Back to the Old Days (open)

[Kamaria]

The past is gone.

No one can bring it back.

Nothing can change it.

She had to get somewhere safe. Because she was alone, she couldn't protect what she had just regained and what was most precious to her. She couldn't defend them properly, and she would lose it all once again. She needed a pride, and she knew it, but her mother had done it, why couldn't she? The lioness was stubborn, but she couldn't help it. It was her nature to try to defy the odds. You'd think she would learn that her stubbornness was putting them both in danger, but she still would not accept the protection of a pride.

Besides, Bakar would soon be old enough to learn to hunt, and then he would be off on his own. The cub was growing, now nearly as tall as his mother, but he was still not old enough to be alone. It was a miracle he had made it the month without her when she had lost him. She would not make mistakes again, and she would not lose her only son.

She didn’t know where she was going, but the sun was setting and she had to find shelter. She could not sleep out in the open while she had a cub to protect. She glanced back and huffed with amusement. The cub was running behind her, crouching and pouncing on beetles or grasshoppers. Ysega kept walking, wandering toward the setting sun. Her head was low, pushing through the grass before her paws flattened the stalks to the ground. She had one ear flicked back toward Bakar to make sure she could still hear him following.

And then a gaping hole loomed in front of her. She froze, staring at the black mouth of the cave. She grunted once, and flicked her tail in a signal for Bakar to hide and stay quiet. She couldn’t smell a scent of lion, but she had to be sure there was no threat inside the cave before leading her son to it. She took a step forward when she could no longer hear Bakar rustling in the grass, and investigated the scents of the cave. There was water inside, and as she heard the water she remembered a rumor about the waters, that they would kill anyone who drank it. But the water was far below her, and if she kept Bakar in the upper levels, she wouldn’t have to worry about him drinking it.

She ventured inside, her eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness, and she parted her jaws to scent the air inside, but could get no trace of lion. Her curiosity took over, and she forgot that Bakar was waiting outside for her. She moved deeper into the caves, scouting out how far she could go before reaching the stream that she could hear getting closer and closer with every step.

When she did reach the stream, she could hear the whispers of it, and she didn’t dare go near. She turned and headed back up to the surface, though her going was slow. She had become used to being on her own for the month that her son was not with her, and she had already forgotten again. She was mystified by the caves, while outside it was getting darker and darker.


Bakar crouched in the grass outside, waiting for his mother to call him or come back for him. As it grew darker, he became afraid that she had forgotten him and wouldn’t return again. As the last sliver of pink disappeared over the horizon, he heard the cackling of hyenas in the distance. He shivered like he had every night for a month without the warmth of his mother. Had she really left him again?

He had to look for her. He had to find her and make sure she hadn’t forgotten him. But she’d told him to stay here. His mind was torn between fear of being alone and instinct to obey. But he finally made his decision. He would go and look for her.

But before he could move, a scent that was not his mother’s wafted to his nostrils and then a huge shape appeared above him…

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[Lassiel]

His towering stance belied the grace he moved with as large paws ghosted over the grass and pebble strewn ground. Moving so silently had quit being a conscience decision long ago and had since become habit, done without thought. The setting sun glanced off his pelt, dusting the white fur orange at some points. He did not care for traveling during the day, for he was as much a creature of the night as his soul was shadowed. Some of the wise would perhaps say that his aversion to the sun came from a fear of it shining light on his shortcomings--from a terror of recognizing the darkness in himself. But he had no use for an old one's mutterings, lost as they were in the haze of their age. And any fool who had the audacity to speak such words aloud would not live to see the next sunrise.

As Virgil continued moving, the sun slowly settling on the horizon as darkness spread across the sky, the scent of other lions reached him, and it only took a second more to recognize their familiarity as the strong breeze brushed through his mane. Well, wasn't this an intriguing surprise? His conversation with her had been put on hold before, as the rude interruption on the mountain had been quite annoying. He wasn't accustomed to not getting what he wanted, and it still irked him that the other girl had intruded upon them. As such, it did not take much consideration to decide to follow the scents, and with a swift change in direction, he did so.

As the scents of the mother and her cub became clearer, he made sure to stay out if sight--always one to make sure meetings were on his own terms and when he wanted them. He had not yet set eyes on them, but as the last of the light faded, he realized Ysega's scent had done so as well. A slight frown pulled at the corners of his mouth at that realization, but a burst of growls caught his attention before he could act. He glanced sharply to the side, glaring with the utmost disdain at the shining eyes that met his own cold blue ones. The cackling of hyenas from earlier had not escaped him, but for them to actually attempt to stalk him....how laughable. Perhaps they had not realized it was a male they followed--a particularly strong and healthy one at that--or maybe they read the death his harsh glance promised them, but the glowing eyes quickly disappeared into the young night.

Baring his teeth in a silent warning toward any of those who lingered, he turned back to his destination, intrigued at what had caused Ysega to leave her son when there were other predators so near. Breaking through the brush, the mouth of a large cave greeted him, along with the sight of a cub crouching fretfully in the grass. Hn. So Ysega was in there, then? Moving forward, he did not bother to announce his presence to Bakar before nearing him. Instead, Virgil halted only a few feet from the cub, staring down at him with the same emotionless stare from before. Even at the thought that the hyenas may have been following the child and not him, no alarm sounded in his mind. Despite whatever your mother may think, leaving you out here with hyenas is not safer than letting you follow her. The tone of his voice was bored, yet a hint of displeasure colored it as he glanced toward the opening of the cave.

[Kamaria]

Bakar stared up at the lion, and it wasn't long before the cub recognized him, however unfamiliar he had been before. He couldn't help but feel a bit relieved, for the hyenas' calls had gotten closer before Virgil showed. He glanced back warily at the mouth of the cave, again wondering if he should follow his mother. But he straightened up and sat on his haunches, raising his eyes to meet the indifferent gaze of the white lion.

He couldn't help but become defensive of his mother at the lion's words. He narrowed his eyes at the older male, contemplating what to say. "She's looking for a place to sleep tonight. She'll come out again in a minute." His voice was timid, as he was alone in the presence of an adult male, but not completely afraid. After all, he'd heard Virgil's own words in their previous meeting. Of course, he knew better than to take advantage of any circumstance, given the last month on his own.

He looked quickly left as a bright pair of greedy eyes popped up above the grass, though they didn't come closer. He wondered if Virgil was the cause for the hyena's lingering. He watched in quiet fear as the eyes disappeared and another pair appeared.


Ysega, making her way slowly through the caves in fascination, was not aware of the night's coming until she was in sight of the mouth through which she had entered. And then a panic swept over her, for which the sight of starry darkness came the sound of hyenas cackling uncertainly. She knew that could only mean there was someone besides Bakar out in the grass. She rushed to the opening, staring out as her eyes took in her surroundings. The first thing she looked for were the predators she knew, and she found the eyes with ease, though she saw that they were neither moving closer to their attampted meal or moving back.

Following their gaze, he sight rested on her cub sitting in front of another large shape. The unnatural glow of the white pelt told her immediately who was standing over her cub, and she moved forward cautiously, as she had moved when she had first seen that white pelt. Some instinct told her that he was indeed dangerous, though she didn't mind him near as much as others she had met.

As the lion's gaze rose toward her, she brought her head up slightly and stopped. After a moment, she turned her attention to the cub and started toward them again. Bakar's head turned and he stood up as she neared. Swiping her tongue over his head once, she looked up again. "Virgil." The name, accompanied by a slight dip of her head, was all the greeting she gave. It had become habit for her to lower her head whenever she felt it in her interest to greet someone, which she rarely did. As stubborn and sharp-tongued she was, she wasn't completely impolite.

Bakar lay under her and rested his head on his paws. His eyes drooped, though his ears remained pricked. He was obviously content to sleep there, though he knew that he would have to move at some point. Ysega glanced down at him once before raising her gaze to Virgil again.

[Lassiel]

The cub justified his mother's decision quickly, though a hint of apprehension colored his words. Good. Brave enough to defend himself--or Ysega--but possessing the intelligence to not be entirely fearless in the presence of one who could easily kill him. Not that Virgil had any reason or intention of doing so. He chose not to comment on Bakar's words, instead watching as Ysega emerged from the cave, gaze rushing to take in her surroundings. She halted for a moment, realizing who stood with her son, before moving forward again to come stand with him.

He was silent for a few moments at her short greeting, mind analyzing the situation as he had been taught to do so long ago. The hyenas had yet to disappear, curious at this meeting of three lions and, Virgil assumed, hoping for a chance to see the cub unprotected--unhonorable creatures that they were. Finally, when her eyes met his again after looking at Bakar, he spoke quietly though far from timidly. Ysega. As before, no nod of the head accompanied his words, for that was simply the way he was.

His head twisted slightly, blue eyes shifting to the side to glance at where he had last seen the hyenas. He disliked not knowing how many there were, and although he did not fear them, the bigger packs were often an annoyance. They enjoyed testing him, thinking that even though he was a large male, they could still take him down since he was always alone. A conclusion that often cost lives until they realized their mistake and retreated. And this particular group seemed poised to make the same mistake, as they were still hanging about despite his warnings.

Gaze meeting Ysega's again, his voice was flat when he spoke again. Your son tells me you were looking for a place to sleep. I would think you would be more careful about leaving him alone now, especially when the night was so near. His tail twitched slightly, a small sign of annoyance. Not at Ysega, but at the creatures watching them. There are many with no qualms about making a meal out of a cub. At this, he inclined his head to the side, motioning toward the hyenas.

[Kamaria]

Bakar's head came up and his eyes flicked open at the talk of making 'a meal out of a cub', staring around like something really was going to eat him. But he relaxed upon seeing the hyenas still at a safe distance and his mother's reassuring presence above him. He lay his head on his paws once more. Now he found it impossible to stay awake, and in a few moments he flopped onto his side and slept like the cub he was.

Ysega drew her lips back in a silent snarl, but relaxed again when the cub was asleep. She wondered how many nights before this that he had barely been able to sleep comfortably, if at all. Realizing her mistake, as Virgil had so gracefully pointed out, she looked out at the pairs of eyes that glowed in the darkness. She could have made excuses to no end, but she knew that none of them would satisfy herself or the white lion. As she caught the eye of one of the scavengers, it abruptly ducked and hid its luminescent eyes. She leaned her weight only slightly in tht direction, her eyes narrowing coldly, longing to tear into the ambitious little creatures that stalked her child. But she held herself back, for sh was a mother again, and with the impulse to rip apart any threat to her cub came the instinct to curl around him and keep him warm for the night.

She did neither, only standing and tearing her gaze away from the scheming eyes. She flicked her torn ear when another mocking call came from one of the hyenas, flexing sharp claws. Her voice was, as always, stubborn and defiant as she spoke. "I made a mistake. Gayana has made many mistakes. I'm sure you've made at least one mistake, whether you want to admit it or not." She wondered just how defensive he wuld get, or if he would maintain his indifferent attitude. But she ha not inquired what the mistake was and did not expect him to tell her his past; she remembered the last time she'd tried, and it would have turned out worse had not Gayana entered the picture.

[Lassiel]

The cub rested quietly on the ground, completely at ease in his mother's presence, and for a moment Virgil mused on Ysega's apparent trust in him. No...more than an apparent, but real. Because although she did not always seem to make the wisest decisions, the white male deeply doubted that she would let Bakar sleep so near to him if she thought Virgil had any inclination of turning on them. So...Ysega trusted him, in a way. It was an...interesting development, to say the least. And at the thought, his mind instantly worked on how it could be used to his advantage, seasoned to do so after long years of searching for his own empowerment at any cost. But as quick as the cogs in his mind began turning, he put a halt to them. Hadn't his actions at their first meeting told her that he had no intention of harming her cub? He did not care what she though, but warped as his life and ambitions may have been to a normal being, Virgil had no intention of betraying his own sense of honor.

At Ysega's movements, Virgil's cool gaze glanced from Bakar to rest on her, taking in the obstinate voice that had become commonplace in his few dealings with her. At some point between their first words to each other and their meeting this night, the tone had become less irksome to his ears and more something to be expected. A quick tightening of his lips at her hidden accusation was all that betrayed his thoughts on the matter, but as it was not a direct question into his past, he did not react as he had before. Instead, his voice was only slightly admonishing when he spoke. "Only a fool would say he has made no mistakes in his life. I hope you are not implying that I am one." And at the end, if, by chance, a hint wryness entered his tone, it was so light it was hardly even there. "Of course, the difference between my mistakes and yours, is that mine never endanger someone dear to me." Not there was anyone dear to him to endanger...not anymore, at the least. The one being who would have filled that category died long ago, and he had allowed no one close ever since. Not out of fear of getting hurt, but from knowing that such emotions simply made you weak.

Another burst of growls and scornful cackles punctuated the night air, and a low snarl rumbled shortly in Virgil's chest before he spoke again. The conversation could easily take a turn into unwanted territory, and as such, he had no desire to let the topic of loved ones continue. "And what do you plan to do now that these beasts are here? They will not leave you alone, now that they see your son as an easy target." Blue eyes swept across the night terrain, cruelty beginning to manifest once more. "Careful! His voice was taunting, the mocking tone callous. "This decision could very well become a mistake whose price--"a quick look directed at the cub peacefully asleep on the ground--"you are not so willing to pay."

[Kamaria]

He watched Bakar for a moment before she spoke, but that one moment was enough to make her uneasy. She had already discerned that he was an incredibly unpredictable lion, and perhaps she had placed just a little too much confidence in his words at their last meeting. But then his eyes turned up to her and he replied. "Only a fool would say he has made no mistakes in his life. I hope you are not implying that I am one. Of course, the difference between my mistakes and yours, is that mine never endanger someone dear to me." The slightest of tones had entered his voice by the end of the statement, and it was enough of one to make her uneasy again, but not enough to make her back down. "Oh, no, Virgil. Why would I ever imply that you are a fool? It is increasingly obvious that you aren't." She chose not to reply to his criticism of her mistake. It would do her no good to argue.

"And what do you plan to do now that these beasts are here? They will not leave you alone, now that they see your son as an easy target. Careful! This decision could very well become a mistake whose price you are not so willing to pay."

His voice became ever more cruel and taunting, and she flattened her ears at his choice of words. She growled lowly. He made her sound like some sort of childish idiot. Perhaps in his eyes she was, but she knew better. She wasn't such the fool he thought her. She wanted so badly to hurt him, add her own claw-marks to his scars. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before snapping them open again. She didn't want to think about that. She would have no chance, and if she died or was injured, her son was as good as gone. And yet, she couldn't keep it all in. She was too mad, too angry at everything. And he just made it worse. She was angry at him for having to point out every one of her mistakes. Angry at herself for giving him the opportunity. Angry at the hyenas who wanted to take everything she'd just gotten back. And still she knew she couldn't take it out on him.... but she could tear apart every one of the slinking scavengers.

"Why should I tell you? You'll have nothing to do with it, will you? You won't do anything about it if the little scavengers attack." Her words were loud enough to make the hyenas cackle in delight at the prospect of an angry mother. She snarled and dug her claws deep into the ground, attempting to root herself to the spot. "I'll tear their throats out and rip them limb from limb if they come anywhere near him. Then they won't see him as such an easy target, now will they?" She glared at him, unable to take her burning eyes away from him for fear that she might become too overwhelmed to resist any longer.

[Lassiel]

His words had their desired effect as Ysega's ears flattened against her skull, but he couldn't help but admire the girl's tenacity at...well...everything. Her persistence in never completely backing down from his cruel words. Her stubbornness in caring for her son, even when she had committed unforgivable mistakes. Even her determination to not attack him even when it was obvious she so desperately wanted to. Others had attack him many times in his life for what he said or did--but she was one of the few to show restraint in that field. Dare he say that he somewhat liked the girl? For anyone who knew him--which, to be fair, was no one--the sentiment would be as plain as day. The very fact that Virgil had yet to maim her, at the very least, for some of the words she had spoken to him--Why would I ever imply that you are a fool?--was proof enough.

The rage in her eyes as she spoke once again was beautiful in its honesty. So many tried to lie to him to increase their chances of living, but she spoke her mind time and again. The words she spoke, however, were less than flattering. As the high-pitched laughter around them increased, Virgil's cold eyes narrowed by a margin. "It is good that you will defend him, as only a coward would abandon what belongs to them. But you seem to be loosing what little intelligence you have to make such accusations at me." A sneer passed across his pale face. "Do you honestly think they are holding back because of you? A lone lioness without the protection of a pride?" Turing his powerful gaze from her to the other predators, he watched in silent satisfaction as the hyenas his blue eyes landed on shrunk back into the darkness. A small smirk pulled at his lips when he met Ysega's determined face again, saying nothing at the display and trusting her to figure it out on her own. But when he next spoke, his face was once again blank and his voice turned hard. "To say that I will stand aside while they attack when many of them followed me here is an insult. You would do well not to do so again."

Was it an admission that, when the attack came, he would fight to protect the cub? Not quite. It was not in his nature to protect. But many of the scavengers had followed him to this place, curious about the large white male ghosting through their territory. To avoid their challenge would be cowardly, and to leave Ysega to deal with this...annoyance...would be an unforgivable slight to his honor. Besides, the arrogant male was beginning to enjoy their conversations. It would be a shame to lose them simply because he chose not to fight. With those thoughts, Virgil turned his back to the lioness to face the challenge head on, but not before a decidedly murderous look overtook his face. More than the anger when that fool of a woman interrupted them on the mountain, this countenance promised a merciless death to those that crossed him. Icy eyes glinting in the dark, a truly savage snarl echoed in the night air as Virgil's muscles tensed in anticipation. Tonight, these fools would discover why his very name brought fear to those who knew of his deeds.

ooc: I figured Ysega would want to be the first to go at these guys. ^^ She sounds like she may just combust if she doesn't fight something soon, haha.

[Kamaria]

ooc: You're probably right. ;D

Once again he surprised her. She had underestimated him again. And only just now did she realize how she'd made the mistake. She hadn't thought to compare his honor in not killing cubs, and her accusation at him standing aside to watch a cub killed. It didn't quite make sense anymore. But she would never admit it, and she certainly wasn't going to admit it to Virgil.

"No, I never said it was me they were afraid of. It is, of course, you they are reluctant to encounter." She had no idea why she said those words, and her ears flicked backward as she did, as if some ghost behind her had uttered the statement. She shook her head and glanced at the hyenas again, wondering which would be brave enough to go first. But as long as she was near Virgil, it was clear they would not make any moves closer. She watched as he turned his back to her, graciously ignoring temptation, and caught a glimpse of a gleam in his eye, a spark that she shuddered to see. It told her things about him, but she smiled. If he was willing to fight, and it was obvious he was, she would make something of the opportunity. Not to take advantage of the larger male, but instead to give herself some satisfaction. She would set a little trap, one in which she would get her share of blood.

She moved to nudge her son awake, and he rose sleepily, but the sound of the scavengers soon woke him fully. Ysega gave him a quick lick on the head, and then nudged him forward, toward the dark cave. "Stay close. We're going to the cave," she told him, and moved quickly forward. She moved slow enough so that he could keep pace, but fast enough to cover ground. She kept a careful eye on the pack of scavengers, and she laughed. Her trap was set, and already her prey was being lured. The hyenas were focused on her, and moved closer every step she moved away from Virgil.

She snarled once, loudly, though she didn't expect it to have any effect. And it didn't. The hyenas kept coming, and she let them. When they were close enough, she paused for a moment. "Run, Bakar. To the cave, and don't look back and don't come out until I come get you." He looked up at her, confused, but she nudged him with one paw, and trotted after him as he ran for the darkness of the cave. The first hyena rushed forward, and she leapt forward, jaws open and a snarl coming from her throat. It barely had time to nip at Bakar's flank before she was on him. She knocked into the hardy scavenger, and it cackled in excited surprise. She didn't spend too much time on one, but made sure to leave it with a few marks.

She turned her attention to one that was getting just a bit too close to the entrance of the cave, and this time she unleashed all of her anger, most of it gathered from Virgil. She timed her attack precisely and placed it correctly. She pounced on the scavenger, her jaws closing around its neck. It squeeled and called for help, but her jaws clenched even harder. Until finally she felt something crack, and the hyena twitched a few times. She didn't wait for it to lie still before she dropped it and went for the others. She stood in front of the cave entrance, guarding it, hoping Bakar was safe inside. She glanced up at Virgil, spotting his white coat instantly. But she turned her attention back to the hyenas, who had begun to gather around her. She swiped a paw out at them, claws outstretched, a snarl erupting from her throat. It was easier guarding a shelter than guarding a cub in the open. She didn't have to keep an eye on the ones behind her.

She held them back, sinking her teeth into some when they got too close. She wasn't surprised to see that the pack was larger than it had appeared. She struggled to keep them back, but managed. It was clear, however, that if she had really been on her own, she would have a much harder time of holding the persistent hunters off.

[Lassiel]

In violence we forget who we are.

Her final words echoed in Virgil's ears even as his predatory snarl cut through the air. Had he not been the trained warrior and assassin he was, the lion may have even forgotten about the impending battle as Ysega's statement caused his mind to pause in confusion for a short moment. She hadn't said that, had she? No...he had made an assumption based on what he thought he knew of her and her previous statements. In reality, the lioness never claimed to be the one holding the hyenas back. Instead, she promised to destroy the ones who would kill her son, even--and in this assumption, Virgil was certain he was correct--if she lost her life in the process.

An ear flicked back quickly at the sound of movement from Ysega and Bakar, and a calculating gaze watched as the hyenas followed their movements while nervously avoiding him. Hearing her whispered words to the cub, he understood what was happening out of his eyesight and mentally applauded her--though he would have moved Bakar out of the way long before it got to this point. But it did not matter. It was not his child to defend. The hyenas continued to edge toward Bakar and refrain from attacking Virgil. Amusing. But an effort that would not save them. For where before burned a cold anger at being stalked like a common beast by these scavengers, the flames of a far more deadly rage were growing. The actions of those around him--the lioness, the hyenas--dragged unwillingly memories from the depths of his mind. Visions of blood and a young mother protecting her powerless son.

The ivory male's growl deepened, rumbling in his chest as he forcefully banished his thoughts. And then Ysega's final words reached him, though he caught only the beginning. "Run, Bakar." A voice from the past overlaid the one from the present. "Run, Virgil! Go back to the pride!" Against the rush of rage flooding through him, the shrill death cries of Ysega's first kill sounded dull. With unrestrained power, he launched his massive body toward the nearest hyena. Fury at his past--at these creatures and Ysega for unknowingly giving rise to these hated memories--lent him speed, and before his enemy could react, a wide paw slammed the smaller animal to the ground even as he wrapped his jaws around the tender throat. The encounter was brief, and Virgil soon abandoned the body to find his next foe. Startled by his sudden inclusion in the fight, many of the beasts stopped moving toward the cave and instead warily watched him. He did not wait for them to make their move. With blood pounding hotly through his veins, he attacked once more and this time did not stop at the kill.

He met the hyenas head on. Despite his sudden memory and rage-fueled leap in the beginning--a move that was quite unlike him--Virgil quickly came back to himself. There was a certain deadly gracefulness to his fighting. A macabre dance where every neat and precise strike met their intended target. Eyes glinting, he no longer made any noise as he fought, though the snarls and growls of his opponents surrounded him. Once more, he was the silent Ghost. A death-dealing phantom that refused to back down. So intent on his battle, only when he caught sight of Ysega stubbornly defending the cave did he remember her and Bakar. At the combined fierceness of an enraged male and a protective mother, the hyenas were rapidly losing their will to fight. Taking advantage of a slight lull, he pressed forward with claws and fangs to stand next to the lioness. Sparing her a quick glance, he watched as the beasts once again halted their attack. Dark blood stood out dramatically on his pale coat--both his and theirs, though none of his injuries were life-threatening. "They will not last much longer." Despite the violent battle, Virgil's voice was composed as a dark smirk accompanied his short words. "They wanted an easy meal, not a bloodbath."

But violence is what I am.

[Kamaria]

It was a terrible thing to watch him. But it was something she couldn't look away from, something she admired to a point. She stood still, watching his silent attacks, his white pelt splattered with blood whose origin she could not tell. Her mind went back to the time she'd first seen him, back in the mountains, when she'd had the instinct to keep away from him. She had thought of him as something other than what he was. She'd thought of him as a ghost, and that word came to mind now. He was a ghost, wreaking havok on the easy intentions of the living. She blinked at the thought, and wrenched herself back into the battle just as he came to stand beside her.

"No, they'll be gone in a moment." The words slid easily from her maw, mumbled almost. Some of the hyenas were beginning to slink away, others going to the dead bodies of their comrades. They weren't being heroes by these actions. No, they were taking what they could. They would eat whatever came, even if it meant their own kind. It was a rather sick thing, but Ysega didn't think too much about it. A group stood staring at the two lions, their cackles silent and their glowing eyes wide. They were defiant, even while others were backing away. Ysega growled and lunged for them, bloodied teeth bared. The scavengers scrambled backward, frightened howls racking the air. Ysega caught one, and battered it to the ground, still squirming and hollering.

She would make one more kill, one more for the month she'd been without her son, one more for the hatred she felt for them, one more for their imagined plot of her son's death. She would kill one more, for no other reason than that they had wanted to kill Bakar. This was her reason, though others would call it bloodlust. No matter what you call it, Ysega closed her jaws around the yapping dog's throat, puncturing its jugular vein and letting blood flow into her mouth even as the hyena lay still. When she finally let go, she stood there, panting, leaning to one side. She realized that in her haze, the hyena had managed to get its teeth around her leg, biting hard into her flesh, enough to make her limp.

She stood there, completely still and staring down at her final kill. And then she stepped backward, or limped, if you choose to see the details. She had never felt anything like bloodlust. Not when her mother taught her to hunt. Not when she fought over a meal with other loners. Not even when she'd driven off that one lone male after he'd killed her mother. It was a terrible feeling, to kill without much reason. It was frightening, to know that she could go so crazy after the taste of blood in battle. She lashed her tail, and licked her lips. She pushed every thought out of her head. It wasn't worth it to think about things that couldn't be undone. She looked up, her gaze immediately going to Virgil. "Does that always happen? Do you kill just to kill?"

She realized the vulnerability in those words, and her eyes narrowed. If she could snap like that, what would happen if Bakar got in the way? Was she capable of killing her own son? And then her eyes widened. But she steered her thoughts the other direction. No, she wouldn't kill Bakar, no matter what happened. It wasn't possible. She glanced at the cave entrance, wondering if Bakar had witnessed any of it, or if he'd obeyed her and went deep into the shadows of the cave. She sighed and crouched down, licking the wound on her front leg, cleaning up her blood and the hyenas'. She didn't want Bakar to see her hurt, though he would see even without the blood.

[Lassiel]

A vague look of disgust entered Virgil's gaze as the hyenas turned on their comrades, though he still caught Ysega's soft agreement with his earlier statement. He narrowed his eyes at a group that continued to stare at them, but even as a low growl began to reverberate in his chest, the lioness next to him rushed forward. He stood still even as her target twisted to close his mouth over her leg, puncturing the skin in a bloody wound. There had been no need for that attack--not when the enemy was already retreating. But this was a reaction he recognized well enough, for he had often seen it in others when he turned his bloodstained claws toward them. Yet more than that, the feeling in her face was the same he had felt just weeks ago. That day when, finally, he had held his mother's murderer at his mercy. Hate. Raw, consuming hatred for the being that lay at his paws. Stronger than any emotion Virgil had felt in years, it's intensity caused him to lose control for the first time. And ever since that fateful day, the male had felt his self-discipline slip several more times--a fact that both shocked and angered him.

He watched silently as she backed away from her kill, meeting her gaze steadily. At her words, his eyes turned sharp and piercing, disliking the tone of her voice. Weakness was what he heard--the inability to follow through with one's actions and to accept them for what they were. As she turned away to clean her wound, no concern entered his heart for her well-being--physical or mental. "I do nothing without reason. To do so only wastes time and energy. If you are so upset with your actions, perhaps you should learn to control yourself." The words were clipped, holding barely concealed annoyance and open disdain. The events of this night were grating on his nerves, as they had stirred his memories far too many times. The attack from so many years ago...the recent loss of control to his emotions...both were unacceptable. And the way they affected his dealings with others was even more deplorable! His initial attack at the hyenas lacked the finesse his strikes usually possessed. Instead of the silent swiftness of winter stealing over the land, in those first moments he had been more similar to the sudden flare of a wildfire--unpredictable and blazing with fierceness. Absentmindedly, he wondered if Ysega had caught the difference or if she had been too distracted by her own fight. Whatever the case, it did not matter. It still stood that he had once again lost control, and the thought caused him to scowl darkly, for once uncaring if she noticed his show of emotion.

Abruptly, the male stalked away from the lioness before him, making his way toward the cave where Bakar had disappeared. He did not care if his appearance frightened the young cub--ivory fur stained with blood, the sanguine liquid smeared around his previously pristine jaw and speckling his large paws. The air of death surrounded him, a warrior's aura that had yet to dissipate. Eyes harsh and menacing, he was a terrible figure to behold. Halting near the entrance and casually glancing at the corpses, he turned his attention to his own wounds. Although he would not admit it, he was attempting to reign in his anger at his own reaction during the battle, trying to regain control. It was an unseen fight, save for the slight tensing in his shoulders. He was aware of Ysega behind him, though he could not see what she was doing. With the way things were going, he had no wish to say anything more to the lioness--not when he could lose his already frail control on his discipline.

[Kamaria]

She shouldn't have expected a helpful answer from him, and yet that is what she did. She actually hoped he had an answer for her. But, of course, he didn't. He might have had an answer, but it was not a helpful one. It was, once again, a ridicule of her actions. She merely rolled her eyes, getting used to these responses. She chose not to reply.

Upon glancing up at him, she saw the slightest hint of... something... in his eyes. She stopped and looked at him. This was something uncommon to Virgil, she knew. A memory slipping through, perhaps. He soon gained control of whatever it was, and his eyes regained their cold, icy wall. She looked away, going back to her wound. She sighed, wondering what fate had pulled herself and Virgil to the same place again. They could never seem to get along, but neither of them was dead yet. Whatever she said, he seemed to have a superior opinion about something; the way she said it, what she said, and everything else. But whatever he did or said, Ysega became angry and sometimes fearful, like at Kipia. They certainly weren't the greatest pair in Africa, yet they seemed to end up in the same places at the same time.

She was yanked out of her thoughts at the movement of Virgil. He moved toward the cave, and Ysega felt a growl form in her throat. Despite her knowing that he wouldn't kill cubs, for his honor or whatever reason he chose, she still wouldn't have him near Bakar where she couldn't see him. She started to get up, to defend the cub again, her growl still bubbling out of her maw, but stopped before she was too far off the ground. She glared at him as he looked around at the bodies of the scavengers and their feasting comrades, and then he settled down to tend his own wounds. His back was to her, somewhat, and the tension in his shoulders told her to keep her mouth shut, for whatever reason. She relaxed a bit. She didn't know if she wanted to say anything anyway. It had become a bit of a hassle.

She moved past his ghostly bulk, trying to ignore the pain in her front leg. She slipped through the barrier of shadows and into the darkness. She paused for a moment to let her eyes adjust, and then searched the cave for any sign of her cub.

[Lassiel]

She was still silent long after he finished speaking. The air around them felt tense, though whether it was due to the battle, his answer to her question, or his closeness to Bakar, he did not know. Perhaps it was simply a mix of all three. Unable to see what she was up to behind him, ears flicked back to listen instead. She was moving, and he glanced at her as she brushed by, noting the hindrance to her stride the wound caused her. He followed her movements as she searched the darkness of the cave, though his other senses reached out to keep tabs on the night around them. It would be prudent to move--soon. The scent of blood would only attract more predators, and Virgil had no desire to deal with any of them. Yet, he did not move, despite his wish to leave this place. Instead, his lips parted to speak once more. Until the day death finally claimed Virgil--and he held no illusions of a peaceful end when that black hand reached for him--he would not know what caused him to break the silence.

"As long as you fight with hatred, that will always be the end result." For once, there was no scorn noticeable in his voice. And though the chill in the air remained, winter's frost had melted. "So now you are given two choices: either to let that emotion dictate what you do in the future, when your son is threatened once more, or, as I said before, master it and control yourself." Although no hint of kindness was in Virgil's tone, it was far from his usual contemptuous remarks and could almost be taken for advice. Blue eyes rested steadily on her back for a few moments before he turned and stalked away from the cave, leaving her to find Bakar. Perhaps she would take his words as nothing more than everything else he had said since they first met on the mountain. If she did...it was no concern of his.

Snarling quietly at the few living hyenas that were still scattered about the area, Virgil marveled at whatever possessed him to say anything even remotely personal. With a black glower, he blamed it on whatever it was about that this night that had already caused him other problems. That conclusion helped very little, of course. The entire situation was simply ridiculous! Virgil, who prided himself on having more self-discipline and restraint than many who had walked this earth, was experiencing an embarrassing loss of composure. Memories long since buried were rising up, and he was beginning to do and say things he never would have considered before. Why? The question echoed tauntingly in his mind.

Growling at one hyena that had ventured to close, he watched it skitter away, though his anger was more directed at his inability to find an answer. Why am I even lingering here? The creatures have been dissuaded, and I have no reason to stay any longer. Ysega-- Eyes abruptly narrowed, tightening in anger. It is her. There is something about that woman that has caused this, though I know not what. Casting a hostile glare her way, he quickly turned back to his pacing. No. She is not the problem. This began before I met her--when I finally found him. Scowling, he glared down at his bloodied paws. That creature....deserved to see his family torn apart before his own life was taken. No punishment could be too severe for the likes of him. In no way did Virgil feel guilty for the loss of those lives, so why were his memories bothering him? Is it simply because he killed her? Is that all there is to it?

[Kamaria]

As he spoke again, she sighed quietly, jumping to the conclusion that he was criticizing her again. But as she listened, she turned to look at him, ears pricked forward. She wondered what it was that was different now. And she found it. There was no ridicule or scorn in his voice, though it was still far from kind. It was just differnt. She wondered what had brought this along. She looked down as Bakar gamboled up to her, rubbing against her legs. She grunted as he bumped into her injured leg. Her jerked back and looked up apologetically, to which she responded with a rasp of her tongue.

"So now you are given two choices: either to let that emotion dictate what you do in the future, when your son is threatened once more, or, as I said before, master it and control yourself." She thought about those words for a moment in silence, staring down at the cub. Of course, she would choose the latter of the two options he had given, but she knew it would be more difficult than it initially sounded. She flicked her ears backward, hearing movement from Virgil. He kept moving, but didn't get any farther away. She turned her head to look at him, and froze there. Well, this was different. The white lion, calm, cool Virgil, was pacing. He was obviously troubled, though Ysega knew better than to ask why. But this wasn't usual for Virgil. It was, as far as she knew, very unusual for him.

"I don't like this place, Moma." Bakar's innocent voice sounded from beside her. He must have moved while she was lost in thought. She turned to see that he was staring fearfully at the carcasses and feasting scavengers. She gave him a reassuring lick on the head before answering. "I know, darling. We'll be leaving soon." She growled at a hyena that was watching the cub with a bit too much interest. It glared at her for a moment, and then went back to what it was doing. She turned her body around and watched Virgil again. She watched the pattern of his pacing; back and forth, back and forth. He only paused once to warn a bold hyena away. She wondered what could cause him to lose the impenetrable control he'd had.

Bakar pressed himself against her, and she motioned for him to follow. She moved away from the darkness of the cave, glancing up at the sky. Time had passed quickly. The moon was near the horizon, and, on the other side of the world, the sky was beginning to brighten. They would have to leave soon, before other, bigger predators found the kills. She walked away, with Bakar following close behind, sometimes ahead as they put some distance between themselves and the hyenas. For whatever reason that compelled her to do so, Ysega hesitated a moment to look back at Virgil. "Would you prefer to travel alone, or with company?"