:

feel the fire burning in my heart
"No, maybe I wouldn't know about being mean. Maybe I just don't know anything! Maybe you just like picking on new gembonds because they can't fight back. They just rollover and let you have at them." She growled, rising to her feet and fluffing herself as large as possible. Bluffing wouldn't work on this other, she knew that. The other knew that too. But that didn't mean a bluff, was always a bluff.

"And so, you really aren't as big and mean as you think you are," Lyra practically spat the words at the other cat. "You're scared and afraid, and... and... " She lunged forward with one paw, attempting a swipe at the other. "And I'm not gonna take it again!"

She felt the satisfying smack as her paw hit something, but only then did the enormity of what she had just done slap her as well. Picking a fight with an older, more seasoned gembond? She had to be insane to think she was going to walk away from this without retribution. She swallowed hard, and narrowed her eyes, hoping like hell she was going to make it out of this alive.

watch it burn you down

@Imperia

Imperia Don't ever do that again

Imperia's grin faded at the leopard's words, replaced with a scowl. How dare she say that they only pick on new gembounds because they can't fight back? That...was partially true, but only because they themselves were rather young! Once they were older, they'd be able to pick on more gembounds, older gembounds than newly hatched ones! Imperia was still small by older gembound's standards, and they wanted to be able to live to pick on others, thank you very much.

"What do you know about any of this stuff? As far as I recalled, you hatched not too long ago! How would you know anything? I'm not scared or afraid of anything!" A lie, but it wasn't as though that mattered. They themselves were still young, but as soon as they got older and got into more fights, everyone would fear them! They wouldn't have to be afraid!

Imperia's eyes narrowed as they watched Lyra lift her paw. As soon as they heard the smack, their eyes widened. But as soon as the pain registered, their eyes narrowed. He glared at Lyra, lips pulled back in a snarl, teeth flashing. "What," he growled, "did you just do to me? Did you hit me?"

"Oh Lyra, dear," he purred, but it was devoid of emotion, "I thought I taught you better than that! I thought you would have learned you should never hit me. It would only cause problems for yourself, problems neither of us want!" That certainly wasn't a lie. He didn't really like fighting gembounds who were just a mere 1 cycle old, especially ones he had watched hatch, but this one was really asking for it.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down. He wasn't going to fight her unless she did it again. But he could still send her a warning to never, ever, smack him again. He lifted a paw, claws sharp and ready, and gave a toothed grin to the little snow leopard. He then gave her a small scratch, just a little nick in the ear. Something that ought to hurt, but wasn't very much. Just something to remember him by.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Lyrastrae

 :

if there's anything i've learned from you
Her paw was tingling where she'd made contact. It felt like it had felt when the magic had begun trickling through it. But it wasn't magic this time. And as the feeling crept up her arm, causing her whole frame to shake, she knew what it really was, fear. As the other snarled at her, she swallowed hard. The bluff of size folded, and she shrunk as small as possible, hoping this very angry cat would not want to turn her into dinner, an "all you can shred buffet" so to speak.

She though about speaking. An "it was an accident" or an "I didn't mean to do it" but the two of them would know better. There had been no accident, and she had fully intended to take a swipe at the other. And as she watched, the other cat's eyes narrowed, and they raised their paw, just as she had. But Imperia's strike was far swifter than hers had been, and the damage far more noticeable. Her ear stung, and the metallic smell of copper filled the air. But it wasn't until she pawed at her ear, then looked down to see the blood staining her fur crimson that she panicked.

She whirled and fled, all clumsiness and unsteadiness mercifully gone as she skittered away into the darkness. She didn't even look back, hoping beyond hope that the beast she had met would not follow her. But she was afraid, and she would remember. And worse; she knew the other would remember as well.

it's better to run than be black and blue

@Imperia

Imperia Wait, come back; I'm not quite finished with you yet

Imperia sat and watched her run away for a bit, before deciding that she'd look a lot better with notches in both ears. So he rose and ran after her, able to catch up to her rather easily. He got in front of her, blocking her escape. "Hey wait a second, I'm not done with you." He lifted his paw again, claws at the ready.

His paw moved swiftly, notching her other ear. "There, you look so much better! Symmetry, lookit that. A much better look for you. I trust you won't forget me now, right?" A grin, as toothy and evil-looking as always.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Lyrastrae

 :

i'm running away again
She had no idea which way to run in the dark, everything around her suddenly felt like it was out to get her. Panicked, she randomly turned this way, that way. She'd be horribly lost before the end of this whole experience, and then, ahead of her, in the dark. Two glowing eyes, burning with hatred, burning with rage. She yelped wordlessly and flattened herself, but that it seemed was exactly what the other had expected.

Another swipe of the paw, another painful stab in her ear, this time, on the other side. Feeling the warm blood trickling from both sides of her head was too much. She found herself whimpering like a baby. The knowledge that her reaction now was the hoped for response was not comforting, only serving to deepen her fear and pain, and yes... just that faint bit of hatred towards this other cat.

"Then go away," she sobbed. ""If you're done, leave. Go away, and I hope I never see you, ever, ever again.

running until i can't run no more

@Imperia

Imperia Well, that was fun. Seeya~

Imperia nodded in satisfaction. She feared him. Good. That's exactly what he wanted. One day, everyone would fear him. They'd hope they never cross paths with Imperia, destroyer of the caves and those within. Really, the ones he's seeing now are lucky! He isn't near as strong as he could be. He straightened himself a bit taller, and then grinned down at the tiny cat.

"Alright. I will. And maybe we'll meet again, maybe not. But if we do..," he lowered his head to whisper in her ear, "then you'll wish we hadn't." With that, the caracal rose and began to walk away, using long and careful strides, walking swiftly but in no hurry. If he saw Lyra again, so be it. She'd likely be older by then, so he wouldn't hesitate to fight her. He could only hope she'd fight back.

-Exit Imperia-

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Lyrastrae

 :

i REALLY had the time of my life...
She heard footsteps approaching her and tried her best to compress herself even further, though she was already in a tight, tiny ball. She winced as whiskers tickled her ear, and a shudder ran through her at the words whispered so delicately. Then the steps again, this time receding away. She waited until she could hear the other cat no longer, then chanced a look. It was gone. She was alone. And it was time for her to get out of here. She rose shakily to her feet, and then took off in the opposite direction from where she had heard those footsteps. Hopefully, they would never see each other again, this time.

-Exit Lyrastrae-

let's do this again sometime... NOT