[FIN] Acceptance (Meshach & Dwyllodrus)

[mouselet]

It was, unfortunately, all to easy to find Meshach. The dark purple lion had actually returned to the Mwezi'Johari lands proper and was living as if he had a right to be here! Dwyllodrus did Not Approve. Which was, of course, why he'd agreed to be the messenger.

Well, not the only reason. Dwyllodrus smiled evilly to himself at the thought of the bargain he'd struck. But that was for him to know and others to find out. Later. Much later.

So far he'd managed to get past all the Rebel guards by informing them snidely that he had been sent by the King to speak to Meshach. None of them had been happy about it, but they clearly had enough respect for authority that he was unharmed and unmolested reaching here.

"Hey, Meshach!" the black lion called out. "I've got an answer for you from the King!"

If they expected ceremony out of Dwyllodrus, they had sent the wrong lion.  

[magnadearel]

Meshach had sent out his challenge to Shangyue as he'd planned. Now he was waiting for the reply. The purple male stood where he was easily find-able. He wasn't sure how the answer, if it came at all, how it would come. Was his nephew going to show himself or send a minion to do his dirty work. All he wanted was at the least the promise Shangyue would face him and bring an end to this.

His gaze fastened on a dark lion that called his name. Disappointingly, but predictably, a minion had been sent in Shangyue's stead. He took a slow deep breath as he watched the lion work his way through Meshach's protection. There was always a bit of risk with this, but necessary.

"Then present my nephew's answer." Never again would he call Shangyue by a title he didn't deserve.  

[mouselet]

The black lion swaggered up to Meshach, showing no fear of the older, scarred male. Really, right next to the purple lion was where he stood, and personal space wasn't even a concept. His yellow eyes gleamed in the star-lit night.

"Are you suuuuuure you want to hear it?" Dwyllodrus was practically purring in Meshach's ear now. He was quite thrilled to get this task, of all of them. And poor Meshach wouldn't even know what hit him.  

[magnadearel]

He should have suspected something. He should have, yet he didn't. Meshach didn't budge an inch when the black lion got totally within his personal space. While he didn't like he wasn't going to give the dark lion the satisfaction of seeing him step away. It may have been his ultimate mistake. The male didn't see or even suspect the sneak attack that was unleashed upon. Meshach went down in a flurry of paws and fur.

Reacting instinctively, he completed the drop to the ground under the onslaught of the younger lion. His mind was shook and he could tell he would definitely have some bruises before this was over. Meshach started to fight back as best he could, disoriented as the first attack had left him.  

[mouselet]

Ah, this was how he liked to kill, up close, personal, and in his victim's face. Except, of course, he wasn't supposed to actually kill Meshach. Just...hurt him. Make him bleed. Weaken him.

Though Dwyllodrus did love the feel and smell of blood on his claws.

Leaning down, he nibbled a bit on the older lion's ear before whispering in it.

"The King accepts your challenge, of course. But will you be able to stand against him?" The younger lion's voice was taunting, even as his claws ran back and forth against Meshach's flesh.  

[magnadearel]

Meshach gave a roar of anger and pain as he felt the sharp claws of the dark lion dig into his flesh. This wasn't how it was suppose to be! He slit open an eye to peer up at the eye of the Great Lion. He couldn't have come this far to let it end like this! Meshach jerked his head and ear way from the nibbling teeth.

Flexing his claws into the ground he gave a strong heave to throw his young attacker off his back. He bared his own fangs and took several snaps at Dwyllodrus. "He's a coward and so are you for doing his dirty work!" Meshach hissed back. Letting his experience come to the fore and adrenaline pumping through his veins he was now ready to face the sneaky stalker.  

[mouselet]

The black lion had to laugh aloud at Meshach's indignation, even as the older lion fought back. So what if he bled? It wasn't as much as Meshach was bleeding, that was for sure. And Dwyllodrus hadn't foolishly agreed to fight anybody. Just to perform a bit of sabotage. That was all.

"And you're so honorable? Don't make me laugh. You want exactly what I want out of this," he sneered, using his claws again and again.  

[magnadearel]

"What do you mean by that?!" He gritted out as he continued to battle off the attacks of the other male. Frantically he tried to figure it out. Meshach wanted Shangyue removed from the throne. Did Dwyllodrus want the same? But that didn't explain why the black male was attacking Meshach. Shouldn't he be supporting him?  

[mouselet]

Dwyllodrus laughed again, withdrawing from close combat with the older male. He'd done the damage he intended to do, and he was rather pleased with his work. It was rather funny. Meshach and his Rebels insisted on dressing things up with "honor" and "right" and "good", but at the end of the day, those were just fancy words plastered on the face of their intentions.

Dwyllodrus couldn't be fooled. His mother had shown him that words were simply words, that the strong took what the they wanted in life, and the weak suffered. It was better to live understanding that, and having no illusions. It hurt so much when those illusions were broken and while he desperately wanted to inflict such pain on Meshach, now wasn't the time.

"Good luck when the King comes to call," he offered the other lion, retreating. "You're going to need it." With another nasty laugh, the black male departed.  

[magnadearel]

As suddenly as it started, the male pulled off his attack. He was breathless as Dwyllodrus voiced his parting shot and departed quickly through the bristling lions. It had all happened so quickly. Meshach panted and abruptly sat down. His wounds hurt and bled. He was getting too damned old for this s**t! Now he had to face his nephew like this. Exactly as the conniving b*****d wanted. He lashed his tail. If he thought this was going to stop him Shangyue had an unpleasant surprising coming.