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 Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:54 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:57 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:04 pm
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He couldn't get a firm hold on any part of the other lion and he knew he had to change tactics. They were holding each other up and fending each other off about equally, there was no ground to gain here.. and while Uchanjaa fought, there was no getting back to Meshach. At least his uncle seemed to be staying out of it now.
With a snarl, he moved with Uchanjaa when he leaned forward, again using momentum to his advantage. They knocked heads but not in the way Uchanjaa wanted, and Shangyue focused his energy on untangling his paws so he could get back. It wasn't hard, but it did make it hard to stand upright quickly.
Once free, he limped backwards and chuckled darkly at the situation they were in.
"Didn't learn, did you?" he hissed, panting, "Meshach tried twice and failed twice, this is your second try- can you do it this time?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:06 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:14 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:17 pm
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Uchanjaa roared again, in anger, in pain, in denial, in refusal, in acceptance, in sorrow. Great Lion alone knew and understood the emotions he felt. In this flood of feeling, the brown lion lunged again, training and experience forgotten, overextending himself, and yet too caught up in the moment to notice.
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:21 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:25 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:57 pm
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During the fight, Ota was one of a few lions who had dared to come closer- close enough to intervene if necessary, but it had not come to that. She seemed stunned by what had happened, lost for words as Uchanjaa collapsed and his life drained away. This.. this wasn't supposed to happen. She had seen what was coming, was so sure this was it, that Uchanjaa could do it..
She moved to Meshach's side when he got back to his feet, could see the murder lingering in the king's eyes. Uchanjaa was dead, Meshach didn't have to die now.. Shangyue had won. With everybody watching them lose this supposed fair fight for the throne.. did they stand a chance of rallying the pride again?
"Don't-"
Shangyue was covered in blood and still filled with adrenaline when Meshach rose to his feet, reminding the king that he was there- only now, there was another lion with him, and neither had an aggressive posture. He bared his teeth and stepped forward when the white one spoke. It earned her a glare, but then another lioness joined the field.
Parisa, too, was stunned by the outcome of the battle. She had expected victory over the rebels, but she had not expected it to be Uchanjaa that lay dead by the end of it. She was among the factors keeping the loyalists in check when Uchanjaa interfered, and it seemed to have worked out OK.
She stepped before Shangyue, but faced the rebels.
"Show them mercy, love," she said, "Don't spoil this victory with unnecessary bloodshed."
Shangyue began to descend from the adrenaline rush keeping him going, his wounds were starting to sting, his limbs beginning to ache.. he stepped closer, standing beside his queen as she advised him. She had been giving him a lot of grief for not listening to her lately, perhaps she was right.
"Do you yield?" he asked, looking between Meshach and Ota, barely registering that the white lioness must have been Meshach's man on the inside, "Ask for mercy, and I may oblige." |
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 11:13 pm
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Ota inhaled deeply when Meshach refused to ask for mercy, feeling it hurt their chances of having another go if either did-- but she didn't have the fight in her to try now. Her uncle lay behind the king, an unexpected loss, and face to face with the king.. she stood no chance. If this was it, how many would fight? Or would it be another stand like Meshach and Andama had made before?
She said nothing, but she stepped forward so she put herself between Meshach and Shangyue.
Parisa watched intently as Meshach accepted his defeat but refused to ask for mercy. She didn't say anything else as Shangyue got far enough ahead of her so that he could not see her reaction, and she turned her gaze to their king, wondering if he had learned anything in all of this, if he even deserved the victory he had claimed here tonight.
Shangyue's gaze went from Meshach to Ota and back again. There was little fight in them now, little hope to change the outcome.. perhaps this was all there was for his victory tonight, perhaps he didn't have to end his uncle's life.
"When I became king," he said, "I promised the violence would end. Those who rebelled forced my paw, let this be the end of the fighting and no more lives need to be lost."
He took his eyes from Meshach and looked around the crowd that watched them all, then turning back to lock eyes with Ota. He didn't know her exact significance in all of this, but there she stood, between him and Meshach.
"I won't make that promise a third time."
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