Username: hawkfire102
Lion name: Infernus
Lion gender: Male
Pride: The Howling Crags PridePride status: The Guardian
THE CHALLENGEInfernus wants to challenge Brone because of his hypocrisy. Years ago when Infernus was a little cub, he was picked on for his size. He had three aggressors that tormented him ruthlessly. His cries and pleads for help were overlooked for years by his parents, his friends, his pride and his leader. This continued for years and into their adolescence. Everything started to come to a head when one evening they chased him down. Infernus tried to outrun his aggressors but he knew it was no use. He was much smaller than them and it was only a matter of time before the caught up. Sure enough, he felt a heavy weight slam into him and pin him to the ground.
"Where ya going, Infernus?" Jamal sneered. The other lion and lioness padded up to them.
"You got pretty far this time, not bad for a whelp like you." The lioness, Kiira, jabbed at him, pressing his face into the dirt.
"Please..haven't you done enough?.." Infernus pleaded. The other lion circled them.
"Not until you know you're not welcomed in this pride. You haven't contributed anything because you're so weak." Chane snapped at him.
"Maybe this time, you'll learn not to come back." Jamal grinned, raising his paw and causing Infernus to go white.
It took hours for Infernus to limp back to the pride. It was already dark and everyone was sleeping. He made his way to his nest, placed far away from everyone else. He collapsed into it and sobbed. He was hurt at how no one helped him despite all the evidence. He had to do something to stop them or find a way to convince his pride to believe him. All of his tears and wounds finally pulled him to sleep as he tried to think of a plan.
The next morning he tried to go to the healer's den but was denied treatment due to how much he came in injured.
"I'm sorry, Infernus. I cannot heal you this time. With the cold season coming, I need to be able to ration my healing herbs."
Feeling down trotted, he went to his leader to try to explain his situation.
"Infernus, you need to learn how to fight your battles. Besides, I can do nothing without witnessing it."
Infernus watched as he walked away. He felt something shift in him and he pinned his ears back. If his leader wanted him to fight, he was going to fight. He stalked away with his head down, plotting on how he would get his revenge.
It was a few days later that he found himself running from them once again but this time, it was going to be in his favor. He practiced this route, dodging in between trunks that would slow down his bigger aggressors.
"Get back here Infernus!" Jamal snarled, slashing his way through the brambles Infernus slinked under. Kiira and Chane were trying to get through as well but Infernus knew Kiira would get through first so he continued his route. He got to the ravine and leaped down, but not to the bottom but onto a small hidden ledge that he found. There he waited.
It didn't take long before the three charged over the edge and landing at the muddy bottom hard. He peered over the ledge to see them pick themselves up. Chane looked around to survey his surroundings and he spotted Infernus peering over the edge.
"You're dead when we get out of here Infernus!" He snarled. Infernus casually hopped back up to the top and watched. He watched as the crocodiles slowly advanced towards them. Kiira was the first to notice them and tried to climb back up the muddy embankment.
"Infernus, help us out of here, please. We're sorry." She said frantically. But Infernus turned his back on them as their pleading grew louder. It wasn't until he got a few steps away when he felt the air around him go cold, his breath clearly visible. He turned to see a specter. Body black as the night, ebony glimmering wings and its head replaced with blue flames. It reared up, raising its paw with outstretched talons before bringing it down onto Infernus' neck and everything went black for him.
'You don't know the betrayal I felt, Brone. You were supposed to help me but you favored them. Shame. I refuse to rest as you did. And I will make you pay for your hypocrisy.'