Post by Avalikia on Sept 26, 2010 20:05:32 GMT -7
Characters:
Ananth - Male Elder Tiger
Rakta - Male Tiger
Dushta - Male Black Tiger
Baimei - Female Golden Tiger
Tanantra - Male Adolescent Honey Badger
Setting:
Cliffside Temple
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Ananth slowly makes his way up to the temple after an interesting chat with Utkrosh. It would be interesting to see how things went. There had been no point in denying anything, she had heard everything from the chat with Dushta. As he enters the area by the temple he looks around, his ears alert for any sounds the would give away another's presence, trying to see where the other tigers are, he knows they are here or have been here recently, their scents tell him that much.
Rakta remains hidden as always. One doesn't stay alive by just announcing their presence, especially if they're like Rakta and intend to make some enemies through his schemes.
While not exactly 'hiding', Dushta /is/ lounging in the shadow cast by the temple where his presence isn't made obvious by the sunlight. This is almost purely out of habit, however, as he's used to remaining unseen and even if it weren't for that the heat of the sun tends to bother him more than most tigers. He'd looked over the temple months before, but only briefly and didn't examine it very closely. Now that he has, he can see why other tigers would like it. It even appeals to him somewhat now that he isn't thinking only of what will hide him best.
Rakta actually has no interest in the temple. He knows that its far too conspicuous, but he needs to keep Dushta thinking its secure and a good idea. Anything to secure his power while enabling him a chance to eliminate this weakness.
Ananth sits down, looking around this place, in terms of tactics... it seems a bit to conspicuous. But its not his call, he could bring it up with Rakta, but he has a feeling he knows about it. What that tiger is planning he doesn't know, but he is content to just go along with the ride for now. As he looks his eye stops, hovering on the shadowy area for a moment..looking towards Dushta. He is easy to spot once you know what to look for. Then he moves on examining the rest of the temple, his eye stopping at Rakta's hiding spot this time. "You both picked good spots to hide." he purrs aloud, "But I just had a conversation with a bird you might want to know about, so unless you want me to have it out loud and risk more potential spies hearing, it may be a good idea to come together somewhere and discuss strategy."
"Come over here then," Dushta says, without seeming to think about it much. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to have to get up? No, there's more to his thought process than that, but as his thoughts are kept well under the surface there doesn't seem to be more to his decisions than that. To his credit, he /does/ lift his head and appears very interested in whatever it is that the old one has to say.
Rakta turns and saunters casually over to the other tigers. As far as he is concerned, things are going smoothly. Even if someone got wind of the Ran Garjana. "This better be good, Ananth."
Ananth pads over by the black tiger, and waits for Rakta to come over. "In a nutshell, Utkrosh, a bird who was a scout for the alliance against the Sahkt Nakh and a vital part of them winning the war, was in the area when we met and talked with Dushta. Thus I suspect she will try to speak with Bhata, and others to form a new resistance, soon. Maybe to strike before we are ready." he pauses briefly, "Though yes I suppose this was to be expected to happen, it still seemed like a better idea to inform you of this as soon as I could, rather than keep it to myself."
There isn't a hint of Dushta being even the slightest bit bothered by this news. Indeed, if anything, he looks mildly excited by it. "Who are the Sahkt Nakh?" he asks, also not disturbed by his own ignorance of the history of the area. In never applied to him before, but perhaps it does now if he'll actually be working with others. He glances over at his second in command whose name he still doesn't know, in case he has anything to add, but most of his attention lingers on Ananth.
"If they could be brought down by rebellion, they were weak and deserved their fate." Rakta says this so simply and so ever grumpily. "Fine, if they wish to spark a rebellion then we can use this to our advantage." Rakta looks at Ananth sharply. "You will go to them, since that damn fool made the mistake of telling you these things, you are going to become their 'friend.' Infiltrate them, pretend to rebel. We'll use whatever you can learn to make sure any plans they make will be foiled before they can even try them."
Ananth nods "That was going to be my suggestion, and I already implemented it. I can leave right away if you would like. When shall I report back?" he asks. purring slightly, planning, is what he is best at. "Might I suggest, If you have any birds as allies, that we make use of them. I have found them to be useful in the past, /if/ they are trustworthy."
Looking first at his second then at Ananth, the amusement on Dushta's face grows. "Isn't it a little presumptuous of you to be ordering him to go infiltrate the enemy without bothering to consult your leader when he is right here?" he asks the former, before turning his attention back towards Ananth, "And isn't it a little premature of you to be accepting those orders from him? Already it seems that my leadership is not being taken seriously. Here I have only asked who the Sahkt Nakh are, and instead of being answered my supposed followers lay plans without me?" Again, not the least bit of anger shows on his face. In fact, if one didn't know better, one might think that he's /enjoying/ this - there's an amused gleam in his eyes and he seems perfectly relaxed.
Rakta growls, but calms, and looks over at the black tiger. "What would you have us do, *master?*" Rakta says, annoyed. The tool thinks he is truly in power. "I know nothing of these... Sahkt Nakh other than they were destroyed. To me, that is all we need to know."
Ananth nods "Forgive me, I forgot to answer your question. More or less, they were a harem, devoted to there Raja, Vijayi. He got power hungry, and recruited other tigers, such as myself, when I was younger, to join him. As we began to take over, the Raja's son, and heir, Bhata, came to the conclusion he didn't like what his father was doing... and switched to help the rebels, and in the end killed his father. The Sahkt Nakh were disbanded, most killed, I and the few tigers I had with me, fought our way to safety, and have been living elsewhere for years, having made a home of our own far away. Unfortunately, a plague came through, and most were lost, so I came back here, as I knew it would be a safe place, and most that could have known me are probably dead. Though it seems the long lived birds are still around, and some remember me. Thus if I encounter them, my normal answer has been that I am an old tiger who just wants to live out his days in peace. Though it is anything but the truth. True warriors never tire of fighting, and I long to get back into battle, be in participating, or commanding others."
How his second responds to his question causes Dushta to give him a long, knowing look. He's not nearly the fool that one takes him for, but he has no intention of proving that yet. No, he merely wants the blatant subversion of his authority problem nipped in the bud - not a good way to allow things to start. Otherwise, he's in the mood to relax; he can deal with the rest later. Instead he listens carefully to Ananth, mulling it over for a moment before he responds with, "I see. So the older ones of this area will be rather sensitive to the idea of a group of us together. That could be problematic. However, I have been in this area, 'causing trouble' you might say for quite some time. I've encountered none that seem both competent and willing to oppose me, so we /should/ be able to crush them easily." He pauses for only a short moment more to think before he adds, "If you already have some of their confidence, then infiltrating them is a good idea. I want reports at least once a moon if you can get away without arousing suspicion - sooner if you find out anything important." Then he suddenly turns to his second and adds, "That is, if /you/ think that's a wise decision on my part?" Again, the amusement is there but behind him a black tail thumps the ground.
Rakta wises up. He needs to truly serve this tiger until the time comes, whenever or whatever that will be. "Yes, I find it to be a good idea. We mustn't allow them to get strong." Rakta says, "Forgive my loss of temper, master, still getting used to being second."
Ananth nods slowly "Shall I set out right away?" he asks, "Or perhaps, I would have more chance of gaining there trust, if I had information to give them, what that information is, I'll let you choose."
Perhaps sensing the change in his second, if not the undertone behind it, Dushta grins ever so slightly before turning his attention more fully back to Ananth. "Tell them nothing new, but confirm everything this Utkrosh knows, even the details the the bird may have forgotten. If you are very willing to give that information then they should believe your sincerity. Also tell them anything of the Ran Garjana's past that is unlikely to help them. That should be enough, and should not hurt us much more if at all."
Ananth the old tiger nods "We shall see if I can pull it off, if Utkrosh doesn't spread the word about me too fast. She would be one who won't trust me, she was alive during the war, and knows about me. If I can get in touch with the new generation, and gain there trust, I may have a chance. If you don't have any further orders for me I would like to get going." Ananth says, standing and stretching.
The old tiger nods "We shall see if I can pull it off, if Utkrosh doesn't spread the word about me too fast. She would be one who won't trust me, she was alive during the war, and knows about me. If I can get in touch with the new generation, and gain there trust, I may have a chance. If you don't have any further orders for me I would like to get going." Ananth says, standing and stretching.
Rakta looks over at Dushta, "With your permission, master, I'd like to send him on his way."
"Then get going," Dushta says with a note of dismissal. One might wonder at trusting someone he's just met with this sort of a task, but Dushta sees his second as capable even if he wouldn't follow him and he was certainly quick enough to want to send Ananth on this mission. "Just be cautious. We don't want this to bring us more trouble without benefit," he adds, seemingly as an afterthought.
Ananth nods, and with out another word, turns and pads off, heading north, as its the direction he saw Utkrosh heading. The old cat happy to have an assignment again. Though undercover work admittedly isn't his favorite thing, its still better than the monotony of just trying to survive. Ananth is a soldier at heart, and doing some kind of mission, be it fighting, commanding troops, or even this undercover stuff is better than nothing.
Rakta watches as Ananth stalks off. After several moments, he says, "Why is it that bird was so willing to give us such useful information, do you think, master?"
Baimei strolls through the jungle, the sunlight catching her golden pelt. Stealth? She has no need for stealth. Perhaps if she was hunting, but for now, she's simply bored - and tired of dealing with the cub she left sleeping in a hollow under a tree. So demanding. He had better be worth all this effort. So she's taking a break, and her steps end up bringing her towards the temple.
The question causes Dushta to scoff quietly, "I don't think that the bird thought of it that way. Either she has particularly loose lips or the Ananth is quite good at getting others to speak. I'm curious to see how warranted your faith in him is." It's then that the tigress's unstealthy movements attract Dushta's attention. Oh? What is this? He guesses that, based on her lack of caution, that she must be a member of this clan he now leads. Glancing back at his second he says, "Perhaps you ought to introduce us?" And, after all this time spent lounging in the shade as he talked business it seems that Dushta finally decides to get up. Enough to sit, at least.
Rakta looks over at the female. So brash to stroll so unstealthily, even amongst the rest. He stalks over to her. "Is that how I told you to move?" Rakta says angrily. "What if you lead our enemies to us, fool?"
Trotting, the Honey Badger has one of those unusual trots, it's almost comical if not for the fact it wears almost a constant snarl. This one seems to wander, having no true destination, and almost doesn't seem to notice it's closing in on the ruins, instead, occasionally it finds some thing in a burrow, and decides to try and claw it out, and when that fails, it goes back to trotting along. Indeed, the tigers aren't noticed, or if they are, it doesn't seem to rightly care, for now it's trying to find a way into the ruins, for more game to track.
Baimei laughs, staring back at Rakta with an even gaze, despite the smaller size of the female. "Why should I sneak around? Are you afraid of deer and monkeys, now?" she scoffs. "If you're so worried, perhaps you should go keep guard with the rest of your boys. As for me, I'll enjoy the sunlight."
"Well, that's no way to talk to a lady," Dushta says to his second slightly scornfully. And if he's not going to give him a proper introduction then he'll introduce himself. "My name is Dushta. I am now leader of this clan, as per his invitation," he indicates with a nod of his head in Rakta's direction, "And who might you be?" All of the sudden there's a high level of manners around this tiger - his mother /did/ teach him properly, after all, even though being polite is a skill that he's seldom had need for since leaving her.
Rakta was taught manners, but he understands it's more important not to be fully discovered before they are prepared to even defend themselves. "I apologize, master."
The Honey Badger continues it's pathing, which happens to bring it right through the tigers, which means it stops when it realizes some thing is it's path, and the firelight of madness boils into it's eyes as it expects a fight, fur raised, teeth bared at the larger critters. "This is my hunting grounds." It states firmly, beady eyes narrowing a fair bit.
Baimei tilts her head slightly to look at the black tiger as he speaks. Well, this is certainly an interesting development. And... he's the leader now, is he? Well, that is downright /fascinating/. She smiles to Dushta, and nods. "A pleasure," she replies. "I am Baimei." Rakta is now ignored - well, even more so than he was before. Now she's not even looking at him. After all, if he admits another tiger as master, why should she care for him rather than his evident superior? At the sound of another voice, her gaze flicks over to see Tanatra, then to Rakta - well, really, to a spot just over his head. "Missed one," she murmurs with a smirk.
Whatever Dushta may feel about the tigress's lack of concern for stealth doesn't matter to him at the moment because it's important at this moment for him to make a Good Impression. Once he's established himself, /then/ he may criticize and give orders about that sort of thing. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Baimei," he says with a nod and a small grin. It's then that the badger makes himself known. The small creature's statement first raises an eyebrow then causes a low laugh. "Well, that is a problem. You see, this is /our/ hunting grounds so either you will explain how you are mistaken, how you are one of us, or I and my second will end your life. It's up to you," he says, the grin that he was giving Baimei instead turning into a dangerous smirk. His decision to accept leadership over the clan has been a never-ending source of entertainment.
Rakta eyes the badger. What Dushta and Baimei may not realize is how much Dushta is being played by Rakta. Dushta serves a purpose, nothing more. As for the badger. "Master, perhaps he is one of them."
The Honey Badger doesn't seem to comprehend the fact it's out numbered, by things bigger. "I haven't killed and fed on Tiger in a while, we can dance this one before I go back to looking for snakes." It says, apparently quite serious, and the way it's sizing up Dushta, it's like he's done this before. "These are my hunting grounds till I leave them, and when I am done with your body, the others may feed on your remains, unless they prefer to feast upon the seat of your manhood." He quips, heckles raising further, but he doesn't look soft, or poofy, it looks more like a porcupine, a ball of stiff metal points about to explode in a shower of fury. "Now, either move aside, or I feed on you!" He insists.
Entertainment? That's rather Baimei's thought as well. To call her affiliation loyalty would be a joke. But where else can she get such a reliable source of fun? Why, simply needling Rakta, without any of the other opportunities, is enough to entertain her for days. However... amusing as it might be to watch Rakta try to fight the honey badger, that might lose her a toy, and she's not done with him yet! So she slinks a step closer, and chuckles. "Why fight /us/? We understand what it's like to enjoy bloodshed." She grins, toothily. "We appreciate it. Not like those weaklings that talk of peace and... balance."
Without even bothering to look at his second, Dushta tells him, "The sooner you stop mistaking me for a fool, the easier you'll make things for both of us." Instead his eyes are firmly fixed on the badger. At least, until Baimei speaks and he casts her an appreciative glance before turning his full attention to the badger, nodding thoughtfully. "She makes a very good point. And there /are/ three of us to consider. But in any case, I will not move from this spot except to attack you," he says idly, the smirk on his face becoming even more dangerous. Little does the badger know that the /only/ thing that has kept him from attacking is that he isn't quite sure what the others would think about his... tendency towards violence. Therefore he'd welcome having the badger giving him good reason to attack - it's always so much more /interesting/ when what you're trying to kill knows how to fight back.
Rakta says nothing more, just watching the badger. He knows they can be a bit of a fight, which is why it amuses him that Dushta is doing little to prevent a fight. Still, he can't let his arrogant tool get himself hurt. "Much as I would enjoy testing our respective strengths, perhaps you could be an asset to us. In exchange for free, unrestricted access to these hunting grounds... you act as our eyes and ears. No one but a fool would trifle with a badger if they are weak, therefore your movements could be unhindered by the need to remain... hidden. In short, in exchange for these grounds to hunt in and no trouble from us, you report everything you see to m... my master or myself." He looks over at Dushta. "With your permission, master, of course."
The Honey Badger considers this, it's an amazing display of stoic calm, for all the rage boiling away, it is because he knows nothing but the rage, that he can think things through. "I find this an amusing proposition, I can hunt on these lands, and kill those who would advocate peace to deal with outsiders, and you want me to report whom I've eaten." He says, heckles lowering a bit, not that the rage is diminished any, his species isn't known for lucid calm after all.
Baimei has no intention of fighting the badger - at least, not if it comes to more than words. No point in ruining her lovely coat with a useless battle. But words are one of her chosen battlefields, a lovely first resort. She laughs softly. "Oh, don't think of it as reporting. Think of it as keeping score! I know I'd like to see which of you does best - we can mark tallies on the trees."
"The only thing that you would /not/ be able to do is tell the tigers of our clan what to do. But we will also leave you alone, so that's fair, right?" Dushta adds, just to make that part of it clear. Baimei's suggestion actually gets a chuckle, "I would enjoy a challenge like that. But if we're going to do that then we should start with a clean slate to be fair - I don't suppose any of you have listened to the rumors told by the locals as of late?"
Rakta looks over at his 'master.' "Unfortunately, no. The Ran Garjana have only just arrived, after all, master." Rakta says, "Though apparently they had just recently overcome some weak clan, but you know this."
The Honey Badger watches with some captive attention, maybe he's curious about why the tigers are meeting here. "I wouldn't suggest meeting here if you intend to cause problems, any one can find the Ruins, they are not natural, and thus a landmark for prey and predator alike." He suggests, finding their place of meeting, amusing.
Not that Baimei is much for following directions anyhow. She turns her head at Dushta's chuckle, and then tilts it with an inquisitive expression. "Oh, I /suppose/ we should be fair, yes." Not that she's likely to be anything but, when she's the one with the power to do so. But her whimsy is hardly relevant. Rakta is heard, but dismissed - she's only recently joined with them, as well. The honey badger's suggestion does get a smile - after all, she didn't chose this meeting spot.
When he gets no positive answers to his question, Dushta chuckles this time, though it's just a little harsher. "I've got much of the rainforest talking about me, yet they have no idea who I am. I'd tell you what they're saying, but that would be bragging," he says, grinning at that but apparently that's all he intends to say about it. Instead his attention shifts to the topic of their location. "This place is ten fold more exposed than I'm used to. I'm much more accustomed to the darker portion of the rainforest just south of here past the cliffs - it's much more secretive. However, and this is an important point, a bird now knows of that location and this one and we have reason to believe that she will tell others. So it would probably be a good idea for us to move to a third place. I will listen to your suggestions." He has several ideas of his own, but he's used to not making himself as... comfortable as the others are probably used to.
Rakta considers this for a while. For starters, he saw what a deathtrap the temple could be, but also a good way to get the focus off him and onto Dushta. He could forget about this and think of other ways. Effectively giving away the clan to Dushta does the trick as well.
The Honey Badger slowly sinks back a bit, onto it's haunches, which is actually a rather comical position for some thing so stout and low to the ground. "Shall I go about advertising the Tigers are here?" He says, taunting a bit, his confidence is nothing short of astounding. "Things that do not wish to be easily found go to higher locations, many do not go into colder climates, and the more rock there is, the harder they become to track.." He suggests.
The dark jungle, is it? Why, yes, Baimei has heard stories from there. Evil shadow monsters, the darkness from before the world began come back to destroy us - that's what the little monkey-child she caught was crying about. He had fallen from the trees and had a broken leg, but he hopped so prettily. Especially when she had one paw on his tail. She takes a long look over Dushta's dark coat, admiring or considering, and then smirks. A shadow monster, is he? Well, perhaps. Certainly, things are likely to be interesting, with him around. Good. No reason to share that information, though - the others can catch their own squealers.
Eyeing the other tigers, Dushta narrows his eyes a little when neither of them seem to have anything to say. But fortunately the honey badger breaks the silence. And though the black tiger listens carefully, he is frowning. "I have been to the mountains near here. They are steep and difficult to climb - we would be too easily cornered there. But perhaps instead of going higher we should go lower. I do know of a place southeast of here, not far from where I was before but perhaps far enough that they won't look there. It's where the river falls into the lower part of the rainforest. And quite livable - if I hadn't liked the forest east of it then I might have chosen it." Having said that, he goes silent, probably waiting to see if anyone will object to the idea.
Rakta has no objections to the idea, save one, "How will our spy find us?" queries the tiger. He doesn't want to lose a good period of reports on their enemies simply because their spy cannot find them.
The Honey Badger cocks it's head a bit, watching the two exchange information. "Lower grounds will have more prey, but also, more that would listen to you, and you'll enjoy the flooding when it comes." The Honey Badger quips, to say nothing of odd ruins of strange things overgrown!
"The two of us will keep this area under surveillance at least for another moon," Dushta explains to his second, "If that bird did tell others that we were going to be here, then we'd be very interested in finding out who comes to investigate in addition to being able to greet Ananth when he returns." Then is attention is once again attracted to the honey badger, though with similar results: "It's only those who are alone that need to fear /everything/," he informs him, though perhaps the badger can't help it, being even more solitary in habit than a tiger.
The Badger's eyes blink once at the slight against him, though he doesn't bristle his fur. "I do not know what this fear is, if you experience it so, perhaps you should retreat to your mother's cave, and suckle her teats for the rest of your life, Tiger. It sounds to me, you are advocating others must feel this to sympathize with you, lost your growl, stuck with a purr Kitten?" He taunts.
To that Dushta does the only appropriate response to such an insult: he roars. It's the deep, loud roar of what is undoubtedly an /adult/ tiger, and those who know how to hear such things would note that it's also the roar of one who is strong and healthy. "I abandoned fear with my milk teeth," he informs the badger as he stretches into a standing position. "If there are no other objections, then we should disperse and regroup at the base of the waterfall. It's a pity those in this area are so paranoid of tigers in groups - this place would have been nice. I may not fear, but I know foolishness when I see it."
Rakta no longer has any issues. If they're going to be around when Ananth returns, then there really isn't anything to talk about. Then the honey badger cracks wise and it's all Rakta can do to keep from killing him for being a wise-ass. Note to self: Useful things are not for killing, they're for using, and *then* killing. "We fear nothing. We just know what may prove to be a threat to what we do. We can't risk being compromised before we're ready for even *one* plan, let alone a full campaign."
The Honey Badger gives off some sort of noise, it's laughing after the roar. "You are a fool, you were baited, and you took the bait, if there was others looking for us, they'd have found us, because you had to remind your self you were born male. You also gave some one you just met, the means to locate you, you told me where. This is perhaps why there is not as many tigers as Honey Badgers, we are not so easily baited." He says, not that Honey Badgers believe in being stealthy, they challenge every thing as a manner of living.
Smirking just a little dangerously at the badger, Dushta says, "Well, why not tell them I'm here? We're about to leave, and if that bird has already told them we are here then that will only confirm was is about to be outdated information." And that's all he says, because he's not going to dignify the badger's comments on the superiority of honey badgers with a response. And he trusts the honey badger to a point; the odds that the opposition will be able to talk the creature into being on their side seems small, and even so he's only taking minimal precautions because he only half believes that there might be a large enough threat out there to challenge them. And most importantly, he's not about to let something of so little consequence as a honey badger rile him up. "See you below the waterfall," he says as he starts to pad off - to the northeast. Obviously he's either not planning on going directly there or he's going the long way.
Rakta glares at the honey badger. As soon as Dushta is out of earshot, he speaks, "Don't think you can provoke me by provoking him. I don't trust you that far, but I do trust you to remember one thing." Rakta walks over to the badger, not threateningly, but definitely suggestively. Honey badger or not, there is an air about this tiger that even the badger won't be able to deny: This one is dangerous, possibly even more so than his apparent master. "When the time comes, I *trust* you'll remember who it was that assured you 'kept' your territory and act accordingly. I know badgers have a reputation for fierceness I can respect, but I promise you one thing..." And he gets *very* close, "I am a very dangerous enemy to have. Let's just say that one's greatest competition comes from your own kind, creature, and that I am to be *thanked* for removing some of *your* competition." With that, the tiger turns and stalks off... east, intending to cross a river and erase his trail.
Ananth - Male Elder Tiger
Rakta - Male Tiger
Dushta - Male Black Tiger
Baimei - Female Golden Tiger
Tanantra - Male Adolescent Honey Badger
Setting:
Cliffside Temple
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Ananth slowly makes his way up to the temple after an interesting chat with Utkrosh. It would be interesting to see how things went. There had been no point in denying anything, she had heard everything from the chat with Dushta. As he enters the area by the temple he looks around, his ears alert for any sounds the would give away another's presence, trying to see where the other tigers are, he knows they are here or have been here recently, their scents tell him that much.
Rakta remains hidden as always. One doesn't stay alive by just announcing their presence, especially if they're like Rakta and intend to make some enemies through his schemes.
While not exactly 'hiding', Dushta /is/ lounging in the shadow cast by the temple where his presence isn't made obvious by the sunlight. This is almost purely out of habit, however, as he's used to remaining unseen and even if it weren't for that the heat of the sun tends to bother him more than most tigers. He'd looked over the temple months before, but only briefly and didn't examine it very closely. Now that he has, he can see why other tigers would like it. It even appeals to him somewhat now that he isn't thinking only of what will hide him best.
Rakta actually has no interest in the temple. He knows that its far too conspicuous, but he needs to keep Dushta thinking its secure and a good idea. Anything to secure his power while enabling him a chance to eliminate this weakness.
Ananth sits down, looking around this place, in terms of tactics... it seems a bit to conspicuous. But its not his call, he could bring it up with Rakta, but he has a feeling he knows about it. What that tiger is planning he doesn't know, but he is content to just go along with the ride for now. As he looks his eye stops, hovering on the shadowy area for a moment..looking towards Dushta. He is easy to spot once you know what to look for. Then he moves on examining the rest of the temple, his eye stopping at Rakta's hiding spot this time. "You both picked good spots to hide." he purrs aloud, "But I just had a conversation with a bird you might want to know about, so unless you want me to have it out loud and risk more potential spies hearing, it may be a good idea to come together somewhere and discuss strategy."
"Come over here then," Dushta says, without seeming to think about it much. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to have to get up? No, there's more to his thought process than that, but as his thoughts are kept well under the surface there doesn't seem to be more to his decisions than that. To his credit, he /does/ lift his head and appears very interested in whatever it is that the old one has to say.
Rakta turns and saunters casually over to the other tigers. As far as he is concerned, things are going smoothly. Even if someone got wind of the Ran Garjana. "This better be good, Ananth."
Ananth pads over by the black tiger, and waits for Rakta to come over. "In a nutshell, Utkrosh, a bird who was a scout for the alliance against the Sahkt Nakh and a vital part of them winning the war, was in the area when we met and talked with Dushta. Thus I suspect she will try to speak with Bhata, and others to form a new resistance, soon. Maybe to strike before we are ready." he pauses briefly, "Though yes I suppose this was to be expected to happen, it still seemed like a better idea to inform you of this as soon as I could, rather than keep it to myself."
There isn't a hint of Dushta being even the slightest bit bothered by this news. Indeed, if anything, he looks mildly excited by it. "Who are the Sahkt Nakh?" he asks, also not disturbed by his own ignorance of the history of the area. In never applied to him before, but perhaps it does now if he'll actually be working with others. He glances over at his second in command whose name he still doesn't know, in case he has anything to add, but most of his attention lingers on Ananth.
"If they could be brought down by rebellion, they were weak and deserved their fate." Rakta says this so simply and so ever grumpily. "Fine, if they wish to spark a rebellion then we can use this to our advantage." Rakta looks at Ananth sharply. "You will go to them, since that damn fool made the mistake of telling you these things, you are going to become their 'friend.' Infiltrate them, pretend to rebel. We'll use whatever you can learn to make sure any plans they make will be foiled before they can even try them."
Ananth nods "That was going to be my suggestion, and I already implemented it. I can leave right away if you would like. When shall I report back?" he asks. purring slightly, planning, is what he is best at. "Might I suggest, If you have any birds as allies, that we make use of them. I have found them to be useful in the past, /if/ they are trustworthy."
Looking first at his second then at Ananth, the amusement on Dushta's face grows. "Isn't it a little presumptuous of you to be ordering him to go infiltrate the enemy without bothering to consult your leader when he is right here?" he asks the former, before turning his attention back towards Ananth, "And isn't it a little premature of you to be accepting those orders from him? Already it seems that my leadership is not being taken seriously. Here I have only asked who the Sahkt Nakh are, and instead of being answered my supposed followers lay plans without me?" Again, not the least bit of anger shows on his face. In fact, if one didn't know better, one might think that he's /enjoying/ this - there's an amused gleam in his eyes and he seems perfectly relaxed.
Rakta growls, but calms, and looks over at the black tiger. "What would you have us do, *master?*" Rakta says, annoyed. The tool thinks he is truly in power. "I know nothing of these... Sahkt Nakh other than they were destroyed. To me, that is all we need to know."
Ananth nods "Forgive me, I forgot to answer your question. More or less, they were a harem, devoted to there Raja, Vijayi. He got power hungry, and recruited other tigers, such as myself, when I was younger, to join him. As we began to take over, the Raja's son, and heir, Bhata, came to the conclusion he didn't like what his father was doing... and switched to help the rebels, and in the end killed his father. The Sahkt Nakh were disbanded, most killed, I and the few tigers I had with me, fought our way to safety, and have been living elsewhere for years, having made a home of our own far away. Unfortunately, a plague came through, and most were lost, so I came back here, as I knew it would be a safe place, and most that could have known me are probably dead. Though it seems the long lived birds are still around, and some remember me. Thus if I encounter them, my normal answer has been that I am an old tiger who just wants to live out his days in peace. Though it is anything but the truth. True warriors never tire of fighting, and I long to get back into battle, be in participating, or commanding others."
How his second responds to his question causes Dushta to give him a long, knowing look. He's not nearly the fool that one takes him for, but he has no intention of proving that yet. No, he merely wants the blatant subversion of his authority problem nipped in the bud - not a good way to allow things to start. Otherwise, he's in the mood to relax; he can deal with the rest later. Instead he listens carefully to Ananth, mulling it over for a moment before he responds with, "I see. So the older ones of this area will be rather sensitive to the idea of a group of us together. That could be problematic. However, I have been in this area, 'causing trouble' you might say for quite some time. I've encountered none that seem both competent and willing to oppose me, so we /should/ be able to crush them easily." He pauses for only a short moment more to think before he adds, "If you already have some of their confidence, then infiltrating them is a good idea. I want reports at least once a moon if you can get away without arousing suspicion - sooner if you find out anything important." Then he suddenly turns to his second and adds, "That is, if /you/ think that's a wise decision on my part?" Again, the amusement is there but behind him a black tail thumps the ground.
Rakta wises up. He needs to truly serve this tiger until the time comes, whenever or whatever that will be. "Yes, I find it to be a good idea. We mustn't allow them to get strong." Rakta says, "Forgive my loss of temper, master, still getting used to being second."
Ananth nods slowly "Shall I set out right away?" he asks, "Or perhaps, I would have more chance of gaining there trust, if I had information to give them, what that information is, I'll let you choose."
Perhaps sensing the change in his second, if not the undertone behind it, Dushta grins ever so slightly before turning his attention more fully back to Ananth. "Tell them nothing new, but confirm everything this Utkrosh knows, even the details the the bird may have forgotten. If you are very willing to give that information then they should believe your sincerity. Also tell them anything of the Ran Garjana's past that is unlikely to help them. That should be enough, and should not hurt us much more if at all."
Ananth the old tiger nods "We shall see if I can pull it off, if Utkrosh doesn't spread the word about me too fast. She would be one who won't trust me, she was alive during the war, and knows about me. If I can get in touch with the new generation, and gain there trust, I may have a chance. If you don't have any further orders for me I would like to get going." Ananth says, standing and stretching.
The old tiger nods "We shall see if I can pull it off, if Utkrosh doesn't spread the word about me too fast. She would be one who won't trust me, she was alive during the war, and knows about me. If I can get in touch with the new generation, and gain there trust, I may have a chance. If you don't have any further orders for me I would like to get going." Ananth says, standing and stretching.
Rakta looks over at Dushta, "With your permission, master, I'd like to send him on his way."
"Then get going," Dushta says with a note of dismissal. One might wonder at trusting someone he's just met with this sort of a task, but Dushta sees his second as capable even if he wouldn't follow him and he was certainly quick enough to want to send Ananth on this mission. "Just be cautious. We don't want this to bring us more trouble without benefit," he adds, seemingly as an afterthought.
Ananth nods, and with out another word, turns and pads off, heading north, as its the direction he saw Utkrosh heading. The old cat happy to have an assignment again. Though undercover work admittedly isn't his favorite thing, its still better than the monotony of just trying to survive. Ananth is a soldier at heart, and doing some kind of mission, be it fighting, commanding troops, or even this undercover stuff is better than nothing.
Rakta watches as Ananth stalks off. After several moments, he says, "Why is it that bird was so willing to give us such useful information, do you think, master?"
Baimei strolls through the jungle, the sunlight catching her golden pelt. Stealth? She has no need for stealth. Perhaps if she was hunting, but for now, she's simply bored - and tired of dealing with the cub she left sleeping in a hollow under a tree. So demanding. He had better be worth all this effort. So she's taking a break, and her steps end up bringing her towards the temple.
The question causes Dushta to scoff quietly, "I don't think that the bird thought of it that way. Either she has particularly loose lips or the Ananth is quite good at getting others to speak. I'm curious to see how warranted your faith in him is." It's then that the tigress's unstealthy movements attract Dushta's attention. Oh? What is this? He guesses that, based on her lack of caution, that she must be a member of this clan he now leads. Glancing back at his second he says, "Perhaps you ought to introduce us?" And, after all this time spent lounging in the shade as he talked business it seems that Dushta finally decides to get up. Enough to sit, at least.
Rakta looks over at the female. So brash to stroll so unstealthily, even amongst the rest. He stalks over to her. "Is that how I told you to move?" Rakta says angrily. "What if you lead our enemies to us, fool?"
Trotting, the Honey Badger has one of those unusual trots, it's almost comical if not for the fact it wears almost a constant snarl. This one seems to wander, having no true destination, and almost doesn't seem to notice it's closing in on the ruins, instead, occasionally it finds some thing in a burrow, and decides to try and claw it out, and when that fails, it goes back to trotting along. Indeed, the tigers aren't noticed, or if they are, it doesn't seem to rightly care, for now it's trying to find a way into the ruins, for more game to track.
Baimei laughs, staring back at Rakta with an even gaze, despite the smaller size of the female. "Why should I sneak around? Are you afraid of deer and monkeys, now?" she scoffs. "If you're so worried, perhaps you should go keep guard with the rest of your boys. As for me, I'll enjoy the sunlight."
"Well, that's no way to talk to a lady," Dushta says to his second slightly scornfully. And if he's not going to give him a proper introduction then he'll introduce himself. "My name is Dushta. I am now leader of this clan, as per his invitation," he indicates with a nod of his head in Rakta's direction, "And who might you be?" All of the sudden there's a high level of manners around this tiger - his mother /did/ teach him properly, after all, even though being polite is a skill that he's seldom had need for since leaving her.
Rakta was taught manners, but he understands it's more important not to be fully discovered before they are prepared to even defend themselves. "I apologize, master."
The Honey Badger continues it's pathing, which happens to bring it right through the tigers, which means it stops when it realizes some thing is it's path, and the firelight of madness boils into it's eyes as it expects a fight, fur raised, teeth bared at the larger critters. "This is my hunting grounds." It states firmly, beady eyes narrowing a fair bit.
Baimei tilts her head slightly to look at the black tiger as he speaks. Well, this is certainly an interesting development. And... he's the leader now, is he? Well, that is downright /fascinating/. She smiles to Dushta, and nods. "A pleasure," she replies. "I am Baimei." Rakta is now ignored - well, even more so than he was before. Now she's not even looking at him. After all, if he admits another tiger as master, why should she care for him rather than his evident superior? At the sound of another voice, her gaze flicks over to see Tanatra, then to Rakta - well, really, to a spot just over his head. "Missed one," she murmurs with a smirk.
Whatever Dushta may feel about the tigress's lack of concern for stealth doesn't matter to him at the moment because it's important at this moment for him to make a Good Impression. Once he's established himself, /then/ he may criticize and give orders about that sort of thing. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Baimei," he says with a nod and a small grin. It's then that the badger makes himself known. The small creature's statement first raises an eyebrow then causes a low laugh. "Well, that is a problem. You see, this is /our/ hunting grounds so either you will explain how you are mistaken, how you are one of us, or I and my second will end your life. It's up to you," he says, the grin that he was giving Baimei instead turning into a dangerous smirk. His decision to accept leadership over the clan has been a never-ending source of entertainment.
Rakta eyes the badger. What Dushta and Baimei may not realize is how much Dushta is being played by Rakta. Dushta serves a purpose, nothing more. As for the badger. "Master, perhaps he is one of them."
The Honey Badger doesn't seem to comprehend the fact it's out numbered, by things bigger. "I haven't killed and fed on Tiger in a while, we can dance this one before I go back to looking for snakes." It says, apparently quite serious, and the way it's sizing up Dushta, it's like he's done this before. "These are my hunting grounds till I leave them, and when I am done with your body, the others may feed on your remains, unless they prefer to feast upon the seat of your manhood." He quips, heckles raising further, but he doesn't look soft, or poofy, it looks more like a porcupine, a ball of stiff metal points about to explode in a shower of fury. "Now, either move aside, or I feed on you!" He insists.
Entertainment? That's rather Baimei's thought as well. To call her affiliation loyalty would be a joke. But where else can she get such a reliable source of fun? Why, simply needling Rakta, without any of the other opportunities, is enough to entertain her for days. However... amusing as it might be to watch Rakta try to fight the honey badger, that might lose her a toy, and she's not done with him yet! So she slinks a step closer, and chuckles. "Why fight /us/? We understand what it's like to enjoy bloodshed." She grins, toothily. "We appreciate it. Not like those weaklings that talk of peace and... balance."
Without even bothering to look at his second, Dushta tells him, "The sooner you stop mistaking me for a fool, the easier you'll make things for both of us." Instead his eyes are firmly fixed on the badger. At least, until Baimei speaks and he casts her an appreciative glance before turning his full attention to the badger, nodding thoughtfully. "She makes a very good point. And there /are/ three of us to consider. But in any case, I will not move from this spot except to attack you," he says idly, the smirk on his face becoming even more dangerous. Little does the badger know that the /only/ thing that has kept him from attacking is that he isn't quite sure what the others would think about his... tendency towards violence. Therefore he'd welcome having the badger giving him good reason to attack - it's always so much more /interesting/ when what you're trying to kill knows how to fight back.
Rakta says nothing more, just watching the badger. He knows they can be a bit of a fight, which is why it amuses him that Dushta is doing little to prevent a fight. Still, he can't let his arrogant tool get himself hurt. "Much as I would enjoy testing our respective strengths, perhaps you could be an asset to us. In exchange for free, unrestricted access to these hunting grounds... you act as our eyes and ears. No one but a fool would trifle with a badger if they are weak, therefore your movements could be unhindered by the need to remain... hidden. In short, in exchange for these grounds to hunt in and no trouble from us, you report everything you see to m... my master or myself." He looks over at Dushta. "With your permission, master, of course."
The Honey Badger considers this, it's an amazing display of stoic calm, for all the rage boiling away, it is because he knows nothing but the rage, that he can think things through. "I find this an amusing proposition, I can hunt on these lands, and kill those who would advocate peace to deal with outsiders, and you want me to report whom I've eaten." He says, heckles lowering a bit, not that the rage is diminished any, his species isn't known for lucid calm after all.
Baimei has no intention of fighting the badger - at least, not if it comes to more than words. No point in ruining her lovely coat with a useless battle. But words are one of her chosen battlefields, a lovely first resort. She laughs softly. "Oh, don't think of it as reporting. Think of it as keeping score! I know I'd like to see which of you does best - we can mark tallies on the trees."
"The only thing that you would /not/ be able to do is tell the tigers of our clan what to do. But we will also leave you alone, so that's fair, right?" Dushta adds, just to make that part of it clear. Baimei's suggestion actually gets a chuckle, "I would enjoy a challenge like that. But if we're going to do that then we should start with a clean slate to be fair - I don't suppose any of you have listened to the rumors told by the locals as of late?"
Rakta looks over at his 'master.' "Unfortunately, no. The Ran Garjana have only just arrived, after all, master." Rakta says, "Though apparently they had just recently overcome some weak clan, but you know this."
The Honey Badger watches with some captive attention, maybe he's curious about why the tigers are meeting here. "I wouldn't suggest meeting here if you intend to cause problems, any one can find the Ruins, they are not natural, and thus a landmark for prey and predator alike." He suggests, finding their place of meeting, amusing.
Not that Baimei is much for following directions anyhow. She turns her head at Dushta's chuckle, and then tilts it with an inquisitive expression. "Oh, I /suppose/ we should be fair, yes." Not that she's likely to be anything but, when she's the one with the power to do so. But her whimsy is hardly relevant. Rakta is heard, but dismissed - she's only recently joined with them, as well. The honey badger's suggestion does get a smile - after all, she didn't chose this meeting spot.
When he gets no positive answers to his question, Dushta chuckles this time, though it's just a little harsher. "I've got much of the rainforest talking about me, yet they have no idea who I am. I'd tell you what they're saying, but that would be bragging," he says, grinning at that but apparently that's all he intends to say about it. Instead his attention shifts to the topic of their location. "This place is ten fold more exposed than I'm used to. I'm much more accustomed to the darker portion of the rainforest just south of here past the cliffs - it's much more secretive. However, and this is an important point, a bird now knows of that location and this one and we have reason to believe that she will tell others. So it would probably be a good idea for us to move to a third place. I will listen to your suggestions." He has several ideas of his own, but he's used to not making himself as... comfortable as the others are probably used to.
Rakta considers this for a while. For starters, he saw what a deathtrap the temple could be, but also a good way to get the focus off him and onto Dushta. He could forget about this and think of other ways. Effectively giving away the clan to Dushta does the trick as well.
The Honey Badger slowly sinks back a bit, onto it's haunches, which is actually a rather comical position for some thing so stout and low to the ground. "Shall I go about advertising the Tigers are here?" He says, taunting a bit, his confidence is nothing short of astounding. "Things that do not wish to be easily found go to higher locations, many do not go into colder climates, and the more rock there is, the harder they become to track.." He suggests.
The dark jungle, is it? Why, yes, Baimei has heard stories from there. Evil shadow monsters, the darkness from before the world began come back to destroy us - that's what the little monkey-child she caught was crying about. He had fallen from the trees and had a broken leg, but he hopped so prettily. Especially when she had one paw on his tail. She takes a long look over Dushta's dark coat, admiring or considering, and then smirks. A shadow monster, is he? Well, perhaps. Certainly, things are likely to be interesting, with him around. Good. No reason to share that information, though - the others can catch their own squealers.
Eyeing the other tigers, Dushta narrows his eyes a little when neither of them seem to have anything to say. But fortunately the honey badger breaks the silence. And though the black tiger listens carefully, he is frowning. "I have been to the mountains near here. They are steep and difficult to climb - we would be too easily cornered there. But perhaps instead of going higher we should go lower. I do know of a place southeast of here, not far from where I was before but perhaps far enough that they won't look there. It's where the river falls into the lower part of the rainforest. And quite livable - if I hadn't liked the forest east of it then I might have chosen it." Having said that, he goes silent, probably waiting to see if anyone will object to the idea.
Rakta has no objections to the idea, save one, "How will our spy find us?" queries the tiger. He doesn't want to lose a good period of reports on their enemies simply because their spy cannot find them.
The Honey Badger cocks it's head a bit, watching the two exchange information. "Lower grounds will have more prey, but also, more that would listen to you, and you'll enjoy the flooding when it comes." The Honey Badger quips, to say nothing of odd ruins of strange things overgrown!
"The two of us will keep this area under surveillance at least for another moon," Dushta explains to his second, "If that bird did tell others that we were going to be here, then we'd be very interested in finding out who comes to investigate in addition to being able to greet Ananth when he returns." Then is attention is once again attracted to the honey badger, though with similar results: "It's only those who are alone that need to fear /everything/," he informs him, though perhaps the badger can't help it, being even more solitary in habit than a tiger.
The Badger's eyes blink once at the slight against him, though he doesn't bristle his fur. "I do not know what this fear is, if you experience it so, perhaps you should retreat to your mother's cave, and suckle her teats for the rest of your life, Tiger. It sounds to me, you are advocating others must feel this to sympathize with you, lost your growl, stuck with a purr Kitten?" He taunts.
To that Dushta does the only appropriate response to such an insult: he roars. It's the deep, loud roar of what is undoubtedly an /adult/ tiger, and those who know how to hear such things would note that it's also the roar of one who is strong and healthy. "I abandoned fear with my milk teeth," he informs the badger as he stretches into a standing position. "If there are no other objections, then we should disperse and regroup at the base of the waterfall. It's a pity those in this area are so paranoid of tigers in groups - this place would have been nice. I may not fear, but I know foolishness when I see it."
Rakta no longer has any issues. If they're going to be around when Ananth returns, then there really isn't anything to talk about. Then the honey badger cracks wise and it's all Rakta can do to keep from killing him for being a wise-ass. Note to self: Useful things are not for killing, they're for using, and *then* killing. "We fear nothing. We just know what may prove to be a threat to what we do. We can't risk being compromised before we're ready for even *one* plan, let alone a full campaign."
The Honey Badger gives off some sort of noise, it's laughing after the roar. "You are a fool, you were baited, and you took the bait, if there was others looking for us, they'd have found us, because you had to remind your self you were born male. You also gave some one you just met, the means to locate you, you told me where. This is perhaps why there is not as many tigers as Honey Badgers, we are not so easily baited." He says, not that Honey Badgers believe in being stealthy, they challenge every thing as a manner of living.
Smirking just a little dangerously at the badger, Dushta says, "Well, why not tell them I'm here? We're about to leave, and if that bird has already told them we are here then that will only confirm was is about to be outdated information." And that's all he says, because he's not going to dignify the badger's comments on the superiority of honey badgers with a response. And he trusts the honey badger to a point; the odds that the opposition will be able to talk the creature into being on their side seems small, and even so he's only taking minimal precautions because he only half believes that there might be a large enough threat out there to challenge them. And most importantly, he's not about to let something of so little consequence as a honey badger rile him up. "See you below the waterfall," he says as he starts to pad off - to the northeast. Obviously he's either not planning on going directly there or he's going the long way.
Rakta glares at the honey badger. As soon as Dushta is out of earshot, he speaks, "Don't think you can provoke me by provoking him. I don't trust you that far, but I do trust you to remember one thing." Rakta walks over to the badger, not threateningly, but definitely suggestively. Honey badger or not, there is an air about this tiger that even the badger won't be able to deny: This one is dangerous, possibly even more so than his apparent master. "When the time comes, I *trust* you'll remember who it was that assured you 'kept' your territory and act accordingly. I know badgers have a reputation for fierceness I can respect, but I promise you one thing..." And he gets *very* close, "I am a very dangerous enemy to have. Let's just say that one's greatest competition comes from your own kind, creature, and that I am to be *thanked* for removing some of *your* competition." With that, the tiger turns and stalks off... east, intending to cross a river and erase his trail.