Posts by COSMICCLASH

⚠ ― TEXT HERE

⚠ ― TEXT HERE

⚠ ― The eyes almost do not match the body. They almost seem older- in a way that he has seen much. They were full of more context than anything else on him. Cosmicclash, forgets, briefly, that a full body is much more expressive. He had to be more careful. There was no mask on his face now, only a metaphorical one. It bothered him- it made him feel more open and vulnerable. When the first of them approached, the lion would stand, his tail low to the ground and ears perked forward. Remember. Cosmicclash is an adult now. Don't act like an inexperienced teenager now. Adult. Loner. Been on his own. And, action. His eyes set on Sango, meeting his gaze. "Cosmicclash. I'm looking for my old mentor." Established the relationship. They might not kill on sight. He sucked in a breath of air, his mouth loosely hanging open. Hard, yellow eyes would move, the scent of sap and of metal touching his nose. It was accompanied by the Shadowclan scent, but that of someone familiar, of tiger, and the tail comes to hug his side- defensive, but agressive.

Sulfuric acid yellow stared into icy blue. His head completely turned, staring right at the former Exiles leader. "Rick." His body follows through- his instinct tells him, that he should bare his teeth and hunch his back, but he keeps his composure. RICK GRIMES IS ALIVE. His mouth falls open again (like he was too hot), his tail flicking. Establish relationship. Add personality. Cosmic was shy. "It's been a long time, sir." Vader remember the vile on his tongue when he had addressed his nemesis this way the first time, to throw off suspicions, and Rick had told him not to do that. He moves, taking a step toward the tiger, eyes still on him.

Then the other's approach. He doesn't take a step, forwards, or backwards, but his ears lay back. It's defensive, still. He knew to expect this, but it bothers him, still, as he finds himself outnumbered- it makes uncomfortable, his eyes glancing face to face, sizing up potential opponents. This is the instinct screaming at him- Cosmic was more cautious, picky- but Vader knew he would always win.

A hybrid. Unknown what it really is, but it is a lot nicer to look at than most. Nothing like Dystopia. Dystopia was a heretic and a joke to his species. Possibly formidable, not as hard. The next one is pregnant. She was a weaker target. His eyes move, a beastly scent wafts into his nose, and Vader cannot stop the body's reaction.

His tail goes up, his back arches, claws are out- teeth bare in defense as he looks at Drogo. He stands on his toes, mane stretching out, making himself look large. He remembers Drogo, and what makes him uncomfortable this time is that Drogo is larger than him. Part of him says, Back off, you're on his territory. You don't have the power here to kill him. He glances at the cub following Drogo, decides he is not a threat, and focuses on the melanistic. HE WILL KILL THEM TOO. Male lions would conduct infantcide, and he reminds himself this- that Drogo is a legitamate threat to Padme now.

Wait. Mission. Rick is the mission. He needs to focus on Rick. Cosmicclash takes a step back, still staring at Drogo, relaxing- but still displaying tense, potentially aggressive body language. ("Cosmicclash learned this from the Exiles.") His tail is flicking and his ears are flat- his attention refocuses to Rick, but occasionally glances at Drogo. "I... heard rumors that you were alive. I had to see for myself." And you will pay the price, Rick.

⚠ ― His eyes are reading Rick. Vader was accustomed to the imposing mask, the one way mirror of the lenses, allowing him to pick apart his foes like a book while their own reflection met them. He knows, Rick is harder to read. Not as difficult as his master, but just above average. "You've seen me." His ears droop this time and his tail lowers, as if Cosmicclash is disappointed. Rick is standoffish. He will not begrudgingly welcome you with open arms this time. "I can't remember anythin' from back then. If there.. really was a back then. So I don't know you." His eyes flick back and forth in thought, processing this. Right... How could he forget? Rick had amnesia when he returned. Convince him. He sighs, eyes closing, and for the briefest, letting his guard down with a shake of his head, but looking back at the tiger. "There is a back then." He pauses, checking his grammar. "Was? No? Either way-" Don't stumble. Don't act like a child. "It happened, Rick. I was there." He glances to his left, recalling the memory. Most of it was unimportant and most of his attention was on Rick when it happened. I watched you bleed. A mighty leader, and you were killed with a rock. Some blaze of glory. "You gave me your axe. In the last minutes, you gave it to me." Vader was accustomed to telling people he had ripped it off Rick's cold, dead, body. He didn't want them aware of Vader's possession abilities and it wasn't like the Exilers were going to be public about emotional weakness. Vader had simply killed the first body. Hopefully, this would sway Rick, if only a little. Something that had meaning and Rick had given it to the "apprentice" in his last moments.

A dissatisfied huff. He figured Rick would ask about it, ask where the axe was. "It was taken from me." And that's why Vader didn't bring it as proof. A shady connection. "Some sort of.... thing- took it from me." The story formulated in his mind. "It was a few days after you died." His mind said that, 'I was inexperienced and I played dead.' but he won't share that for now. He shakes his head, a sign he wants to avoid the subject.

"I..." Lie. Lie. Something. "I just wanna talk. That's all. Catch-up." THAT IS A WORTHLESS REASON. His paws shifted, a weight sneaks onto his shoulders. Weakness, Lord Vader. That is all you are now. His Master whispers, lifting away and leaving him be, and Cosmicclash- staring right at Rick for an answer.

⚠ ― Cosmicclash's head turns, his body falling back into the defensive posture when Drogo shows off a taste of his power. You can't bash his skull in this time. Let it go. Keep your dignity. And he shows caution, not submission, to the other lion, giving grumbled roars, a taking a step towards Rick. You kung. Rick's probably the only thing keeping him from killing you. His ears perk up and his head tilts to Rick, holding back an apology about the axe, and giving a firm nod. "Lead the way, Grimes."

He feels a bit of pride. Fool Rick once, shame on you. Fool Rick twice? Shame on him. His tail flicks back and forth, waiting for the tiger's direction. Apprentice. What a joke.

// u wanna make their thread or should I?

⚠ ― Cosmicclash would follow Rick, picking up his paws and flicking his tail. The lion took in gulps of air every now and then, as if savoring the scents and occasionally stopping to sniff the flowers every now and then and would follow after Rick like a dog.

These things, he knew, Lord Vader would never do. Lord Vader was just enjoying it, the freedom and fur, but Cosmicclash was in a new place. Had check everything out. When they arrived at a private spot, Cosmicclash would sit, his paws kneeding the Earth and dragging claws through grass, as if he needed to fidget.

After a few moments, where the lion made himself comfortable, his ears flicked back and his claws sunk into the Earth, staring down, as if he was ashamed. "I'm sorry." Vader would never apologize- but Cosmicclash would. "About the axe, I mean. I- I knew it was important and reliable to you, Rick. Just as important as your gun." And the revolver would be added to his collection, one day.

He assumed, Rick would want to know. Would ask. Maybe, telling what happened would be an exchange of trust. He closed his eyes, thinking. "It was about a week after you died. You had been buried...." He thinks, trying to recall the deputy. "Circusclown. He was in charge. The clan was slowly getting itself together and I was doing what I could. Collecting food. Learning to use the axe. You told me to use it. And I wanted to make it my main weapon, get good at it. Barely slept." He sighed, tilting his head and shifting back and forth.

"It struck at nightfall." What a narcissist, boasting about how scary he is. "The first thing I noticed was the drop in temperature. It got cold. Then I heard this.... grating, hollow noise. It was breathing, and it didn't stop. It never wavered. It was constant and even on forest floor its boots made a heavy click." He opens his eyes, expression doleful. "I was stupid. I ignored my instincts and tried to hunt it down." Cosmicclash looks directly at Rick now. "But it hunted me." He looks down and away again. "It was huge. It stood as tall as some giraffes- it blended in with the shadow and nearly blotted out the moon with its cape. It stood on its hind legs and it had hands, Rick. Hands. It had this... I don't know what it was. It was a cylinder, but when it took it into its hand, it ignited a red blade like lightning." His eyes clench shut and his lips curl. "Admittedly, that's when I ran. But it... it picked me up with some kind of power and stared choking me. It slammed me into the ground and rested its boot on my ribs. It smelled of metal and death and I..." He laid down, covering his face with his arms and curling his tail close to him. "I played dead. Like a coward. I survived because I played dead like a cub. I'm so sorry, Rick. You taught me better than that and I broke under fear." He took his paws from his face. "Then the beast, believing I was dead, took the axe, put it on his belt like a trophy, and left." He sat back up, staring at the ground. "After that, I left the Exiles as quickly as I could. They would have lynched me and I was too ashamed to show my face. I let them down. I let your memory down. I'm sorry, Rick. I'm so sorry."

@RICK GRIMES

⚠ ― // He is not currently possessed by Vader!!

He was stumbling. He tripped over his own feet and fell onto the ground- the lion isn't sure where he is and there's drying blood on his mouth and paws.

It's not his own, not at all. No- he wasn't even sure what it was from. Just that his belly was full. It was probably Vader's last meal, and he preferred not to think about what it was.

Then... when he returned to his own pride, and saw what had unfolded- collapsed at the corpses of his children, of his coalition- three of his lioness had survived the attack, but wished them strength before they died of their wounds.

It was crushing. For a kind soul to grow his pride to eight, sacrifice his freedom in order to protect them, then find his entire pride slaughtered.

The lion smelled the Earth, of someone's scent and quickly got up, stepping away from the border, ears laid back.

Some kind of lion he was. A fearful lion- gentle. Too kind for his own good.

And how much he wanted to die. To join his lioness. To hide behind his shame. The lion puffed out his chest, and stepped over the border. He found an uprooted tree- and laid down under the roots, curling in on himself, paws over his eyes and tail close.

And the lion cried.

@lessa s.

⚠ ― The lion's eyes grew wide and his ears laid back at the first voice- his spine hunched and crawled back into the shallow trunk of the tree, finding himself cornered. Oh no- what if they hurt him, too?

Help... They are offering help. "Yes-" His voice cracks and he chokes on tears, wrenching forward and heaving. His ears laying backwards, and brown eyes travel to the fiery cat. "Lateef... My name's Lateef." What a coward. Your name literally means gentle.

"He.." His mouth dropped, breaking into another cry. "He killed them all... the lioness, my brothers... even the cubs-" He gives a far away look. "Not one of them were safe from him and I couldn't stop it-"

@lessa s. again