[VIKING ORP] KATastrophe

[MangoMeow]

He'd been considering just leaving the cowardly male for better options when the red and orange form barreled in. Raising an eyebrow, Hjalmar slowed to a more relaxed gait as he watched this newcomer pin the rogue to the ground, black eyes observing cautiously. This wasn't someone from his band, he was fairly certain, but hey, clearly they were willing to work alongside them.

Now, whether that was in their favor or not, he had no idea. At the end of the day, their captain would be the one to make that call. Until that point though, Hjalmar would play along.

With a snort, he meandered closer with a grin, "Aye, this one got away from me." He threw a disdainful look at the now panting male below them, "A pity, because cowards are no use to the Stormborn."

His gaze slid back to the fiery-looking male, "And you are?"

Anderleit

 

[Krysin]

The two lionesses had parted, and before Jupe could spring back into action a dark blur came crashing down from above and onto her opponent. For a moment she thought it was her mate, but Daijur wasn't stupid enough to think that Jupe could not handle herself. He would have trusted her to handle this on her own. The familiar markings gave Ku'san away, and Jupe immediately felt the pit of her stomach burning with the righteous fury only a mother would know. Her STUPID children did not listen to her AGAIN.

They were Daijur's children now - Jupe was done with them.

Why half of them ended up like little hellions, Jupe would never know. But, now was not the time to scold her son for his actions. If she wasn't careful, he could easily get hurt by the black lioness he had pinned underneath him. Their opponent was small and old, but did not lack a bite. The only thing worse than her children disobeying her was them getting hurt. No one harmed her cubs. She already had a few at home that were balding from some sort of freak accident, she would not let a single scratch land on Ku'san, even if he had quickly taken the position of 'worst child'.

"By the Storm Lords," she cursed under her breath. Ku'san had a good grip on their opponent, but had entirely missed the lioness' vital points. Her son still had much to learn.

She charged forward and used the weight of her body to pin Baala down against the dirt. Her jaw clamped around the female's throat, even as she felt legs kicking against her stomach and claws swiping over her fate. As long as the blows were aimed at her, she'd hold fast until the life drained from the elder lioness' body.

---

Baala had stumbled back onto her feet, and held that position only long enough for Ku'san to launch himself at her. The wind was knocked out of her chest, and the petite lioness fell down with a hard crash. The male that had her was young, impulsive - but now the fight was suddenly two against one. Desperate for her own survival, she lashed out at the boy with a loud roar, aiming her claws at his throat.

His mane hadn't even grown in, there was nothing there to protect him from her purposeful assault.

Except his mother. Before her claws could reach the child her original opponent bore down on her. A scream tore from her throat before jaws clamped down upon it. Air! It was suddenly gone, and her pale eyes grew wide with panic as she desperately tried to gasp it in. Furiously, her legs kicked against Jupe, claws scathing against the underside of her belly. If she could just hurt her enough, she'd...

She'd let her go...

Her vision started to grow blurry, pain became a distant memory. Everything became a distant memory. Her children, her lovers... she thought in her last moments she would see them more clearly.

But she saw nothing.

Not any longer.

Z o m b i k ii

 

[Andranis]

For a moment, Ramla's fur puffed up, then she turned back to watch the goings-on. "I absolutely do not hide behind my mate. I simply see no point in wasting my energy so easily. When one has the disadvantage in size, they watch and observe to be sure they can calculate the proper time to strike and make the largest impact. It does no good to charge in on brovado alone." She then looked back at the other lioness, head tilting. "Which I'm guessing is why you're in charge, and not one of them. You don't look like you waste your energy on brovado, you look like you save your energy to bring a decisive victory against your oponents."

Ctrl F Greenie

With a massive paw, Ngoma knocked one of the lions out. As he turned, he noticed Ramla still up on high, talking to a red lioness wearing a bone mask. He could only chuckle, before turning as one of the attacked group clawed at his backside. The white lion let out a roar that would surely make his Firekin ancestors proud, loud and deep and booming, before turning full-body on the other lion. They were surely regretting their decision now, facing the fire that still burned bright and hot within his blood.  

[Anderleit]

Hel's bloody bones. Black ears pressed flat against his head, and Skari couldn't help but curse his own foolishness. Hadn't even noticed that this pretty thing had already been claimed by two of his own. Pair of lovely ladies, at that. A half-smile threatened his bony features as the more forward of the two spoke with their spotted friend. He wasn't going to scoff at the chance to take their measure real quick, and there was much to like about what he saw. One the bruiser, and one more prone to watching? Geist came suddenly and powerfully to mind. Skari only just held off chuckling.

Their guest moved then, though, and the skull-faced lion shifted alongside the demanding lioness. He, too, pulled himself up to full height. "I'm afraid not, dear one. The lady would like you to come with us - wouldn't it be rude to refuse her?" Skari was not a small lion, and between his height, dark pelt, and the grin of the skull doubling his own, he could craft and imposing picture when he wanted to. "Now," he went on, letting the gravelly depth of his voice imply the violence they had not yet shown, "if you come along peaceably, you will not be harmed. If you try to run..." The sentence hung on his careless shrug. Skari was more than happy to give her fair passage - as a thrall, even if not his thrall - but his fellow pride-member, here? She seemed much more willing to cut her claws on the defenseless. The other hadn't even spoken yet; she was even more of an enigma.

AstoriaFallen

Akun tilted his head in a return greeting, yellow eyes lit with malicious approval. He wasn't a fool. This was likely just a grunt in the grand scheme of things. He could see others from his vantage, one lioness in particular, who seemed to oversee the present battle - that, more than likely, was who he needed to speak to. But there would be time enough for that. For the moment, he focused on the pale warrior.

"No use for cowards, eh? Not a bad philosophy." All it took was a shift in the claws covering the rogue's face. His mouth was free now, but given that Akun had moved his paw downward, pressing inexorably down on his windpipe, a number of stifled gurgles were all the trapped lion could manage. "They slow down a pride, you know. Extra mouths to feed. And only to run away at the first opportunity, so you have to dedicate warriors to watching them...?" The striped male tsk'ed. Even as he applied more pressure, his eyes never left the foreign warrior. His tone, too, remained nonchalant - almost pleasant. "But that's neither here nor there. The Stormborn, aye? Is that what you call yourselves?" A brow lifted. "I am Akun'kamal. I would know who you, and all this," he indicated the battle with a sweep of blonde bangs, "happen to be."

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Hjalmar didn't even glance down at the rogue as he gurgled below them. He'd meant what he'd said - this one was useless to them and would only drag them down. This plunder was simply for fun, after all. To bring someone squirrelly to their main goal was simply inviting disaster.

"Aye, the Stormborn." He slid his eyes towards his captain who had yet to notice the exchange happening, and then back to Akun. This one was different than the rest of these sniveling lions, perhaps someone worthy of being a Freeborn? It wasn't his call to make... but perhaps he could play the cards right to lead this one to Sabia. He would be ripe for the taking regardless of her decision by that point.

So with a tilt of his head, the male smirked, "Alright then. I'm Hjalmar, one of the Reavers here." He finally threw a look down at the creature beneath them, tsking with a sneer, "We've no need for flighty baggage to slow us down." He sent a coy look back at Akun, "I'm curious. How would you handle dead weight like this?"

Anderleit

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

Though she hid her tension well, she had been feeling it. A lioness that hid behind her mate was of no use to Sabia, nor her pride. So when her company got angry, even struck back verbally Sabia nearly sighed with relief. Wearing that relief wasn't a concern for her and so she didn't bother to compose herself.

"That's assuming a lot." She cocked her head and a brow rose beneath her mask, even if the lioness had hit the mark. "So what do you see then? Any opportunities for you to strike?" Her attentions returned to the battle field before them, Sabia had zero intentions of going down there. She had achieved her glory, and as the lioness had said, she was beginning to strategically pick her battles.

"Your mate seems to handle bull-headedly confronting a battle well." The words were said as a compliment, and chosen carefully. Sabia had watched the pair join them, watched him leave the lioness's side all to enter a battle that he wasn't part of. She admired that desire to leap into action, but it was still very bull-headed. Another lion towards their ultimate goal was ideal, but brash actions could mean a swift death.

"Bravado isn't the worst thing." She chuckled softly. "But reserving energy versus bravado definitely comes into lay for these long distance hauls." Revealing the calculating lioness she had become was a unique moment for her, even her most recent string of murders was calculated. Famine wasn't triggered by just simple actions, her calculated ones left her alive to see the famine while another lioness lay dead at the paws of her would be assassin.

Andranis

 

[Midnightglow18]

Gudina was lost in what he was doing fighting and taking down the rogues that stood in his way. He was in battle mode and likely would not have noticed at first if he was attacking a friend or a stranger. He headbutted one of the rogues in the side and then took claws to his shoulder from another rogue. The battle was bloody and cruel but that was the pride he had joined. He felt his blood pumping in his body with excitement. He did not believe that this kind of excitement could ever be found in the pridelands.

(Lol how little he knows XD )  

[Syrius Lionwing]

AstoriaFallen

Anderleit

Pachiwaku looked between the three lions. What they wanted.. Wait, they wanted her to come? “I don’t understand.” She frowned and took a slow step backwards a frown creased her maw. She wasn’t foolish enough to start a fight with three lions. She maybe could have taken one of the females, at a push, but she was no fighter. She was a simple rogue, just passing through, how had she gotten herself caught up in the.. What ever this was.

Swallowing hard the light coloured lioness couldn’t help but let her eyes slip to the bone faced male. That grin, and eyes seemingly sunk in his head, the none challant shrug. Every nerve in her body said run for the hills, but there were no hills and she was by and large surrounded.

She took another step backwards finding her rump against the other female that had yet to move. “Where are we going?” She queried, hoping she sounded resigned to what ever fate the three lions had in mind, though her eyes darted left to right searching for an exit strategy. The rogue lands around them seemed to have fallen in to chaos, if she could just slip away...  

[Anderleit]

Skari's eyes flickered, and the look behind the good humor was much more worthy of his fearsome appearance. This one was going to be something of a gamble, she was, and his smile faded somewhat as he took her in. The way her muscles tensed under those pretty patches, even though they had her well and truly surrounded. Those darting eyes, seeking an escape even as she pretended to acquiesce. Not for the first time, the skull-faced male thanked his twin for being, all in all, a difficult snot growing up. Besides being his share of fun, his brother had taught him an awful lot about how to lie - and tell when you're being lied to in return.

The male stepped closer. "You're going wherever we say you are." Claws slid free of their sheaths. Skari lifted a paw to bring them into her line of sight without breaking eye contact himself. "And you're going to do it without giving us any trouble. Don't fool yourself here, miss - there's nowhere you can run." He could only hope that the weight of his skepticism, combined with the threat of the other lionesses - and all of that added to the inherent danger of the rest of the raiding party would be enough to drive his threat home.

AstoriaFallen

SyriusLionwing

Stormborn. Reavers. Akun ran his tongue across overlarge canines, savoring the taste of battle in the air just as much as he did these new terms. There were other questions. Were the rest of this rabble Reavers, as well? Where were they headed, and to what purpose? But now, as in all things, was his chance to choose a path forward carefully. There would be more than enough time to pursue those options left behind.

The male inclined his head to Hjalmar, teeth bared in a grin. "You said it best just now, I'd say. 'Dead weight'." Indeed, the rogue beneath them had gurgled his last, straining weak and wide-eyed up at the two males, earlier in their conversation. "What other way could there be to deal with obstacles?

"Especially when there's so much more to look forward to." Winking broadly, Akun stepped forward, a careless flick of his hind-paw grinding the staring, sightless face into the dirt. Yet his posture, as open and challenging to the remaining rogues as his roar, left the body visible: bait for any foolish enough to avenge it. Sure enough, a lioness broke from combat, open-mouthed as she took in the scene; a strangled yowl rose from her as she rushed the pair. Akun watched her come with a laugh that only halfway through remembered it was a snarl.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

He raised an eyebrow as the other lifted his head to roar, announcing to the others that one of their own was down, and then tilted his head to look at the lioness that had yowled. Ah, this one's mate or perhaps a sister. Either way, the girl was foolish to charge at two fully grown lions.

That said, Akun had a point and Hjalmar chuckled, "Speaking of something to look forward to." A nice, young lioness was certainly something to look forward to, though he refrained from saying so out loud. (his mother and sisters would probably berate him for thinking such gutter thoughts)

Turning to face the lioness fully as she got close, he grinned, "Let's have some fun." And then he leapt forward and tackled her head on.

Anderleit

 

[Midnightglow18]

Gudina had finished his battles and his fur was covered in blood both his and others he had fought. He moved off from the rest of the group to gather his bearings and figure out what his next steps would be. He looked around to see what the others were doing and how they were doing in their battles and what was going on. He flopped down and looked around at the goings-on. He had a smirk on his face the joy of battle was great in his blood and he was happy with his new life. He hoped his family was well in the pridelands they wanted a peaceful life and he still loved them. He looked away from where he was in the rogue lands in the direction of his old home thinking about them.  

[Z o m b i k ii]

Eiran was mortified, unconditionally and utterly humiliated. Not only had her balance failed her, but she had been rescued by a male that was taking far too much pleasure in playing the hero. She was not a trophy, a pelt to be sprawled across someone's back - She was a freeborn, her bloodline was long and respected. Blood rushed to her skin and she found herself thankful that she had such a dark complexion, that her black fur hid the fact she was blushing.

“Ku’san? My brother? Heavens no.” She scoffed, honestly she did not know how she would survive with such a reckless brother. Hers were very well behaved and mature in comparison to that hot headed bull that her blood had paired up with. ”But that Lilac Toes is my cousin, and Altuna would not appreciate the nickname. Watch your tongue.” Though she was not in the most advantageous position, she tried to scold him anyway - to save whatever face she had left.

“L-let me down!” She protested, so embarrassed that her order left her maw a hair too high. The dark lioness was certainly not comfortable with being sprawled across a strange males back. Altuna looked towards her cousin for a second; smirked, but decided that Ku’san needed saving more.

Syrius Lionwing

The worst child remained by his mother's side until the life faded from the older lionesses eyes. He was no stranger to death, Mitama had taken that innocence from him a lifetime ago, however this was very different. The taste of iron lingered in his mouth as he took a few steps away from his mother and the fresh corpse. His chest heaved up and down; from the adrenaline instead of exhaustion. Red eyes finally looked at his mother; expecting to see that particular mix of anger and disgust he so often inspired.

Altuna took this opportunity to walk over to him, her heart pounding in her chest. There was nothing more horrifying that taking position between Jupe and her son; but she placed herself there anyway. She knew that the older lioness was prone to bouts of anger, she had heard that account from several of her children. Kus’an knew she would be angry, he had warned them; but the two purple lionesses had agreed to come with him anyway. ”Jupe, it was not his id-.” The lioness began, before the dark male cut of her words.

”I don’t need to hide behind you, Altuna.” His mother was smart enough to know who the ringleader of this little brigade was; smart enough to know that the lavender female was all but smitten with her son. He did not make any attempt to hide any of it - if nothing else, he was to the point, for better and for worse.

Ku’san walked around the female, orange eyes following him as he took his place in front of her. It would be a lie to say a small part of him did not want to protect her from the lecture; shield her from the consequences. It was more than that though - he respected his mother too much to run, maybe not enough to take orders, but he would never shy away from her.

”Mom.” He sighed, all too serious - almost like a sincere apology was intimate. ”It seemed awfully unfair that you were the only one that got to escape the rabble, you know.” A all too handsome smirk fell on his maw; if he was going to get scolded - well, he wanted to get one sassy remark in.

Krysin

 

[Anderleit]

Eyes as green as the forest around them lifted, glancing past the three lionesses before him. There were roars nearby, sounds of conflict. That, too, could only be the Stormborn. More than a small piece of Skari itched to get this willful thrall business over with. He was missing real combat! What was happening over there?

It wasn't even as if he could ask the other two; the need to maintain a united, intimidating face in front of the new thrall was too great. Setting his jaw, Skari reluctantly set his impatience aside - briefly, only ever briefly - and turned his death's-head glare back to the pretty rogue.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The red male couldn't hold back his laughter at Hjalmar's words, though he was prescient enough to keep it short. There was action afoot, after all - he was not one to interfere as the younger lion charged across his path, intercepting their attacker with impressive gusto. "Don't hurt her too badly," Akun growled. "She seems much more useful than her unfortunate friend, wouldn't you say?" The words only barely preceded his paw, lifted behind the lioness to slash at her hind legs. What balance she might have had to meet Hjalmar's charge was undermined, however briefly. But it was certainly enough to give him the upper paw, should he choose to take advantage, and that was all the red lion cared about.

The pale Reaver had the right idea about things, as far as Akun was concerned. If his pride - these Stormborn - shared his ideals? He let a chuckle ripple forth, briefly surveying the other, scattered-but-ongoing fights before returning attention to his own. There was a good chance that he could become quite comfortable among this lot.

MangoMeow