Post by Satya on Oct 4, 2010 19:52:04 GMT -7
Down by the mangroves, Raz the lion attempts to fish. The tigers Baimei and Dushta are drawn in, and then encounter another tigress, Aashni - and Baimei's cub, Tsuun.
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The thing about the mangrove, being where sea and land meet, is that it gives way to allowing creatures of land to hunt creatures of sea. Which is why, for the moment, the small, lanky form of a shaggy, barely-maned lion lingers here, peering into the water carefully as one paw is lifted over the surface, and he stares at something down below; tail twitching side to side. Raz does not look like one of those majestic beasts everyone seems to picture when they think lion; instead he looks like something that hasn't eaten a large meal in ages, and who's stunted growth and slightly mange-ridden mane gives the appearance of a dusty lion rug thrown out and given to suddenly walking about. The paw twitches, then suddenly splashes into the water, trying to scoop something out as it goes; and that something turns out to be ... A crayfish.
Baimei is out for a stroll, coming down from the deeper jungle. Her gold and white body is well-groomed, the orange stripes fading in with the fur and making her look rather unusual for a tiger. The mangroves get a curious look and a sniff, from her, and she continues onwards, slinking along the raised roots with a careful pace, and then gathering herself to leap from one set of roots to the next, coming around that tree and then pausing as she sees another figure up ahead, leaning in towards the water.
A sad meal this; but still, Raz drags the clawed water beast in to the shore, and then ducks his head to snap it up, crunching even the shell as he eats it in a few lazy bites. It may not be a preferable meal for a big cat, but when one is alone, one does what one must to survive. Ears lay back as he makes a face, finishing the meager meal off, and then his tail whips side to side, that dull tuft at the end seeming almost like a painter's brush plucked near dry of bristles. He sighs, and then shifts, moving down a little ways away from his first spot, and leans over the water again, one paw lifting, as he peers in, looking, watching, waiting. He hasn't noticed Baimei just yet.
Baimei takes advantage of being unobserved to take her time in assessing this other feline. He doesn't seem to present any real threat, but that's only the beginning of her considerations. A little desperate, perhaps? Definitely leaning towards scrawny. Perhaps he's too weak to bother with. But perhaps there are other reasons for his sad state... and perhaps he can be rehabilitated into being useful. Besides, she's curious what he's doing here, between the jungles and the oceans. All she's heard of lions is stories - and those, mostly second-hand. With a mane - even one that scruffy - it's clear that's what he is, but why here? So she pads a few steps closer, and sits, a pointedly casual pose. "Hello."
Ears twitch, and the paw, just hovering over another water beast, suddenly lashes out misaimed; catching only the tail end of a catfish, which flips up briefly, slaps the water and the paw trying to scoop it away, then disappears, as the fish goes down a hole. The lion utters a nasty curse at this, then wheels to look about for the one who just spoke, green, sunken eyes already full of annoyance. "You made me miss my fish, you-" he stops as he sees it is... a tiger? Hm. Something like that perhaps. Pale, light stripes.. Yeah, it's got to be a tiger, but. Why so... different looking. He stops his festering, and then licks the wet paw with a manner of feline 'grace'. He meant to look stupid there, honest. "Hello."
Baimei smirks slightly. She didn't plan for the lion to miss his prey, no. But it still amuses her to see it happen - and the way he suddenly stops with his tirade in disarray while taking her in. Oh, yes, she's glad she stopped by. Already, he's looking foolish and trying to hide it, and that's definitely a good start. Some might move into a challenge, from here, but she's less interested in that. Let him see that she is well-fed and relaxed, to put him off-balance in the conversation to come... and leave him wondering. "You're far from home."
"Far from home? Hardly." grumbles the young lion, a he sets the nursed paw to the ground, ears laying back a bit, tail finally coming to curl slightly at his hip. He dips his head, trying to look uninterested in her-- and really, he's not, since, well, she's a Tiger. as the bigger of two cats, she could easily chase him away, or threaten him. He has no desire to make her decide to do that. "I have no home. So the whole world is my home. Not that it matters much, I'm no threat to hunting stock. And I have no pride, so really, there's not going to be anyone moving into your territory, if that's what you're worried about."
Baimei stretches herself, slow and luxurious. She doesn't even respond to the lion, for a few moments, a carefully calculated insult in her silence - and then, just when the silence has gone on for long enough, she laughs. "I'm hardly worried." It's true enough - not only could she take the lion, but there are others in her clan who not only could, but would just for the pleasure of it. For that matter, Dushta would likely approve of a pride of lions. It would be a challenge for him. If Raz strays into that territory on his own, he's the one who will have to worry. What amusing times these are, when lions wander alone and tigers form groups together! "But then, the jungles are not a safe place."
"Nowhere is safe." Mutters Raz annoyedly, "There's too much in life that can kill you. Floods. Fires. Insects. Other predators. A hunt gone wrong. Not hunting at all. Life is Hell, and the sooner you realize that you're only a few steps away from whatever punishment the 'God', if it exists, deems you, the sooner you realize there's no real point except to stay out of other people's ways." .. Yeah, someone's a broody butt. He sniffs a little, then remarks, "If you aren't worried, then why sit here and talk to me? Unless you're trying to lull me into a false sense of security.."
Baimei chuckles softly at the list of various dooms and glooms. "Oh, don't worry. You'll be among the honored ancestors soon enough," she says. It doesn't seem like a threat, though; at least not an active one. She's still smiling, and she hasn't moved from her position. "Perhaps I'm simply curious. There are... as you say... many dangers. I find it wise to understand them."
"'Honored Ancestors', puh," Raz says, darkly, deciding for the moment that Baimei isn't as big a threat for now. Plus, out of the corner of his eye, he's noticed that catfish has come out of its hole. He slips to his feet, and turns to the water again, lifting one paw, ans spreading the claws and pads slightly in thought. 'What honorable thing have they done for me lately?' he muses, adding aloud: "If they are so honorable, why do they mock us down below?" He snorts again. "I do not believe there are 'Honorable' ancestors."
Possible threat later, versus possible food now. A quite understandable decision. Baimei smiles as the lion turns back towards fishing. "Why shouldn't they? Death isn't going to change their natures..." she replies, and then laughs. "They are honored, not honorable. If they were honorable, there would be no need to appease them. They'd be... kind." That last is practically an insult, for her.
"I'm sure that your ancestors don't think much of you either," Dushta comments as he abruptly walks into view, stepping past the last group of trees between the two other felines and himself. It is, after all, not a very difficult thing to sneak up on those who are talking - providing a sound that both indicates their prescence and muffles the sounds of his prescence. But fortunately for the lion he's a bit curious about him, so the dark tiger is more relaxed than, well, playful. "Who do we have here, Baimei?" he asks as he slows to a stop still a comfortable distance from the lion, peering at him curiously.
Another voice causes the lion to jerk in his attempt to catch the catfish again with his paw; this time sending him tipping slightly forward into the water, forcing him to catch himself with both paws into the shallows with a snarl of annoyance. His ears lay back into that scraggly mane, and he sighs, before turning sullen green gaze Dushta's way, blinking. Huh. First a mute (colored) tiger, now one dark as pitch. He snorts, licking water from his sparse whiskers, and then steps back onto the bank, shaking first one forepaw and then the other, scowling at the water, which is now devoid of catfish once again. He heaves a sigh. "Oh. So her name is Baimei. Whatever. You can call me Raz I suppose." He says, to both tigers, without looking at them. "And I doubt my ancestors even care about me, seeing all the trouble they've caused me so far."
Ah, speaking of threats, here comes one! Baimei laughs at Dushta's introduction. She'll deal with her ancestors when she gets there herself. Until then - well, if they don't like her, they should have had different cubs while they were still around. And then Raz tumbles - also worthy of a laugh. Today really isn't his day for finding dinner, is it? The laugh has turned to simply a smile by the time the lion has fished himself out and given his scowling introduction, and her gaze turns to Dushta. "He's a marvelous source of all the different ways it's possible to die," she says to the black tiger, and grins.
Though he doesn't actually laugh, Dushta's grin of amusement at the lion's failure might lead one to believe that he chose to appear then just for that effect. "I can see that," he replies to Baimei with a smirk, "I haven't seen a lion in this rainforest since I arrived. For good reason, I might add." Though of course he neglects to mention what that reason is. Instead he resumes inspecting the lion for a moment before adding, "My name is Dushta." He doesn't add to the talk of ancestors; if his are actually doing anything, then they're either helping him or their efforts to hinder him have been feeble at best.
"Dushta. Baimei. Charming." Sighs the dejected lion. Raz lays his ears back, before looking at Beimei's mockery and rolling them. Yeah, okay, mock him, sure, whatever. His tail flecks, and he remarks, "I don't know many of my kind, so I can't say I know where they went. I left my last 'pride', if you can call it that, after a fire wiped out the only member...s that mattered." His tail switches.. then he shrugs, and begins scanning the water again. "As I said before. I'm not going to cause either of you to miss meals. I'm not dumb enough to try and catch prey that'll outrun or outstrength me, like almost everything will. And I doubt you two live off fish."
Nor has Baimei mentioned just why the jungle is so dangerous. For all the times she doesn't bother with stealth, she still knows how to keep a secret: Carefully, and to be revealed for her own benefit. She nods to the statement about lions, though. Charming? She certainly is, when she chooses to be. This lion is weak, but at least he understands that fact; inferior, but not deluded. "No, we are not fishing-cats." She uses the word for those little flat-headed felines, the size of a cub, that tend to lurk around the edges of streams and fish. Hardly a compliment, to call a lion that. But not exactly an insult, either. "Nor am I worried. But you are an interesting figure, fishing-Raz. Almost comical." At least, if one likes sad clowns.
"Fish are not very interesting," Dushta says, not suppressing a slight wrinkle of distaste to his nose. /If/ fish care whether or not one of their number has been killed, it's not in a way that he's been able to see which makes them completely not worth going after in his opinion. "What /is/ interesting is that you seem to think that prey is our only interest or concern," he adds with a smirk, but he once again doesn't deign to explain himself. Instead he mulls over what the lion said about prey that can outrun or outstrength him - what a boring life this lion must have!
"Isn't food all that matters in life, anymore?" Raz asks, dully, looking both other cats over before he sighs, moving to stand. "I suppose in the end, though, you'll want me out, so I should probably move now lest you have to expend energy chasing me. Not like I haven't been ousted from somewhere before," He mutters, dipping his head, turning to walk. "Just once I'd like to find some place I don't get chased away from. It's annoying to kave to keep moving and find new things to hunt that aren't going to piss the bigger animals off.."
Baimei is still amused, but she's hardly about to pursue the lion is he choses to leave. As weak as he seems to be, it's not as though he's going to get far - she can always come find him again, if she's in the mood to hear more gloom. Unlike the larger male, Dushta, she does understand what it means to be weaker than something - she just doesn't let it stop her. "Chased away from? Why, who is chasing you?" she calls out, smiling. "We do not hunt fish. If food is all that matters, then there is no conflict, here."
The reaction of Dushta to the lion's gloom is similar to Baimei's: "Chase you? Now why would I do a thing like that? Have I ever chased anything out of anywhere Baimei?" he asks the tigress. Not that she's known him for long enough to give an answer that wouldn't be a guess, but he tends to catagorize creatures into those that are welcome to be around him and those that are dead. Allowing someone to live that he doesn't want around just isn't in his playbook. Then again, the privilage of being allowed near Dushta is something he feels that he can revoke at any time. Still, in this instance the black tiger looks far too relaxed to be planning on doing any such thing - in fact he chooses this moment to stretch a little, sit, and start grooming his forepaws.
Here, the lion pauses, and his tail sweeps side to side at the tip. "Well maybe not now, but from the way you spoke, well. 'Dangerous jungle' and all. It is likely that the danger is in larger cats, such as yourselves. And as you said again, 'Prey' is not your only interest or concern. Which means you likely do not want to share territory with someone , since you likely want to have a grasp of the land all to your own. Either that or you fear I'd try to make some.. move, or something on your... lady friend, and.. No. I won't, because, well. I don't really see the point anymore. I mean, I don't think I'm particularly admirable as far as genetic stock goes." He shrugs a shaggy shoulder.
Baimei laughs to Dushta, and nods. It's only a guess, but Baimei hasn't gotten to where she is without being good at guessing. "You do not chase," she says in agreement with the other tiger. She's got a suspicion, in fact, that having seen Dushta increases the odds of staying alive for the duration of the encounter. Nobody gets that good at stealth without practice, with or without a black pelt. And, forest-demons and ancestral spirits aside, there have been many rumors of death from the jungle - and few enough accounts of hearing from it. Turning her gaze back to Raz, she smiles. "I do not hunt fish, Yu-Chou." That last is from her mother's tongue, strange-sounding to most of those in this area. "There is no challenge. Why should I mind if they swim nearby?"
And here is where the conversation is likely to finally start to get interesting to Dushta, though the only sign of that is that he finishes with his paws rather quickly. "It's merely that recent events have made me more... defensive... than I'd like. I have no desire to lay claim to large amounts of territory, nor am I concerned about Baimei - what she chooses to do with herself is her business," he says, though it's not that difficult to tell by the way he glances at the tigress that he's at the very least attracted to her, "So I have no real reason to be concerned about you." Not that Dushta has taken trying to kill the lion for sheer amusement at some point entirely off the table, but then again he feels that way about nearly everyone.
Baimei takes those glances from Dushta, and returns them with smiles that provide assurance that she has most certainly noticed, and most certainly agrees that what she does with herself is her own business, but that perhaps she'll find her affairs and his coinciding at some point, and won't that be interesting? She gives her tail a flick, returning her attention to Raz, only to find that he's slunk off. Perhaps he won't go far - after all, the only threats to him have been oblique. Which, to judge from some of what he said, is an improvement from his past. "So. That... is a lion," she muses aloud.
The returned glances certainly please Dushta. Though at the moment he is still 'settling in' as it were, it won't be long until he can focus his attention on matters other than securing the clan's position. "Have you not met one before?" he asks idly, though his eyes remain fixed in the direction that the lion went for several more moments. In a way he's uncertain of this new leaf that he's turned where he /doesn't/ attack all those who see him - he's not certain exactly how much he likes it. On one hand it means his day to day life is far less entertaining, but the sheer potential of what he might do...
Baimei shrugs one shoulder slightly. "I had heard they kept more to the plains," is her reply. She hadn't actually met any, before now, though she'd heard the stories. Perhaps if she'd been more interested in the social relations of her extended family, before she left... or perhaps not. Lions have their small prides, and seldom look outside them. Just as tigers rarely join together in groups - and yet here she is, her territory overlapped with those of others until the lines have practically faded away from frequent crossings. She looks back to the black tiger, considering on him as he looks after the departed lion, and asks softly, "Where is the demon of the jungle going next?"
That's a good enough question to take Dushta's attention away from the departed lion, as first his ears and then his smirk turns in Baimei's direction. "Am I to assume that you've taken the time to listen to the local rumors then?" he asks, and though he clearly doesn't expect an actual answer to that the look on his face indicates that he's very pleased by those rumors. "Tonight I hunt. Tomarrow I talk to Rakta about better organizing ourselves - it wouldn't do for there to be some misunderstanding amongst ourselves that weakens us. After that, we can start chasing after these rumors of those who don't like the idea of tigers coming together to have a little fun. I haven't seen any signs of anything strong enough to worry us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't make sure of it," he explains, the expression on his face indicating that 'making sure of it' could be rather entertaining.
Baimei just smiles in answer to that question. Of course she listens; how else can she know what's important to who? All those little pressure points inside people's heads are even more useful to know than the ones on their bodies. A bite can only maim or kill. A word, oh, there's no limits to the things a word can do, if it's the right one. She nods as Dushta begins to explain. Actually getting the tigers organized may be a challenge, but... she'll let the males figure that one out. Just as long as they don't try to tell her to do anything she doesn't want to. As far as adversaries go... hmm. "There are the Do-Rakhanaa. They act weak, but they have strong bodies when they stop mewling and fight."
The mention of that clan causes Dushta to give a vague snort. "You'd think that if they were as strong as they're made out to be, they'd have done something about me by now," he says, "Likely since their famous defeat of that other clan they've grown weak - at least that I've seen. But we shall see - I am not easy prey for any tiger and I intend for the clan to be the same way." Not that he has any altruistic intention behind that - but if the rest of the Ran Garjana get defeated by the others then that destroys the whole reason he's putting up with them.
Baimei is hardly going to defend the Do-Rakhanaa. She knows something of them, yes, but she's been scornful of them for as long as she's known them, and that applies since she was a tiny kitten. She simply shrugs. "Weak? Yes. But they will think themselves enemies. Whether we swat them down, or simply ignore them..." She trails off, shrugging again. Her information is old, anyhow.
"I'm not in the habit of ignoring anyone," Dushta says with a grin. Swatting at the weak is one of his favorite hobbies, after all, even though it makes things far more interesting if they're more evenly matched. And so he sounds almost reluctant to add, "Besides, it would be imprudent for us to ignore them and allow them to gather strength. However powerful the Ran Garjana may become, it's always possible that if we allow enough other creatures to gather together that they could overwhelm us." But, to judge by his tone, that's only a remote possibility that he's only considering just to make sure he has every detail taken care of. He actually believes that it's more likely that the group will splinter because of internal trouble - but that could be rather entertaining too.
It is at that moment coming from the river another tiger. She might have over heard some of the discussion from the other two but she was not paying too much attention to what was said. When Aashani enters the area the female does not say anything at least not yet. It is obvious from the look on her face that she's not in the mood to be bothered by any one. Which unfortunately might end up being just what happens.
Baimei chuckles in response to Dushta's grin, the smile lingering faintly as he continues through about imprudence. Allies, yes. She likes having allies - even if she has rather different ways to go about getting them than the other tiger-clan. Perhaps she should lurk back into those territories for a bit herself - her brother is likely still there, after all, and he never could resist her when she wanted something. If there's information to be had... he might be a good source, and a useful tool. She says nothing of that for now, though, simply nodding to the black tiger. "Many things are possible. It simply - " and then she cuts herself off as she notes another tiger coming near. Conversation makes it easy to be snuck up on.
Indeed, the approaching tigress is closer than he'd like before Dushta detects her, but it takes only a glance before he sees that there's no harm done. There are some tigresses that are big enough or vicious enough that he'd want to keep an eye on them, but this stranger does not appear to be one of them. In fact, no sooner does he spot her than he moves directly into her path. He's not about to allow her to just walk through here unquestioned now that she's seen them. "And what brings you here?" he asks, his tone suddenly much harsher - one that expects a reply.
Aashni digs her claws in the ground, feeling frustrated, emitting a soft growl. "I was hunting for some food." She simply replies to Dushta. "Why what is it to you?" She asks in a angry tone of voice. Then turns around to try and go around the male so she can get back on her way.
Baimei simply stays where she is, watching, as Dushta goes to challenge the intruder. Much as she enjoys the Ran Garjana, she'd probably enjoy its collapse nearly as much. True, there's those she'd prefer to survive it intact, but... the organization itself isn't important to her. Hunting for prey, is the other tigress? What is is with felines today and this obsession with just finding their dinners?
The black tiger's long legs make it easy enough for him to match the stranger tigress's moves, and keep himself firmly in her way. "Who passes through these lands and why is very much my concern," Dushta replies simply, a hint of menace in his tone. Indeed, if he hadn't been in a relaxed mood when he spotted this tigress he probably wouldn't have decided to talk with her instead of starting with something worse. "So will you tell me who you are, or should I just assume that you're my enemy?" he asks, grinning at that.
The female tiger Aashni keeps her gaze fixed on Dushta as she digs her claws in the ground again, "My name is Aashni." She introduces herself. Then growls a little louder. "I do not want any trouble with you. I am not your enemy. But you might be mine!" The female adds as she tries to move around the male again trying to be quicker this time.
Baimei could come in and attempt defuse things. After all, they're getting more threatening by the moment. But then, that's not really a problem, as far as she's concerned. She'd rather enjoy the chance to see Dushta actually fight... decisions, decisions. She laughs at Aashni's final comment, though, and can't help but reply. "Are you going around collecting enemies, then?" she asks of the tigress, padding in closer, but off to the side a bit. She's not blocking anyone's path. She's just watching amusedly.
For all his size, Dushta is remarkably quick on his feet - something that has come in handy during any number of occasions, including this one. He makes staying in Aashni's way look easy; she'd probably have to pull some sort of trickery to get away from him at this rate. "Well, suppose I want trouble with you?" he asks, amused, and though that's a threatening thing to say the expression on his face makes it look like he's toying with her really. "And if you'd like me to be your enemy that's fine with me," he adds, completely unworried about that. After all, he's bigger, stronger, and most definately more dangerous than she is.
Aashni she turns her attention on Baimei first then says, "Maybe I should just kill you for that comment thinking. I am trying to collect enemies." Then turns her attention back to Dushta. "Why would you want trouble with me?" She asks then steps back. "I really do not have any where to go anyway and who are you any way? What makes you so tough?"
Baimei just shakes her head slowly at Aashni's threat. That's just foolishness - threats? Really? Claws are to be used, or sheathed. Not to be waved around if they are not to be used. She holds her position, and an even gaze, while she waits to see just how Dushta will respond to that question. He, she knows, does not make empty threats. Or many threats at all, save with claws and teeth and death.
There's something about Aashni's attitude that Dushta finds amusing, like being barked at by a puppy. He answers her last question first with only one word: "Practice." The rest he actually seems to consider for a moment before he answers, "And maybe you are in my territory, maybe I don't want others hunting around here, maybe I don't like your scent, and maybe I'm bored. So perhaps it would be a good idea for you to explain why I should let you live? And my name is Dushta." One might think that Dushta is confident in this situation because Baimei is there and could concievably provide support, but actually he is certain enough in his own abilities that he'd probably be saying the same even if he was alone.
Aashni shakes her head as she thinks for a moment then responds with a bit of sarcasm perhaps, "Maybe I want this territory. I think it might be best for me to stay if you do not like my scent. Then again maybe I should be the one to kill you here and now. I have killed and will do it again there is nothing like feeling others struggle as you kill them and sometimes even beg for mercy just before they die by my claws or teeth."
Baimei might provide assistance, sure. It's not outside of the realm of possibilities. She might also decide her forepaw needs grooming - and that one, for the moment, is the more compelling. She settles herself down into a seated position, tail curled up around her, and lifts up her paw to give a slow, lazy lick along the pads. She smirks at the continued conversation, the blustering back and forth, and then gives her paw another lick. At least this isn't another fish-eater! But just being a killer is nothing to impress the golden tigress - it's more like the necessity to begin the long rise towards only-somewhat-inferior.
An amused laugh comes from Dushta at Aashni's words; what can he say, he just can't help it. "Oh, you have killed before? Then please, enlighten me - how many tigers /have/ you killed before?" he asks, his curiousness getting the better of him. Though of course it's merely a guess, he rather suspects that this one's bark is bigger than her bite whether she realizes it or not. When he sees movement he glances at Baimei, smirking when he sees her licking a paw. Yes, he rather suspects that she only does what suits her - which is just fine with him.
Aashni looks over towards the other tigress before fixing her gaze back on the male, "I have killed at least 10." She says sincerely. "Some of them were adolescent's. Others were adult females." Then grins, "It gave me a wonderful feeling when the deed was done. Why do you ask?" Curiousity is getting the better of her as well. Then waits to see how the other two will react.
Baimei is assuredly still listening, though she continues to make a show of grooming her paw. She's curious as well - but why ask questions herself, when these two will tell her about themselves both in the questions they ask and how they answer? Aashni's answer gets an impatient flick of her tail. Such a waste. Oh, certainly, there's pleasure in death; but of all those tigers, surely at least some of them could have been used. And slowly tortured. But then, she's subtler than many. Including Dushta, to whom she looks over her paw, holding it like a lady with a fan.
Splish splash plop, playful little tiger. Slowly coming through the shallows, chasing a killifish along comes Tsuun, ever energetic son of Baimei. His ears back, his face in a playful 'grr', and his tail flailing side to side eagerly, he leaps at the small fish, with paws splayed, setting up a splash in the water. Being a tiger, there's no worry for this child of water; water is just another toy to him.
Hmm, ten is it? Then perhaps this tigress really /does/ have some bite. Still, it's about time she knew who she was dealing with. "Impressive," he answers, is tone suddenly a little less patronizing than it was before, "For myself I'm up to 23, but I don't count adolescents - they're too easy. And of course that doesn't include anything but tigers, and only the grown ones - otherwise it becomes a little difficult to keep track. And does something count as a kill if it starved to death because you killed it's mother?" He suddenly stops, as if mulling that one over, but he's soon continuing with a question, "And I don't suppose that includes any males?" While that's possible, he considers it to be unlikely from a tigress - male tigers are, after all, bigger and stronger than they. Then again, Dushta has proven himself that bigger and stronger need not win on a multitude of occasions.
Aashni blinks her eyes at the thought, "I have not tried to kill adult male tigers but younger ones yes. As for rather they starved to death because you killed their mother. I have not thought about that. If that does count then my count will be higher as well." Comes her sincere answer. "I do not know if it will be possible for me to kill a adult male. I think chances are higher that the male will kill me to be honest. But one can never know until you try. I do not have a place to stay. So I feel that you have to kill to show others that they better stay out of your way or they will be next." Then grins, "It also does not hurt if you enjoy the feeling killing them even if it is just for fun."
Baimei perks her ears at the sound of something moving through the water. Is this another intruder? She turns her head in that direction - ah. Just her son. She slowly stretches, and then rises to her feet, padding over to where the boy is frolicking. Fascinating as the conversation is - and lovely as it may be to get more details for her to get more details of Dushta's prowess, and the motivations that drive Aashni - Tsuun is her son, and thus has a much higher starting point for his status in her eyes. Chasing fish, is he? She laughs. "Got any, yet?" she asks him, a question brought to mind by the bragging of the other two. Unlike for the lion earlier, there's no scorn in her voice - Tsuun is still just a cub at play.
SPLASH. A large pounce, sending water pattering everywhere, and Tsuun looks up; not having caught the fish he was after, but instead-- ow, a crawfish pinched on his nose. He doesn't seem to care though, looking up to his mum with a grin. "I caught me a million billion." He boasts, before going slightly cross-eyes at the little freshwater lobster and with a 'Fuuu', he splashes for the shore, and ducks his head, turning it slightly sideways to pin the little pinchy thing under his paw an yank it off his face, leaving a bit of blood on his nose. He rubs the ose with the other paw, then leans in. "Grrrrrr. You should be a'scared a me. I killed a hundred thousand tigers this morning for my breakfast," he says to the wriggling shellfish.
"I thought not. To go after something that could more easily kill you than you it takes a certain amount of skill and courage - but it's a thrill like no other..." Dushta replies until his attention drifts to Baimei and a cub he's never seen. But to judge by their talk he's her son, which is a bit of a disappointment to Dushta. Despite what one might suspect, he's not the type to kill a tigress's cubs so that she will bear his own - he's very good to those select few he allows to live. It's a disappointment, however, as he finds Baimei more interesting than most of the other tigresses he's met lately. Ah, well. His attention drifts back to Aashni and he continues with, "Perhaps I could teach you a few things... if you would like to join the Ran Garjana? There are more of us than just those you see here, and it would give you an opportunity to prove just how much respect you deserve."
Aashni thinks for a moment before she says, "I think. I would like to join Ran Garjana." The tigress says. "Maybe there is still some stuff that I could learn from you Dushta." The female turns her attention to Baimeei and Tsuun then glances back towards Dushta. "It will mean a lot to me."
Baimei chuckles at Tsuun's boast. "That many, hmm?" she replies, smiling. "You've been busy." The crawfish flails while it's pinching him, but Baimei seems fairly unconcerned - even for her own son, she's curious to see how he responds. Overflowing with maternal sentiment, she's not. Her expression changes to approval as he tugs it off and pins it to taunt. She pads closer, and leans down, nuzzling between his ears. "Oh, yes, he should certainly be afraid of you. He thought he could get you, but you're stronger than him..." An echo of what Dushta is saying? A warning? Her attention seems to be entirely on her cub now, though, ignoring the glances of the other adults. "And now you've caught him. So... what are you going to do with him?"
Briefly turning into the nuzzle to complain, "Maaaaa, not in front of the prisoner!" Tsuun then looks at the crawfish, and narrows his eye, leaning in. "I wanna see how he works. I think I'm gonna take him apart, an' then I'm gonna eat him." he says, tail whipping across the water surface, before he climbs out, snatching the shellfish from the sidegrowth by the tail in his jaws, and creeping forward, looking for a nice flat place to lay it upon, so he may inspect it more. "I'm gonna make you talk, little pinchy."
That only causes a smirk from Dushta; but of /course/ he has a lot he could teach her and she appreciates the opportunity. Indeed, now that Aashni's situation is sorted out he's grown rather bored with all this standing around and talking. "I'm sure it is," is his only verbal response as he turns away and takes a few steps over to where the ground looks more comfortable - which means 'dry' in an area such as this - where he can lay down for a bit. But in spite of his intention to rest his attention is briefly caught by the cub. Well, at least if Baimei has a cub he's one the shows some promise. "I was exactly like that when I was young," he muses to nobody in particular.
Aashni turns around to face the other female and cub as well. While swaying her tail back and forth feeling safer than when she first showed up. Then her belly reminds her that she is still hungry. "I am going to go look for some food." She says then turns around and heads off on her search to try and find something to eat.
The corner of Baimei's mouth quirks up at Tsuun's rejection of her, a flash of pique - and then it turns back to a smile again. She'll let him have his dignity... this time. She's certainly pleased with how he's dealing with his prey. The crawfish flails in his grasp, in silent terror - maybe it can understand their words. Maybe not, and it's simply responding to being hauled out of water by something large and frightening. Either way, it squirms and wriggles helplessly. "If you want him to talk, you'll have to be very careful not to kill him too soon as you take him apart..." she tells her cub, and settles down with a smile to watch.
---
The thing about the mangrove, being where sea and land meet, is that it gives way to allowing creatures of land to hunt creatures of sea. Which is why, for the moment, the small, lanky form of a shaggy, barely-maned lion lingers here, peering into the water carefully as one paw is lifted over the surface, and he stares at something down below; tail twitching side to side. Raz does not look like one of those majestic beasts everyone seems to picture when they think lion; instead he looks like something that hasn't eaten a large meal in ages, and who's stunted growth and slightly mange-ridden mane gives the appearance of a dusty lion rug thrown out and given to suddenly walking about. The paw twitches, then suddenly splashes into the water, trying to scoop something out as it goes; and that something turns out to be ... A crayfish.
Baimei is out for a stroll, coming down from the deeper jungle. Her gold and white body is well-groomed, the orange stripes fading in with the fur and making her look rather unusual for a tiger. The mangroves get a curious look and a sniff, from her, and she continues onwards, slinking along the raised roots with a careful pace, and then gathering herself to leap from one set of roots to the next, coming around that tree and then pausing as she sees another figure up ahead, leaning in towards the water.
A sad meal this; but still, Raz drags the clawed water beast in to the shore, and then ducks his head to snap it up, crunching even the shell as he eats it in a few lazy bites. It may not be a preferable meal for a big cat, but when one is alone, one does what one must to survive. Ears lay back as he makes a face, finishing the meager meal off, and then his tail whips side to side, that dull tuft at the end seeming almost like a painter's brush plucked near dry of bristles. He sighs, and then shifts, moving down a little ways away from his first spot, and leans over the water again, one paw lifting, as he peers in, looking, watching, waiting. He hasn't noticed Baimei just yet.
Baimei takes advantage of being unobserved to take her time in assessing this other feline. He doesn't seem to present any real threat, but that's only the beginning of her considerations. A little desperate, perhaps? Definitely leaning towards scrawny. Perhaps he's too weak to bother with. But perhaps there are other reasons for his sad state... and perhaps he can be rehabilitated into being useful. Besides, she's curious what he's doing here, between the jungles and the oceans. All she's heard of lions is stories - and those, mostly second-hand. With a mane - even one that scruffy - it's clear that's what he is, but why here? So she pads a few steps closer, and sits, a pointedly casual pose. "Hello."
Ears twitch, and the paw, just hovering over another water beast, suddenly lashes out misaimed; catching only the tail end of a catfish, which flips up briefly, slaps the water and the paw trying to scoop it away, then disappears, as the fish goes down a hole. The lion utters a nasty curse at this, then wheels to look about for the one who just spoke, green, sunken eyes already full of annoyance. "You made me miss my fish, you-" he stops as he sees it is... a tiger? Hm. Something like that perhaps. Pale, light stripes.. Yeah, it's got to be a tiger, but. Why so... different looking. He stops his festering, and then licks the wet paw with a manner of feline 'grace'. He meant to look stupid there, honest. "Hello."
Baimei smirks slightly. She didn't plan for the lion to miss his prey, no. But it still amuses her to see it happen - and the way he suddenly stops with his tirade in disarray while taking her in. Oh, yes, she's glad she stopped by. Already, he's looking foolish and trying to hide it, and that's definitely a good start. Some might move into a challenge, from here, but she's less interested in that. Let him see that she is well-fed and relaxed, to put him off-balance in the conversation to come... and leave him wondering. "You're far from home."
"Far from home? Hardly." grumbles the young lion, a he sets the nursed paw to the ground, ears laying back a bit, tail finally coming to curl slightly at his hip. He dips his head, trying to look uninterested in her-- and really, he's not, since, well, she's a Tiger. as the bigger of two cats, she could easily chase him away, or threaten him. He has no desire to make her decide to do that. "I have no home. So the whole world is my home. Not that it matters much, I'm no threat to hunting stock. And I have no pride, so really, there's not going to be anyone moving into your territory, if that's what you're worried about."
Baimei stretches herself, slow and luxurious. She doesn't even respond to the lion, for a few moments, a carefully calculated insult in her silence - and then, just when the silence has gone on for long enough, she laughs. "I'm hardly worried." It's true enough - not only could she take the lion, but there are others in her clan who not only could, but would just for the pleasure of it. For that matter, Dushta would likely approve of a pride of lions. It would be a challenge for him. If Raz strays into that territory on his own, he's the one who will have to worry. What amusing times these are, when lions wander alone and tigers form groups together! "But then, the jungles are not a safe place."
"Nowhere is safe." Mutters Raz annoyedly, "There's too much in life that can kill you. Floods. Fires. Insects. Other predators. A hunt gone wrong. Not hunting at all. Life is Hell, and the sooner you realize that you're only a few steps away from whatever punishment the 'God', if it exists, deems you, the sooner you realize there's no real point except to stay out of other people's ways." .. Yeah, someone's a broody butt. He sniffs a little, then remarks, "If you aren't worried, then why sit here and talk to me? Unless you're trying to lull me into a false sense of security.."
Baimei chuckles softly at the list of various dooms and glooms. "Oh, don't worry. You'll be among the honored ancestors soon enough," she says. It doesn't seem like a threat, though; at least not an active one. She's still smiling, and she hasn't moved from her position. "Perhaps I'm simply curious. There are... as you say... many dangers. I find it wise to understand them."
"'Honored Ancestors', puh," Raz says, darkly, deciding for the moment that Baimei isn't as big a threat for now. Plus, out of the corner of his eye, he's noticed that catfish has come out of its hole. He slips to his feet, and turns to the water again, lifting one paw, ans spreading the claws and pads slightly in thought. 'What honorable thing have they done for me lately?' he muses, adding aloud: "If they are so honorable, why do they mock us down below?" He snorts again. "I do not believe there are 'Honorable' ancestors."
Possible threat later, versus possible food now. A quite understandable decision. Baimei smiles as the lion turns back towards fishing. "Why shouldn't they? Death isn't going to change their natures..." she replies, and then laughs. "They are honored, not honorable. If they were honorable, there would be no need to appease them. They'd be... kind." That last is practically an insult, for her.
"I'm sure that your ancestors don't think much of you either," Dushta comments as he abruptly walks into view, stepping past the last group of trees between the two other felines and himself. It is, after all, not a very difficult thing to sneak up on those who are talking - providing a sound that both indicates their prescence and muffles the sounds of his prescence. But fortunately for the lion he's a bit curious about him, so the dark tiger is more relaxed than, well, playful. "Who do we have here, Baimei?" he asks as he slows to a stop still a comfortable distance from the lion, peering at him curiously.
Another voice causes the lion to jerk in his attempt to catch the catfish again with his paw; this time sending him tipping slightly forward into the water, forcing him to catch himself with both paws into the shallows with a snarl of annoyance. His ears lay back into that scraggly mane, and he sighs, before turning sullen green gaze Dushta's way, blinking. Huh. First a mute (colored) tiger, now one dark as pitch. He snorts, licking water from his sparse whiskers, and then steps back onto the bank, shaking first one forepaw and then the other, scowling at the water, which is now devoid of catfish once again. He heaves a sigh. "Oh. So her name is Baimei. Whatever. You can call me Raz I suppose." He says, to both tigers, without looking at them. "And I doubt my ancestors even care about me, seeing all the trouble they've caused me so far."
Ah, speaking of threats, here comes one! Baimei laughs at Dushta's introduction. She'll deal with her ancestors when she gets there herself. Until then - well, if they don't like her, they should have had different cubs while they were still around. And then Raz tumbles - also worthy of a laugh. Today really isn't his day for finding dinner, is it? The laugh has turned to simply a smile by the time the lion has fished himself out and given his scowling introduction, and her gaze turns to Dushta. "He's a marvelous source of all the different ways it's possible to die," she says to the black tiger, and grins.
Though he doesn't actually laugh, Dushta's grin of amusement at the lion's failure might lead one to believe that he chose to appear then just for that effect. "I can see that," he replies to Baimei with a smirk, "I haven't seen a lion in this rainforest since I arrived. For good reason, I might add." Though of course he neglects to mention what that reason is. Instead he resumes inspecting the lion for a moment before adding, "My name is Dushta." He doesn't add to the talk of ancestors; if his are actually doing anything, then they're either helping him or their efforts to hinder him have been feeble at best.
"Dushta. Baimei. Charming." Sighs the dejected lion. Raz lays his ears back, before looking at Beimei's mockery and rolling them. Yeah, okay, mock him, sure, whatever. His tail flecks, and he remarks, "I don't know many of my kind, so I can't say I know where they went. I left my last 'pride', if you can call it that, after a fire wiped out the only member...s that mattered." His tail switches.. then he shrugs, and begins scanning the water again. "As I said before. I'm not going to cause either of you to miss meals. I'm not dumb enough to try and catch prey that'll outrun or outstrength me, like almost everything will. And I doubt you two live off fish."
Nor has Baimei mentioned just why the jungle is so dangerous. For all the times she doesn't bother with stealth, she still knows how to keep a secret: Carefully, and to be revealed for her own benefit. She nods to the statement about lions, though. Charming? She certainly is, when she chooses to be. This lion is weak, but at least he understands that fact; inferior, but not deluded. "No, we are not fishing-cats." She uses the word for those little flat-headed felines, the size of a cub, that tend to lurk around the edges of streams and fish. Hardly a compliment, to call a lion that. But not exactly an insult, either. "Nor am I worried. But you are an interesting figure, fishing-Raz. Almost comical." At least, if one likes sad clowns.
"Fish are not very interesting," Dushta says, not suppressing a slight wrinkle of distaste to his nose. /If/ fish care whether or not one of their number has been killed, it's not in a way that he's been able to see which makes them completely not worth going after in his opinion. "What /is/ interesting is that you seem to think that prey is our only interest or concern," he adds with a smirk, but he once again doesn't deign to explain himself. Instead he mulls over what the lion said about prey that can outrun or outstrength him - what a boring life this lion must have!
"Isn't food all that matters in life, anymore?" Raz asks, dully, looking both other cats over before he sighs, moving to stand. "I suppose in the end, though, you'll want me out, so I should probably move now lest you have to expend energy chasing me. Not like I haven't been ousted from somewhere before," He mutters, dipping his head, turning to walk. "Just once I'd like to find some place I don't get chased away from. It's annoying to kave to keep moving and find new things to hunt that aren't going to piss the bigger animals off.."
Baimei is still amused, but she's hardly about to pursue the lion is he choses to leave. As weak as he seems to be, it's not as though he's going to get far - she can always come find him again, if she's in the mood to hear more gloom. Unlike the larger male, Dushta, she does understand what it means to be weaker than something - she just doesn't let it stop her. "Chased away from? Why, who is chasing you?" she calls out, smiling. "We do not hunt fish. If food is all that matters, then there is no conflict, here."
The reaction of Dushta to the lion's gloom is similar to Baimei's: "Chase you? Now why would I do a thing like that? Have I ever chased anything out of anywhere Baimei?" he asks the tigress. Not that she's known him for long enough to give an answer that wouldn't be a guess, but he tends to catagorize creatures into those that are welcome to be around him and those that are dead. Allowing someone to live that he doesn't want around just isn't in his playbook. Then again, the privilage of being allowed near Dushta is something he feels that he can revoke at any time. Still, in this instance the black tiger looks far too relaxed to be planning on doing any such thing - in fact he chooses this moment to stretch a little, sit, and start grooming his forepaws.
Here, the lion pauses, and his tail sweeps side to side at the tip. "Well maybe not now, but from the way you spoke, well. 'Dangerous jungle' and all. It is likely that the danger is in larger cats, such as yourselves. And as you said again, 'Prey' is not your only interest or concern. Which means you likely do not want to share territory with someone , since you likely want to have a grasp of the land all to your own. Either that or you fear I'd try to make some.. move, or something on your... lady friend, and.. No. I won't, because, well. I don't really see the point anymore. I mean, I don't think I'm particularly admirable as far as genetic stock goes." He shrugs a shaggy shoulder.
Baimei laughs to Dushta, and nods. It's only a guess, but Baimei hasn't gotten to where she is without being good at guessing. "You do not chase," she says in agreement with the other tiger. She's got a suspicion, in fact, that having seen Dushta increases the odds of staying alive for the duration of the encounter. Nobody gets that good at stealth without practice, with or without a black pelt. And, forest-demons and ancestral spirits aside, there have been many rumors of death from the jungle - and few enough accounts of hearing from it. Turning her gaze back to Raz, she smiles. "I do not hunt fish, Yu-Chou." That last is from her mother's tongue, strange-sounding to most of those in this area. "There is no challenge. Why should I mind if they swim nearby?"
And here is where the conversation is likely to finally start to get interesting to Dushta, though the only sign of that is that he finishes with his paws rather quickly. "It's merely that recent events have made me more... defensive... than I'd like. I have no desire to lay claim to large amounts of territory, nor am I concerned about Baimei - what she chooses to do with herself is her business," he says, though it's not that difficult to tell by the way he glances at the tigress that he's at the very least attracted to her, "So I have no real reason to be concerned about you." Not that Dushta has taken trying to kill the lion for sheer amusement at some point entirely off the table, but then again he feels that way about nearly everyone.
Baimei takes those glances from Dushta, and returns them with smiles that provide assurance that she has most certainly noticed, and most certainly agrees that what she does with herself is her own business, but that perhaps she'll find her affairs and his coinciding at some point, and won't that be interesting? She gives her tail a flick, returning her attention to Raz, only to find that he's slunk off. Perhaps he won't go far - after all, the only threats to him have been oblique. Which, to judge from some of what he said, is an improvement from his past. "So. That... is a lion," she muses aloud.
The returned glances certainly please Dushta. Though at the moment he is still 'settling in' as it were, it won't be long until he can focus his attention on matters other than securing the clan's position. "Have you not met one before?" he asks idly, though his eyes remain fixed in the direction that the lion went for several more moments. In a way he's uncertain of this new leaf that he's turned where he /doesn't/ attack all those who see him - he's not certain exactly how much he likes it. On one hand it means his day to day life is far less entertaining, but the sheer potential of what he might do...
Baimei shrugs one shoulder slightly. "I had heard they kept more to the plains," is her reply. She hadn't actually met any, before now, though she'd heard the stories. Perhaps if she'd been more interested in the social relations of her extended family, before she left... or perhaps not. Lions have their small prides, and seldom look outside them. Just as tigers rarely join together in groups - and yet here she is, her territory overlapped with those of others until the lines have practically faded away from frequent crossings. She looks back to the black tiger, considering on him as he looks after the departed lion, and asks softly, "Where is the demon of the jungle going next?"
That's a good enough question to take Dushta's attention away from the departed lion, as first his ears and then his smirk turns in Baimei's direction. "Am I to assume that you've taken the time to listen to the local rumors then?" he asks, and though he clearly doesn't expect an actual answer to that the look on his face indicates that he's very pleased by those rumors. "Tonight I hunt. Tomarrow I talk to Rakta about better organizing ourselves - it wouldn't do for there to be some misunderstanding amongst ourselves that weakens us. After that, we can start chasing after these rumors of those who don't like the idea of tigers coming together to have a little fun. I haven't seen any signs of anything strong enough to worry us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't make sure of it," he explains, the expression on his face indicating that 'making sure of it' could be rather entertaining.
Baimei just smiles in answer to that question. Of course she listens; how else can she know what's important to who? All those little pressure points inside people's heads are even more useful to know than the ones on their bodies. A bite can only maim or kill. A word, oh, there's no limits to the things a word can do, if it's the right one. She nods as Dushta begins to explain. Actually getting the tigers organized may be a challenge, but... she'll let the males figure that one out. Just as long as they don't try to tell her to do anything she doesn't want to. As far as adversaries go... hmm. "There are the Do-Rakhanaa. They act weak, but they have strong bodies when they stop mewling and fight."
The mention of that clan causes Dushta to give a vague snort. "You'd think that if they were as strong as they're made out to be, they'd have done something about me by now," he says, "Likely since their famous defeat of that other clan they've grown weak - at least that I've seen. But we shall see - I am not easy prey for any tiger and I intend for the clan to be the same way." Not that he has any altruistic intention behind that - but if the rest of the Ran Garjana get defeated by the others then that destroys the whole reason he's putting up with them.
Baimei is hardly going to defend the Do-Rakhanaa. She knows something of them, yes, but she's been scornful of them for as long as she's known them, and that applies since she was a tiny kitten. She simply shrugs. "Weak? Yes. But they will think themselves enemies. Whether we swat them down, or simply ignore them..." She trails off, shrugging again. Her information is old, anyhow.
"I'm not in the habit of ignoring anyone," Dushta says with a grin. Swatting at the weak is one of his favorite hobbies, after all, even though it makes things far more interesting if they're more evenly matched. And so he sounds almost reluctant to add, "Besides, it would be imprudent for us to ignore them and allow them to gather strength. However powerful the Ran Garjana may become, it's always possible that if we allow enough other creatures to gather together that they could overwhelm us." But, to judge by his tone, that's only a remote possibility that he's only considering just to make sure he has every detail taken care of. He actually believes that it's more likely that the group will splinter because of internal trouble - but that could be rather entertaining too.
It is at that moment coming from the river another tiger. She might have over heard some of the discussion from the other two but she was not paying too much attention to what was said. When Aashani enters the area the female does not say anything at least not yet. It is obvious from the look on her face that she's not in the mood to be bothered by any one. Which unfortunately might end up being just what happens.
Baimei chuckles in response to Dushta's grin, the smile lingering faintly as he continues through about imprudence. Allies, yes. She likes having allies - even if she has rather different ways to go about getting them than the other tiger-clan. Perhaps she should lurk back into those territories for a bit herself - her brother is likely still there, after all, and he never could resist her when she wanted something. If there's information to be had... he might be a good source, and a useful tool. She says nothing of that for now, though, simply nodding to the black tiger. "Many things are possible. It simply - " and then she cuts herself off as she notes another tiger coming near. Conversation makes it easy to be snuck up on.
Indeed, the approaching tigress is closer than he'd like before Dushta detects her, but it takes only a glance before he sees that there's no harm done. There are some tigresses that are big enough or vicious enough that he'd want to keep an eye on them, but this stranger does not appear to be one of them. In fact, no sooner does he spot her than he moves directly into her path. He's not about to allow her to just walk through here unquestioned now that she's seen them. "And what brings you here?" he asks, his tone suddenly much harsher - one that expects a reply.
Aashni digs her claws in the ground, feeling frustrated, emitting a soft growl. "I was hunting for some food." She simply replies to Dushta. "Why what is it to you?" She asks in a angry tone of voice. Then turns around to try and go around the male so she can get back on her way.
Baimei simply stays where she is, watching, as Dushta goes to challenge the intruder. Much as she enjoys the Ran Garjana, she'd probably enjoy its collapse nearly as much. True, there's those she'd prefer to survive it intact, but... the organization itself isn't important to her. Hunting for prey, is the other tigress? What is is with felines today and this obsession with just finding their dinners?
The black tiger's long legs make it easy enough for him to match the stranger tigress's moves, and keep himself firmly in her way. "Who passes through these lands and why is very much my concern," Dushta replies simply, a hint of menace in his tone. Indeed, if he hadn't been in a relaxed mood when he spotted this tigress he probably wouldn't have decided to talk with her instead of starting with something worse. "So will you tell me who you are, or should I just assume that you're my enemy?" he asks, grinning at that.
The female tiger Aashni keeps her gaze fixed on Dushta as she digs her claws in the ground again, "My name is Aashni." She introduces herself. Then growls a little louder. "I do not want any trouble with you. I am not your enemy. But you might be mine!" The female adds as she tries to move around the male again trying to be quicker this time.
Baimei could come in and attempt defuse things. After all, they're getting more threatening by the moment. But then, that's not really a problem, as far as she's concerned. She'd rather enjoy the chance to see Dushta actually fight... decisions, decisions. She laughs at Aashni's final comment, though, and can't help but reply. "Are you going around collecting enemies, then?" she asks of the tigress, padding in closer, but off to the side a bit. She's not blocking anyone's path. She's just watching amusedly.
For all his size, Dushta is remarkably quick on his feet - something that has come in handy during any number of occasions, including this one. He makes staying in Aashni's way look easy; she'd probably have to pull some sort of trickery to get away from him at this rate. "Well, suppose I want trouble with you?" he asks, amused, and though that's a threatening thing to say the expression on his face makes it look like he's toying with her really. "And if you'd like me to be your enemy that's fine with me," he adds, completely unworried about that. After all, he's bigger, stronger, and most definately more dangerous than she is.
Aashni she turns her attention on Baimei first then says, "Maybe I should just kill you for that comment thinking. I am trying to collect enemies." Then turns her attention back to Dushta. "Why would you want trouble with me?" She asks then steps back. "I really do not have any where to go anyway and who are you any way? What makes you so tough?"
Baimei just shakes her head slowly at Aashni's threat. That's just foolishness - threats? Really? Claws are to be used, or sheathed. Not to be waved around if they are not to be used. She holds her position, and an even gaze, while she waits to see just how Dushta will respond to that question. He, she knows, does not make empty threats. Or many threats at all, save with claws and teeth and death.
There's something about Aashni's attitude that Dushta finds amusing, like being barked at by a puppy. He answers her last question first with only one word: "Practice." The rest he actually seems to consider for a moment before he answers, "And maybe you are in my territory, maybe I don't want others hunting around here, maybe I don't like your scent, and maybe I'm bored. So perhaps it would be a good idea for you to explain why I should let you live? And my name is Dushta." One might think that Dushta is confident in this situation because Baimei is there and could concievably provide support, but actually he is certain enough in his own abilities that he'd probably be saying the same even if he was alone.
Aashni shakes her head as she thinks for a moment then responds with a bit of sarcasm perhaps, "Maybe I want this territory. I think it might be best for me to stay if you do not like my scent. Then again maybe I should be the one to kill you here and now. I have killed and will do it again there is nothing like feeling others struggle as you kill them and sometimes even beg for mercy just before they die by my claws or teeth."
Baimei might provide assistance, sure. It's not outside of the realm of possibilities. She might also decide her forepaw needs grooming - and that one, for the moment, is the more compelling. She settles herself down into a seated position, tail curled up around her, and lifts up her paw to give a slow, lazy lick along the pads. She smirks at the continued conversation, the blustering back and forth, and then gives her paw another lick. At least this isn't another fish-eater! But just being a killer is nothing to impress the golden tigress - it's more like the necessity to begin the long rise towards only-somewhat-inferior.
An amused laugh comes from Dushta at Aashni's words; what can he say, he just can't help it. "Oh, you have killed before? Then please, enlighten me - how many tigers /have/ you killed before?" he asks, his curiousness getting the better of him. Though of course it's merely a guess, he rather suspects that this one's bark is bigger than her bite whether she realizes it or not. When he sees movement he glances at Baimei, smirking when he sees her licking a paw. Yes, he rather suspects that she only does what suits her - which is just fine with him.
Aashni looks over towards the other tigress before fixing her gaze back on the male, "I have killed at least 10." She says sincerely. "Some of them were adolescent's. Others were adult females." Then grins, "It gave me a wonderful feeling when the deed was done. Why do you ask?" Curiousity is getting the better of her as well. Then waits to see how the other two will react.
Baimei is assuredly still listening, though she continues to make a show of grooming her paw. She's curious as well - but why ask questions herself, when these two will tell her about themselves both in the questions they ask and how they answer? Aashni's answer gets an impatient flick of her tail. Such a waste. Oh, certainly, there's pleasure in death; but of all those tigers, surely at least some of them could have been used. And slowly tortured. But then, she's subtler than many. Including Dushta, to whom she looks over her paw, holding it like a lady with a fan.
Splish splash plop, playful little tiger. Slowly coming through the shallows, chasing a killifish along comes Tsuun, ever energetic son of Baimei. His ears back, his face in a playful 'grr', and his tail flailing side to side eagerly, he leaps at the small fish, with paws splayed, setting up a splash in the water. Being a tiger, there's no worry for this child of water; water is just another toy to him.
Hmm, ten is it? Then perhaps this tigress really /does/ have some bite. Still, it's about time she knew who she was dealing with. "Impressive," he answers, is tone suddenly a little less patronizing than it was before, "For myself I'm up to 23, but I don't count adolescents - they're too easy. And of course that doesn't include anything but tigers, and only the grown ones - otherwise it becomes a little difficult to keep track. And does something count as a kill if it starved to death because you killed it's mother?" He suddenly stops, as if mulling that one over, but he's soon continuing with a question, "And I don't suppose that includes any males?" While that's possible, he considers it to be unlikely from a tigress - male tigers are, after all, bigger and stronger than they. Then again, Dushta has proven himself that bigger and stronger need not win on a multitude of occasions.
Aashni blinks her eyes at the thought, "I have not tried to kill adult male tigers but younger ones yes. As for rather they starved to death because you killed their mother. I have not thought about that. If that does count then my count will be higher as well." Comes her sincere answer. "I do not know if it will be possible for me to kill a adult male. I think chances are higher that the male will kill me to be honest. But one can never know until you try. I do not have a place to stay. So I feel that you have to kill to show others that they better stay out of your way or they will be next." Then grins, "It also does not hurt if you enjoy the feeling killing them even if it is just for fun."
Baimei perks her ears at the sound of something moving through the water. Is this another intruder? She turns her head in that direction - ah. Just her son. She slowly stretches, and then rises to her feet, padding over to where the boy is frolicking. Fascinating as the conversation is - and lovely as it may be to get more details for her to get more details of Dushta's prowess, and the motivations that drive Aashni - Tsuun is her son, and thus has a much higher starting point for his status in her eyes. Chasing fish, is he? She laughs. "Got any, yet?" she asks him, a question brought to mind by the bragging of the other two. Unlike for the lion earlier, there's no scorn in her voice - Tsuun is still just a cub at play.
SPLASH. A large pounce, sending water pattering everywhere, and Tsuun looks up; not having caught the fish he was after, but instead-- ow, a crawfish pinched on his nose. He doesn't seem to care though, looking up to his mum with a grin. "I caught me a million billion." He boasts, before going slightly cross-eyes at the little freshwater lobster and with a 'Fuuu', he splashes for the shore, and ducks his head, turning it slightly sideways to pin the little pinchy thing under his paw an yank it off his face, leaving a bit of blood on his nose. He rubs the ose with the other paw, then leans in. "Grrrrrr. You should be a'scared a me. I killed a hundred thousand tigers this morning for my breakfast," he says to the wriggling shellfish.
"I thought not. To go after something that could more easily kill you than you it takes a certain amount of skill and courage - but it's a thrill like no other..." Dushta replies until his attention drifts to Baimei and a cub he's never seen. But to judge by their talk he's her son, which is a bit of a disappointment to Dushta. Despite what one might suspect, he's not the type to kill a tigress's cubs so that she will bear his own - he's very good to those select few he allows to live. It's a disappointment, however, as he finds Baimei more interesting than most of the other tigresses he's met lately. Ah, well. His attention drifts back to Aashni and he continues with, "Perhaps I could teach you a few things... if you would like to join the Ran Garjana? There are more of us than just those you see here, and it would give you an opportunity to prove just how much respect you deserve."
Aashni thinks for a moment before she says, "I think. I would like to join Ran Garjana." The tigress says. "Maybe there is still some stuff that I could learn from you Dushta." The female turns her attention to Baimeei and Tsuun then glances back towards Dushta. "It will mean a lot to me."
Baimei chuckles at Tsuun's boast. "That many, hmm?" she replies, smiling. "You've been busy." The crawfish flails while it's pinching him, but Baimei seems fairly unconcerned - even for her own son, she's curious to see how he responds. Overflowing with maternal sentiment, she's not. Her expression changes to approval as he tugs it off and pins it to taunt. She pads closer, and leans down, nuzzling between his ears. "Oh, yes, he should certainly be afraid of you. He thought he could get you, but you're stronger than him..." An echo of what Dushta is saying? A warning? Her attention seems to be entirely on her cub now, though, ignoring the glances of the other adults. "And now you've caught him. So... what are you going to do with him?"
Briefly turning into the nuzzle to complain, "Maaaaa, not in front of the prisoner!" Tsuun then looks at the crawfish, and narrows his eye, leaning in. "I wanna see how he works. I think I'm gonna take him apart, an' then I'm gonna eat him." he says, tail whipping across the water surface, before he climbs out, snatching the shellfish from the sidegrowth by the tail in his jaws, and creeping forward, looking for a nice flat place to lay it upon, so he may inspect it more. "I'm gonna make you talk, little pinchy."
That only causes a smirk from Dushta; but of /course/ he has a lot he could teach her and she appreciates the opportunity. Indeed, now that Aashni's situation is sorted out he's grown rather bored with all this standing around and talking. "I'm sure it is," is his only verbal response as he turns away and takes a few steps over to where the ground looks more comfortable - which means 'dry' in an area such as this - where he can lay down for a bit. But in spite of his intention to rest his attention is briefly caught by the cub. Well, at least if Baimei has a cub he's one the shows some promise. "I was exactly like that when I was young," he muses to nobody in particular.
Aashni turns around to face the other female and cub as well. While swaying her tail back and forth feeling safer than when she first showed up. Then her belly reminds her that she is still hungry. "I am going to go look for some food." She says then turns around and heads off on her search to try and find something to eat.
The corner of Baimei's mouth quirks up at Tsuun's rejection of her, a flash of pique - and then it turns back to a smile again. She'll let him have his dignity... this time. She's certainly pleased with how he's dealing with his prey. The crawfish flails in his grasp, in silent terror - maybe it can understand their words. Maybe not, and it's simply responding to being hauled out of water by something large and frightening. Either way, it squirms and wriggles helplessly. "If you want him to talk, you'll have to be very careful not to kill him too soon as you take him apart..." she tells her cub, and settles down with a smile to watch.