[FIN] Proving Twoself (Dwyllodrus, Chunyue, Umepatwa)

[Puhterodactyl]

Umepatwa was busy with Dwyllodrus' attack. It gave Chunyue the perfect opening to finish him. In the heat of the moment, he viewed Umepatwa as less than a lion, and more like prey. It was about ending him. Luckily for Umepatwa, though Chunyue was raised by Tyfu, he didn't take after her with regards to how to end things. It would be a more merciful death. Cleaner. Quicker.

Umepatwa tried to kick him off, but Chunyue was undeterred. He went for the neck. It was obscured by mane, but a lion's jaws were actually the perfect tool for getting through that. It was Umepatwa's fault for making himself a target, right? He wouldn't have to be doing this if it wasn't for his loud, rebellious mouth. It was out of Chunyue's paws. He couldn't be blamed for it. It really wasn't his choice. The blood was not on his paws.  

[mouselet]

Umepatwa's claws hit, hard, and Dwyllodrus let out a hiss of pain. But if he took the brunt of the darkest lion's attack, that would leave Chunyue the opening he needed. So he endured, the wounds on his forelegs, chest, and face would probably heal into an interesting network of scars that he'd one day wear proudly.

In return, the blue-marked lion scratched and slashed and gouged while his brother attacked, burying his head in their victim's brown mane. The end was near, he could feel it.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Chunyue only let go when he felt Umepatwa go limp. He stepped back, panting heavily and slowly realizing the feeling in his mouth and what was dripping all over him was blood. He was black and green and red all over. He was horrified. The lion looked at the body of what had been his half-brother, then too his brother. His light brown eyes widened and tears began to well up.

"What have we done?"

He started shaking.

"What do we do now?"

Umepatwa's blood was still on him, mixing with his own (not that their blood wasn't "mixed" already). What if they were found? Weren't they supposed to do this? Would Shangyue recognize them now as his sons? What if the rebellion failed?  

[mouselet]

Before Dwyllodrus could respond, a figure emerged from concealment nearby. In the moonless night, it was visible only for the fur and markings that were as vividly green as Chunyue's mane.

"Excellent work, my sons," Tyfu congratulated her offspring. "Your father and I are very proud of you." Her yellow eyes glinted in the dark, filled with satisfaction. She was pleased by more than the success the two had secured - the fact that Chunyue had struck the final blow was truly wonderful progress for the boy. Dwyllodrus' ability to kill she'd never doubted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The blue-marked lion had been trying to clean off some of the excess blood on his face, so that he could see, when the unexpected and familiar voice rang through the night. Looking up, he saw his mother, and a slow smile crossed his face.

She had seen! She'd been watching! She was proud of them! It was the most wonderful moment in his life. Dwyllodrus grinned at his brother and answered the question.

"We go home with Mom and tell her how we did it," he told Chunyue. That was, after all, what happened after any assignment she'd given them. Then she'd pick over everything they did wrong and demand that they do better next time.

Next time, he'd probably get fewer scars.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Chunyue was scared when his mother appeared. Not just that he had been surprised, but he was also scared of Tyfu. How long had she been there? His ears went back against his skull. Proud? Their father??

"Shangyue is proud of us...?" He spoke as though he was certain. He'd just killed for the king, the least he deserved was confirmation of what everyone in the pride sorta knew. He looked at her suspiciously, ignoring his living brother.  

[mouselet]

It was inevitable that the boys should have heard the gossip and rumors that had gone round and round the pride since their birth. Tyfu had ignored the talk, neither confirming nor denying the truth of it. It wasn't something the children needed to know and, as they weren't born to the high class, it wasn't something that had been necessary for anyone else either.

Two years ago she'd gone to Shangyue and demanded his children. The purple lion had been suspicious and surprised, but had obliged on the condition that they should never seek the throne. Tyfu had informed him that she had no such cares for herself or her offspring, and it was true. She had much rather work beside the throne than upon it. Her position was visible enough as it was.

"Yes, the King is very proud of you, his eldest children," the lioness confirmed for her shy and nervous son. Now that they had proven themselves, the young lions had every reason to know the truth. Not to mention the fact that it would be yet another reason beyond her own raising and training for them to side firmly with their father in this conflict. That was why Shangyue had assigned this assassination to them, and left Tyfu to supply the details.

"Let's clean you up a bit and bring you in to report," the Patrol Leader suggested in tone that was rather closer to an order as she turned back towards the pride. "Leave that carrion," she added, nodding her head towards the black-furred corpse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dwyllo's eyes, as yellow as his mother's widened in surprise as she admitted what everyone had long since assumed, but had not had the literal proof to know for certain. So, they were the King's bastards. This made the blue-marked lion smile in satisfaction. He was damned proud to be a b*****d, it suited their mother and father well. Tyfu could never have been a Queen like Parisa, and he suspected she wouldn't have wanted it. As for the King, he obviously valued strength and loyalty. So siring Tyfu's children would combine those things, as well as proving his virility to the masses.

Yes, it made a world of sense to Dwyllodrus.

Without another word, he followed his mother back towards the pride, his father, and long-awaited recognition.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Somehow... Somehow this made him feel better about the murder. Was he that terrible of a lion? That petty? But... It felt good to know who his father was. It was kind of amazing that it was Shangyue. He did this for his father. Wait... Did this mean that he was in line for the throne? The thought terrified him. Who was the firstborn of the litter? Oh, gods. He swallowed hard. This would be up to Tyfu to deal with. She would clean up her mess of having bastards. She would clean up their mess of murder that she and their father ordered.