Chapter 3: The Spoils of Battle
The scorching desert had done quite a toll on the young cub's body. Baya figured the best he could do was provide some shade for her by walking just at the right angle ahead of her or behind her, but the problem of the heat was still there. Normally, Baya would go for days without much water or food, but Tupa was a mere infant. An infant of privilege or good fortune in the past, no doubt.
Baya looked down at the exhausted Tupa, who was heaving for breath, with his emerald green eyes. He held a bold expression, not really showing much concern. Though just because he didn't show it, didn't mean it wasn't there. "The heat will make you strong. It'll bother you a lot at first. Remember rule number two?" Baya asked her in a monotone.
"Never – Never accept defeat until I'm dead…" Tupa said, panting in between some of the words. Baya nodded, glad that she wasn't one to complain. The two made their way across the desert for a short time before they saw an oasis in the distance. This was the best time for a drink because it was mid –day and the sun scorched them at its peak. Even Baya felt a bit bothered by it.
As they made their way towards it, Baya could see a single figure laying by the water. Baya began to pick up the pace, hoping for a fight before he heard a thud in the sand. He stopped running and looked back to Tupa who had collapsed from the scorching heat. Baya rolled his eyes, and slowly made his way to Tupa. He didn't really have much experience with picking up LIVING cubs, but he figured he could just gently put her entire little scruff in his mouth. [GET YOUR MIND OUT THE GUTTER].
He lowered his head, and sure enough he picked her up by her scruff without any sort of problem or pain to Tupa. This being done, Baya began to trot towards the watering hole, hoping to give her some shade under one of the palm trees that grew around the great oasis. When Baya got there, he met face to face with a lioness that seemed to be suffering from another sort of heat. Her fur was pale coloured and her eyes were a vivid blue.
"Why hello there…" She purred, already taking a liking to the male specimen that turned up at her little watering hole. Baya did not speak to her as he set Tupa down under the shade.
"Aw, look at that. I've never seen a male taking care of the cubs before. I thought that was more of a lioness's job…" She murmured, with a large seductive grin. She slowly made her way towards Baya, who had his full attention on the little cub, making sure her breathing was proper.
"Oh, you are going to ignore me? Such cold behaviour. It really refreshes me in this…heat…" She purred as she fell onto her side, and began rolling around. She was definitely trying to give off a message at this point.
"You are that killer aren't you? Baya? They talk of you much around these parts. I find your strength very….attractive. While that little thing over there is sleeping, how about you give me one of my own, hm?" She purred, and mused.
"If I wanted you, I would've taken you by now. Now leave. I'm not interested." Baya said, with a bold and simple expression on his face. The lioness let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. She stood and began to get closer to Baya. She moved her head under his, and moved her way up next to his cheek.
"It's ok to give in to your urges dear. I know you want me. How about you just make us both happy, and take me?" She whispered into his ear. "You'll never get a catch like me again…best to take advantage of it." She murmured, nipping his ear in a courting manner.
Within a second, the lioness wailed and jumped back. She held her cheek where three large slash marks were. Baya had cracked a smirk finally. The wounds were deep enough to scar the lioness's face for good.
"H-How DARE you! I offer myself to you, and you strike me?" She snarled in anguish, and anger. She glared at Baya. Baya had gotten into a fighting stance meanwhile, his grin showing off his incisors.
"Gotta love that strength huh? Hah! Hahahaha!" Baya cackled as he got closer to the lioness. She stepped back, her ears flat against her head. She knew she wouldn't win. She knew if she fought him, she would surely be killed. It was best to flee.
When she began to run, Baya contemplated going after her , but then he looked to Tupa. His grin faded and he walked to the watering hole to take a nice, long, well deserved drink. When he finished drinking, he looked to a weak Tupa, trying to stand up to get to the water. He quickly pushed her along the sand until she was at the edge of the watering hole.
Tupa took a long drink, but gasped when Baya shoved her whole head in. He quickly pulled it out, with her sputtering and wide eyed. "W-Why? Why'd you do that! You are crazy!" Tupa coughed and sputtered.
"Damn straight." Baya said with a grin as he plunged her head into the water again, before pulling it out. Baya figured if he dipped her head in the water, it would cool her off faster so they could get on the move again. He wasn't very patient.
Once Tupa was a bit more cooled down, she looked to Baya. "So why didn't you mate with that pretty lioness?" Tupa asked out of the blue as she and Baya began walking away from the Oasis. Baya was a tad bit surprised at the question, considering Tupa was not old enough to be thinking of such things.
"I have my reasons." Baya answered simply. Tupa figured that was answer enough. She wouldn't dare probe further, because then she was afraid Baya might just lose his patience.
Tupa's stomach began to grumble, and it caused contractions of her stomach at the same time. Baya could easily hear it, and he was somewhat hungry himself. "You are going to learn something else today. One of the basic rules of the desert. Where there are buzzards…there is food." Baya explained as he looked upwards. Sure enough there was a rather large circle of buzzards to the east of them, not too far.
It was not much of a long walk, as both Baya and Tupa felt fully refreshed from the little rest and drink they had at the oasis. "Watch me, and learn." Baya murmured as he walked up to what the buzzards were swarming over. He let out a heavy roar, scaring Tupa just a tad bit at the same time. The buzzards squawked in fear and jumped into the air, flapping their wings like mad. It appeared as though they were feasting on a dead desert rabbit.
"Hey buddy! We were eating that!" One of the buzzards exclaimed, a young male by the sound of his voice.
"Yeah! Get your own scraps!" Another shouted from above, an older female.
"I dare you to come down here and take it from me." Baya said with a smirk up towards the circle of buzzards. The buzzards all squawked, and Baya nodded at Tupa. She slowly made her way towards the half eating carcass and began to pick at the small meats.
"Is he the one? The one they all talk about?"
"He must be, look at all those scars!"
"You think he'll kill us?"
"No you idiot, we are up in the sky!"
The buzzards talked on and on whilst Tupa ate her fill. Baya simply laid down on his side, not really caring for his own hunger. He didn't want her collapsing again.
"Hey! Hey you! Are you Baya of the desert?" One of the older females asked from above. Baya did not respond, holding his tongue for battle.
"He definitely is! Look at how cool he just handled that question!"
"He didn't handle the question! He just ignored us you nincompoop!"
"He is Baya alright. Look at those rough little paws! Hahahaha!"
"We got to thank you, Demon of the Desert!" One of the older males called from above. Tupa licked her muzzle clean of rabbit flesh, and looked up in confusion. Why would they thank Baya? He's a ruthless killer.
"What did he do for you?" Tupa asked, with a tilt of her head. The buzzards all laughed.
"See kid, we don't like to kill. We are lazy like that. We just eat what's left behind!" One of the buzzards explained midflight.
"And Baya here sends a lot of food our way! I guess we can give up one meal for him!"
"Yeah! When someone in our little flock says 'I'm hungry', we say grow a pair and follow Baya around for like ten minutes! Instant meal!" One of the buzzards squawked and laughed.
"Let's go." Baya finally said as he stood, and began to walk ahead of Tupa. Tupa, belly filled with food, began to follow after her mentor.
"See ya later Baya! Try to not damage the meat so much! Hahahah!" The buzzards laughed again.
"Baya, do you ever eat anything you kill?" Tupa asked when they were just a bit away from the buzzards. "Why do you let those things have them? I mean…that's pretty much the reward for your battle isn't it? Food? Survival?"
Baya stopped and looked down at Tupa with a grim smirk. "My dear, the spoils of battle is the battle itself."