[CHAL] Too lazy to do the time (Ruzul & Kekäle)

[Princess_Feylin]

It wasn't as if Ruzul had discussed his plans with anyone, and that much was obvious by the shock he'd seen written on his friend's face when he issued his challenge to him. Really, he didn't see why Kale was so shocked. It wasn't as if Kale would lose his own position in the pride if he lost their fight. It would just mean that Ruzul was a captain, too. No reason for hurt feelings.

Still, Ruzul had gotten the impression that his friend had not been happy about being challenged, and so he approached the sands wondering whether he'd be facing a wrathful Kale or one who had come around to Ruzul's way of thinking and would be fighting just for show's sake. Not that Ruzul wanted that. He wanted to win his rank fairly. It was just that he was the warlord's b*****d son (well, one of them) and he knew his father would never make him a captain on his own, so he had to win the rank like this. It was the best way.  

[Princess_Feylin]

On the list of things Kekäle was annoyed about, being challenged for captaincy by one of his best friends ranked incredibly high. Not that he didn't understand what had been going through Ruzul's mind when he made the challenge. In truth, it wasn't all that different from what Kekäle might have done, himself, had he been in Ruzul's position. But the fact was, it was damnably inconvenient of Ruzul to issue his challenge when he had.

Kekäle had a brand new litter of cubs that he was trying to be a decent father to, plus his sister was actually considering challenging the warlord, which meant that if she lost, Kekäle felt it only his duty to attempt the same, even though he had no particular desire to be the warlord at this point in his life. It would not look particularly good if he found himself in the position of having to challenge the warlord after suffering a recent defeat by a reaver seeking to become a captain. Even if that reaver was his friend. Maybe even especially if that reaver was his friend.

Of course, there was always the possibility Kekäle wouldn't lose this challenge. He was, after all, an experienced fighter and captain, and he could probably hold his own against Ruzul, despite the black lion's somewhat larger size and determination. Kekäle was determined, too, and if Ruzul wanted to be a captain, he'd damn well have to work for it.  

[Princess_Feylin]

Ruzul

Arriving on the sands where they had fought each other before, Ruzul was not surprised to see that he was the first to arrive. He had stayed the night with Fjaril, which had be thoroughly enjoyable, but she was the sort of lioness who cared very much for those who were close to her, and had made absolutely certain that he was awake and ready to fight by the appointed time. It was sweet, and he'd felt a twinge of guilt telling her not to come watch his challenge, considering, but it wasn't as if he had asked her to be sweet and accommodating. It was something she chose to do.

He wondered if Kale would arrive alone, too. Certainly it was unusual to see the captain without his sister nearby unless one was on a viking without the other, but they didn't do that very often. The pair was so very supportive and competitive with one another, it almost would have seemed odd to Ruzul if Kale were to show up without Svana in tow. Although there was the possibility Kale wouldn't want to have a witness to his defeat when Ruzul won his captaincy. Particularly not a witness like Svana, who would undoubtedly tease her brother mercilessly for losing, even though there was no shame in doing so.

It didn't take long for Kekale to arrive, coming alone it appeared. Well, fine. Ruzul was fine with not having an audience, although he was a little annoyed that people who happened to see them would probably think they were just sparring as usual.

Kekäle

Although Svana had offered to accompany Kekäle to his match against their friend Ruzul, he had declined her offer and elected to show up alone. Based on their long friendship, Kekäle was almost positive that Ruzul would do the same, preferring not to have witnesses in the event that he did not achieve his goal in this battle. Ruzul did like to keep his failures as private as he possibly could. Considering who his father was and what his mother was like, Kekäle could say he blamed him for preferring to accomplish a task and then tell people what he'd done than talk about what he intended to do and then have to admit to failure, should it turn out to be anything other than successful.

Kekäle had not been raised like that. His parents had been tough on him, expecting him to make something of himself in the Stormborn way, but they had also been supportive. As he walked to the sands he recalled the huge party his family had thrown for him and Svana when they both achieved their captaincy - the traditional way. That last thought banished Kekäle's smile. It wasn't as if Ruzul was an inexperienced reaver. He wouldn't have any difficulty finding a crew of lions to follow him, if he felt like it. But he wanted to become a captain all at once, with minimal effort, and that really bothered Kekäle, who had worked hard to achieve all that he had at an early age.

"Ruzul," he greeted his friend with a stern expression that bordered on peeved.

Ruzul

"Kekäle," Ruzul said, returning his friend's minimalist greeting and then adding, "It is a good day to die.

Looking at Kekäle's face, Ruzul was reasonably sure that this would not be an easy match for him. Kekäle was not going to let him have a captaincy without a real fight. It was better that way, of course, but it also meant that there was a very real possibility Ruzul might lose, and then he would either have to wait another year to issue a new challenge or he would have to put together his own band and convince them to follow him. It shouldn't be that difficult, truth be told, but the fact was Ruzul wasn't sure if there were many lions who would, and still more problematic was the matter of getting his father to confirm his captaincy. Now that was unlikely.

"I'm challenging you for the rank of captain," Ruzul announced, even though Kekäle was already aware of this fact. It wasn't for Kekäle's benefit, but for the benefit of the lawspeaker who was present to observe and remember the battle to follow and its outcome. He didn't want this to be mistaken for an ordinary sparring match. Not when his future depended so greatly on the outcome.

Kekäle

Kekäle nodded, perhaps a little wearily. He knew that Ruzul was only reiterating his challenge for the benefit of their lawspeaker audience, but he was already sick of hearing about it and thinking about it. Mostly, he just wanted this stupid thing to be over.

Still, there were forms to be followed, and so Kekäle dutifully acknowledged the challenge and accepted it: "I accept your challenge, Ruzul."

He didn't add that he thought his friend was selling himself short. This wasn't the time. Trying to talk someone out of a challenge, even if you had already agreed to take part in it, would look flower-blooded, and Kekäle wasn't that. He just didn't want this particular fight. He was almost certain that no good would come of him winning it, but he refused on principle to lose the challenge on purpose. Doing that would not have a particularly good outcome, either.

"Let's make this quick."

Ruzul

All right. If quick was what Kekäle wanted, quick was what Kekäle was going to get.

Ruzul didn't bother with any further niceties. He simply lunged at his friend, putting as much speed and power into the attack as he could manage, which was a considerable amount, all things considered. He was, after all, highly trained, very fit, and highly motivated. There was every reason for him to believe that his attack would not only prove effective, but might even be sufficient to bring the fight to a rapid conclusion. Just like Kekäle wanted.

As it turned out, though, Ruzul's attack was not fast or powerful enough to achieve that end. Instead, he and Kekäle met in a snarling clash of claws and teeth that left both of them bleeding from several shallow wounds along their shoulders, forearms, and flanks. It seemed that Kekäle intended to give this fight his all, even though he very obviously didn't want to be taking part in it. Well, that would be better for Ruzul's reputation when he won, the green-eyed reaver decided.

Kekäle

Ruzul's first charge, while impressively fast, didn't come as much of a surprise to Kekäle, who was perfectly aware that he had all but goaded his friend into it, and so had had some expectation that it was coming. Nevertheless, it took a great deal of strength for him to meet the furious charge and stop its progress, not having had the advantage of a moving start as Ruzul did.

The pair's next clash was less grappling and more full of quick, vicious snaps of the teeth toward exposed areas. Most of these were easily avoided with a quick twist or blocked with a shifted limb, but some of them still landed and when they parted once more Kekäle had a painful bite just in front of his left hind leg where he had not been quite fast enough. Still, Ruzul had come out of that tangle the worst, as Kekäle's teeth had found brief but effective purchase on his back, very close to his spine. In a lethal fight, Ruzul might have ended up paralyzed or dead if Kekäle's teeth had closed another inch to the right.

In their third clash, Kekäle didn't wait for Ruzul to make the first move.

Ruzul

Kekäle was so busy with his cubs and so often out on vikings with his sister and their band that it turned out to have been quite a while since Ruzul had fought him. It was apparent that Kekäle had improved in the interim, and what's more, he wasn't playing around. Not that Ruzul could ever remember Kekäle taking his viking and any related activities anything other than seriously, but maybe Ruzul hadn't been taking these matters seriously enough.

The third time he and Kekäle came together Ruzul could feel something give. It wasn't an injury or anything like that. It was something else. Whatever it was, it gave and Ruzul gave ground when it did, actually falling sideways, away from Kekäle, but not fast enough to evade the painful snag of the captain's claws and the power in his limbs as he was dragged to the ground. It felt like Ruzul had nothing left when he was flipped onto his side, back to Kekäle, and a great weight came down on his ribs, large paws pinning his legs as sharp teeth bit almost daintily into the taught flesh of his stomach.

With a cold, sinking feeling Ruzul heard Kekäle declare, "You're dead." Then he heard the lawspeaker confirm his loss and his humiliation twisted into fury.

Kekäle

Maybe it made him a bad friend, but Kekäle still felt a rush of pride and satisfaction at beating Ruzul. It had been a good fight. They'd both had to work for it. Kekäle had simply been the victor. Of course he doubted Ruzul would see it that way.

And, in fact, Kekäle was correct. As he was proclaimed the winner and thus stood to let Ruzul up, he saw the expression on his friend's face. It was not an expression that made Kekäle's victory seem very hollow in that moment. It was entirely possible that by emerging victorious from this fight he hadn't looked for, Kekäle had lost his friend permanently, and may even have acquired a nemesis. He'd never minded the idea of having a rival or a nemesis before, but he had never thought it would come about like this.

"You fought well," he offered, still panting from exertion, but Ruzul didn't stay to hear him. He was already stalking off the sands, Stormlords only knew where to. Kekäle looked to the lawspeaker and they exchanged shrugs before each departing in their own ways to tend to their own tasks.