Chapter 4: Time of peace...

[Blaze]

Ikazuchi can't help but simply stare at the Heshima king, amused by the fearlessness he had. Though by no means as tall as Blaze, or even as tall as Sabre, this did not make him less intimidating by any means; his golden eyes and the white mane against his dusty gold fur created an exotic appearance, one that could frighten.

"Very well, I will not object to this. Know, however, that I reserve the right to also have her as a consort if I choose and if she should find interest or acceptance of the idea. After all, she is a member of my pride. However, as your queen, she would still be with you considerably more often than with me. Are these terms acceptable?"

---

Blaze sleeps relatively soundly in the middle of the Shaderian camp after eating his fill of the zebra flank, though of course not before thanking Lisirra. Here at the center, where any and all can see him, he feels at least some degree of safety from his 'master' should the latter get...frisky, again.

[Sabre]

Sabre scowls for a moment, but nods his head. It is his right after all, as he said. "Very well. I accept." There was just something about this male that made him uneasy, likely the fact that he was able to take Blaze down, the one lion that Sabre would entrust his safety and pride into if he ever found himself crippled beyond help. The one lion that was able to stand against the dark feline Rendarin and live to tell the tale. The male shakes the thoughts out of his head. "Thank you for not objecting." He manages to say before turning away from the king, heading back into the tunnels toward his den.
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Thankfully, Nadur didn't make a move during the night, though a few higher ranking Shaderians would curse and insult the lion under the breath over the hours as he slept. Blaze was completely vulnerable, if it wasn't for the fact that Rendarin's personal den was in clear line of sight, and the fact that Lisirra had decided to den nearby, in quick striking distance of any would-be assassins, keeping the exile completely safe. However as the sun arises, Nadur comes over and goes to slap Blaze over the back of his head in a rude attempt to awaken him. "Get up stravag, you're going to go get me breakfast while I practice with the others." A seemingly easy task, but a toothy grin from the grunt shows otherwise. "You are to get me an antelope. A young one, not more than two years of age, with plenty of meat on it. No older, no less. Fail me and I'll show the overlord you aren't worth our time."

[Blaze]

"King Sabre! I just have one other thing to say. If Heshima comes under attack by anyone, I promise you, the Radi pride will aid you no matter who the enemy is. This I promise you. Though I defeated Blaze, please no that I am not that different from him."

---

Blaze simply smirks in response. "I think you showed him otherwise last night, that you're in fact the one who isn't worth his time," he cheekily responds. His eyes slanted knowingly. "And just so you know, by the time the antelope is two, it's already started to be able to run. It being able to run makes the meat very tough and not at all very appetizing to eat. Younger meat is actually better, when they haven't started to run, and when the meat isn't so stringy."

[Sabre]

Sabre turns his head back toward Ikazuchi for a moment. "Thank you. And know my pride would do the same." With that he continues down until he reaches the den, smiling to Frost.
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"But I can hunt. I've yet to see you hunt." Nadur says with a snarl, apparently ignoring the facts that Blaze put right into his face about picking the perfect prey, though the look of annoyance that crossed the Shaderians exotic face shows that he was definately annoyed. "Just do what your told already." He says before walking off, kicking another grunt near him down to the ground, obviously trying to show more dominance to his subordinants.

[Blaze]

Frost looks at Sabre, a smile on her face. "So, what's your opinion of your new ally now?"

---

Blaze quickly slinks off, looking for a herd of antelope. It doesn't take him long to find an antelope maybe a year of age, not yet having started to run for long bouts. Surrounding it however are several adults.

No matter, this isn't a tough one. Just stay clear of their horns, he thinks.

With a loud, bestial roar he leaps toward the group of antelope, quickly taking down the young antelope in a quick, clean kill. The other antelope however he is not so clean with, killing them as quickly as he can to reduce the threat to himself.

When the hunt is said and done, he brings the kill back to Nadur, unceremoniously dropping the year-old antelope in front of his 'master.'

"There. Better meat than what you asked for, even if you don't necessarily deserve it."

[Sabre]

"I still don't trust him, but...he will protect the pride if something happens to us. For that, I respect him. I'd do the same for his pride."
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Nadur raises a brow at the successful hunt, speaking for once in what seemed like praise. "...And in such short time. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you did good." He then lowers his tone back down to his normal hostile one. "For a stravag. I don't expect you to do anything else effectively. Now get out of my sight, I don't want to see you until after the Circle disperses." The grunt says as he starts to tear into the fresh carcass.

[Blaze]

"From what my brother told me, Ikazuchi is always good with his word. If he says he'll do something, then he'll do it even if it kills him." She stretches out, peering directly at the Heshima king. "But onto more important things. For now, it's just you and I. Though I...it has been quite some time since I..."

---

"Did well," Blaze corrects under his breath. He simply walks off however, disgusted by his master's base manners.

[Sabre]

Sabre spots Naddie in the den and goes over and picks her up, carrying her out of the den. "Go see uncle Naraka for a little while, ok?" He says as he nudges her off before returning to the den. "Don't worry Frost."
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A few Shaderians near by chuckle as they hear Blaze's silent correction. Blaze seems to have some time to himself, considering the Circle hasn't even formed yet.

[Blaze]

"I'm ready. Make me your queen, Sabre, not just in name but in body as well."

---

Blaze trots off, looking for something else to hunt so that he might be able to eat himself. Whatever Nadur has planned, he'd rather be at full strength to face it, rather than eating the scraps the Shaderian had taken to giving him. It wasn't long before he downed a gazelle and started to tear into its carcass.

[Sabre]

Sabre nods as he approaches her. <Timeskip>
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The Circle in the Shaderian lands began as any other day, with several grunts facing eachother in attempts to show who is more skilled, and then came the more formal trials, mostly between two Shaderians who were in disagreements with one another. Lisirra is observing the fights from a ridge outside of the former circle, in a fashion similar to the other Elites, acting as watchdogs for disruptive conduct inside the Circle.

[Blaze]

Frost lies down, contented, her eyes closed as she relaxes.

---

Blaze returns to the Circle after eating his fill, watching the fights going on from a distance that would prevent him from getting into any trouble with any of the Shaderians.

I know I can take on a Marauder at least, he thinks.

[Sabre]

Sabre gently nuzzles her head as he lays down next to her. "And thus you become the Queen of Heshima.
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Trials seem to blaze on for a long time, with several taking place in only a few minutes, even an incident of Marauder versus Elite in one case, the ensuing fight was relatively explosive as the Elite danced around the Marauder's raw brute strength. After a moment Lisirra approaches him, having noticed him from a distance, figuring they're out of hearing range, she speaks normally, though continues to stand, to atleast appear like she's commanding the exile. "You really do like the Circle, don't you?"

[Blaze]

"It's a reminder of what I'm striving for. The strength I'm trying to regain to take back my pride. I can still, at least, take on a Marauder I'd say. I wouldn't sweep them like I did before the war, but I could likely win. A Warrior however is out of my league."

He looks intently at Lisirra, curiosity creeping at his mind.

"Could you tell me more about the Trial of Grievance? Naraka only discussed it rather briefly, he didn't say too much about it."

[Sabre]

"It's a formal challenge between two, or more, parties that are wishing to settle a dispute with one another. The challenge can be something as simple as a test of wits, or even eating contests; but traditionally they are trials by combat, usually until one party is deemed unable to continue, but there have been cases of the trial being allowed to progress to the death of a party." She then tilts her head slighty, raising a brow at the lion. "You're plotting something aren't you?"

[Blaze]

"To be blunt, Nadur's death once I'm eligible to challenge him to a Trial of Grievance. Once I'm no longer a slave bound to his command. I imagine he'll continue to try and 'prove his dominance' every night while he can as my master, even if it's not a public spectacle like last night's was."

He looks back at the circle, a grim look on his face.

"I suppose I'm lucky that he was, one, inexperienced, and two, very small."