but given the option to rest, he took it greedily. In between gasps of air, he couldn't help but throw out a few passing taunts. "So- is that all you had to say?"
She bristled, even as she pulled away. Her eyes, strange and almost hypnotic. "No. That isn't the least of it."
"I think we should continue this argument," Vlam retorted. He was fishing, but, well, it wouldn't have been the first time. "Like. Tomorrow."
Armada scowled, and twitched the end of her tail. He might have been imagining it, but he could have sworn he saw the hint of a smile. "I'll consider it."
He really hoped she considered it.
