A fateful challenge
The next day Askari woke up early. Eager to put her plan into action, he searched the lair for Tekelea but the lioness was already gone. It took him a while until he found her on a hill close to the watering hole. "There you are", he greeted her and sat down next to her. "Have you seen him already?"
"Don't be so impatient", she jokingly rebuked him. "Or you might look like the stupid cub you blame Ushindi to be."
"Ha, ha", Askari mumbled, knowing she was right. "You didn't answer my question."
"No, he wasn't. But his father was before he set off for patrol. Don't worry, he'll be here any moment."
"Did you talk to Heba?"
"Why should I? I already know she's not interested in him. She told us right after his first approach, even though she was too shy to tell him. She said he seemed suspicious to her and would be too old for her, what he actually is, if I think about it. She's not even adult and he's what? Our age, a little older? I'm sure she won't be angry with you if you fight him."
"I meant, did you tell her we're using her as a bait?"
"Of course not! She would never agree to that and neither would the others, I guess. It's better if no one knows. It'll be our little secret."
"It doesn't feel right not to tell her."
Shaking her head, Tekelea stared at him. "What's wrong? You liked the plan when I told you yesterday. Afraid to lose?"
Incited by her taunt, he looked her straight in the eyes. "No." His voice was totally calm, but determent.
As Tekelea had predicted, they didn't have to wait for long. "There he comes", Askari said after he spotted the lion in the distance. "Your turn, Teke. Impress me."
"It will be my pleasure", the lioness responded with a coquettish grin and set off towards the watering hole.
Leisurely, Tekelea strolled around the small lake towards the opposite side. Occasionally she stopped, to stretch her legs and yawned, what made her look sleepier than she actually was. "Morning", she mumbled as she stopped a few steps away from the lion, who was already busy drinking.
"Good morning", he greeted her. For a moment it was quiet, while both of them quenched their thirst. Then, he broke the silence. "Excuse me, but you're one of Ushindi's rogues, aren't you?"
"I am." She stopped drinking and nodded at him. "My name is Tekelea, but Teke is fine. And you are… Jino, right? You've visited us one or two times since we arrived."
"Yeah. Puajino, but Jino is ok." He adumbrated a bow. "Member of the Guard in training, at your service."
Giggling, the lioness returned the gesture. This guy knew how to present himself as charming, but Tekelea had spent too much time with Ushindi to fall for this. She could hear the touch of arrogance and superiority in his voice despite his attempts to hide it. Suddenly, she felt respect for Heba and her instinct. Jino surely was everything but the kind and friendly guy he pretended to be. "Thanks for the offer", she responded. "But we already have our own guardian."
"You mean the guy with the dark fur?", Jino asked, keeping up his masquerade. "The one who asked all of us to fight him?"
"Exactly. Askari's our big and strong protector." Purposely emphasizing the last words, she rolled her eyes.
"Really? How comes?"
"He's constantly worried for his little sister, you know? Thinks of every other male as a threat." Lowering her voice, she came a little closer. "But if you ask me, I think he'd like to see her finally getting a boyfriend. Problem is, she's so used to his protection she'd only accept someone strong enough to compete with him."
"Is that so?" With a pensive expression, Jino looked into the vague direction of the rogues' lair. "Uhm… Which one is his sister? Can't remember seeing one with similar fur when I visited you."
"Heba, the youngest of our group", Tekelea said thinking of an explanation. "And actually, she is just his half-sister. Different mothers, you know?"
"I see… So, that's why he wanted to fight us? So Heba could see if one of us is worthy? That explains a lot."
"I guess so."
"And we all thought he just tried to act tough to compensate your other friend's childish behavior."
"Probably a bit of that too", the lioness laughed. Due to Jino's face, she could tell, that in his mind he already began to prepare himself for the fight. She knew she had won even before he said it.
"Where can I find Askari?"
"I can't watch this!" Snuggling against his shoulder, Cheza took cover in Ushindi's mane. "Jino will tear him to pieces!"
"We'll see about that." Tekelea took her place among the bystanders that had gathered to watch the fight and sat down next to the couple. "Askari knows what he's doing", she assured her, but couldn't stop her tail waving around in tension.
"I think you overestimate your friend", a lioness behind her said. Tekelea didn't knew her name, she was from Cheza's pride. "Jino is meant to become leader of the guard one day. He knows how to fight and I heard he's doing this to impress a lioness…"
"So what?", Tekelea snapped at her, only to regret it instantly. She was tenser than she should be. What was wrong with her?
"Nothing against your friend, of course. He looks strong and all. But Jino usually gets what he wants…"
Resisting the urge to continue the argument, Tekelea turned away from the lioness. The two lions had entered the circle of bystanders.
The crowd became silent when Askari and Jino walked up to each other. Finally. The dark lion licked his lips. This fight would differ from the last ones. This time, his opponent was a trained warrior. This was a challenge.
"We'll fight one against one", Jino said loudly for everyone to hear. "The fight will be over when one of us surrenders for everyone to hear. Leaving this circle equals running away. Intervention from outside also counts as surrender. Are you ready?"
His eyes stuck on him, Askari nodded. "Born ready!"
The moment he said that, Jino jumped. If Askari hadn't carefully watched every of his opponent's movements he would have been surprised by the attack. Just in time he dodged by letting himself fall to the ground and rolling aside. Within an instant he was back on his feet. Roaring, he lifted his upper body into the air and tried to strike at Jino, but none of his paws reached their destination. His opponent also got on his hindlegs and managed to parry Askari's attack. With his paws he wiped the other one's claws out of the way, pushed his head forward and sunk his teeth into him.
"Told you", Tekelea heard the lioness behind her saying, as Askari roared in pain and anger. In none of his previous fights he had been wounded so quickly. She watched, as Jino dug his head into Askari's mane and tried to push him down.
Stopping to push upwards against Jino's bodyweight, Askari let himself fall down. By that he managed to throw his enemy out of balance and ferociously kicked his face with his hindlegs. His extended claws carved through the other lion's face and he felt his teeth losing grip. Rolling on the ground, Askari escaped Jino's grasp and jumped up.
Shaking blood of his face, Jino took a step backwards, then with an angry roar, he threw himself back into battle. Lifting their bodies once again, the two lions exchanged blow after blow and tried to grab each other. Finally, Askari could feel his claws finding grip on Jino's shoulders. Smashing his head against opponent's, he pushed his teeth closer towards the other's neck. One of his paws slipped off, as Jino stepped forward in order to overrun Askari. Trying to alter his grasp, the dark lion's claws tangled in his opponent's mane.
Euphoria rushed through Tekelea and she jumped up as she saw how Askari grabbed Jino's mane and pulled his head aside, exposing his throat. This was his chance to end the fight!
Taking the unexpected opportunity Askari closed his jaws around Jino's throat, as the lion stumbled past him. The young guardian fell, pulled aside by his opponent's tangled paw which he landed on. With one of his forelegs uselessly clamped between Askari's head and the stuck leg, Jino furiously lashed out with the other one. He tried to roar but strangled by Askari's jaws no sound passed his lips.
"ENOUGH!"
Askari raised his eyes and saw a lion who stepped out of the crowd into the circle thus ending the fight according to the rules he had agreed to. He opened his jaws and released his opponent. Struggling to loosen their brutal embrace, the two lions tried to get up.
"My… my king…", Jino panted and reluctantly bowed to him barely able to hide the anger in his voice. "With due respect… your intervention… was unnecessary."
"Was it? You've been defeated and had no possibility to announce your surrender. As your king it was my duty to intervene. I hope you respect this."
"Of course, my king", hissed through his clenched teeth and bowed again.
The king nodded. "Congratulation on your victory", he said to Askari and took a step backwards. "You fought well! Both of you. You can be proud of your skills." With that he turned around and left the circle of bystanders. Then, Askari's friends couldn't hold back anymore.
"You did it!" Tekelea rushed forward, only to be pushed aside by Ushindi who was so eager to congratulate his friend that he nearly knocked him down with his euphoric headbutt.
"An incredible fight!", Chagina shouted.
Tekelea managed to reach him and rub her head against his shoulder only to notice a long bleeding cut that ran all the way down to his elbow. "Guys!", she shouted against the noisy crowd. "Guys, give him some space!"
Blinking to make the stars he saw go away, Askari grimaces. Now with the frenzy of the fight gone that had numbed the pain, he started to feel his wounds and was grateful that one of the blurred figures that surrounded him pushed the others away to make space for him. "Thanks…", he said and after blinking once more he could see clearly again. "Thanks, Teke." Limping on his forelegs he turned around to see how Jino was doing. He stood about two body lengths away from him and looked as bad as Askari. Even though he had lost, a lot of his pride's lions came to congratulate him for the skill he had shown.
"Get away from me!", the young guardian snarled at them as they tried to come closer. Additional to his fury a mad hunger could be seen in his eyes, as he searched the bystanders' lines with them. Then he found who he was looking for. "And? What do you say? Am I good enough?" Not able to control his voice anymore he limped towards Heba, who stood between Ruya and Shauri.
Confused and startled the young lioness froze. "Wh… What? I…"
"Stop it!" Protectively, Ruya placed one of her legs in front of her friend. "What are you talking about? Can't you see you're scaring her?"
"She knows damn well what I mean!", Jino hissed and came closer. Now even the last of his acting skills were gone.
"Stay away from her!" Ushindi had noticed what was going on and stepped between Jino and the lionesses, while Ruya and Shauri led Heba further away from him. "What's wrong with you?"
For a moment the two stood there, face to face. "That's none of your business", Jino growled and turned away from him. He surely looked like he would love to pick a fight with Ushindi but was clever enough not to do so in his current state. "I won't forget this", he spat out when he passed Askari and Tekelea who sat next to him. Then he left the scene.
"What a creep!", Ushindi growled as he walked over to Askari to aid him walking back to their lair.
AN: Askari finally got the next fight he wanted... at the expense of Heba. Teke's idea worked, but was it a good one?