Monster Among Us

((February 27th(??) Open thread. HIGH RISK CHARACTER if you step on her toes. Proceed with caution! uwu))

It was the same as ever, save for the constant darkness that the world had been plunged into. Her feline eyes managed to aid her though, crimsons narrowed as she stepped foot over the familiar border. The outlands. Her home. Though these were the lands she grew up with and frequently fought in in her youth and past, there was nothing close to any real warmth in her heart for it. Sentiment. Scruffy knew not the meaning of that word, the implications that it held.

She wondered how many remained. Who of whom she’d known before had died. Again, not out of any real curiosity or kindness of her heart, but she’d known so many weaknesses before. A foolish abundance of love struck puppies and foolish power trips. Something told her it wasn’t much difference after some time. Like it was something she could smell in the very air, even as she advanced further into the heart of the Outlands. She’d walked in so freely. Were there no patrols?
The outlands had always reeked of incompetence to her, but that wasn’t her highest concern. No, Scruffy didn’t care. Soldiers and troops would fall due to the lack of order in this place, but not Scruffy. So what business of it was hers? If they wanted to walk into failure that was nothing she cared about, she was there for battle.

She was there for blood.

Her jowls parted, and a deep rumble expelled from her chest, filling outwards in rolls as she snorted into the air. No one had seen her in quite some time, and after believed to be dead thanks to the foolish antics of Nuka she’d no doubt find some amusement in the reactions she was going to get. They’d sooner expect to see her spirit than her, actually alive with her scars and all. She was a haunting form in her own living embodiment. The only difference being that if she was a ghost, she couldn't kill anyone. No fun in that.

Scruffy snorted a small grin

"Who might you be?" The massive snake was coiled up next to a termite mound, and his long neck stretched out to look at the newcomer, not one that he had seen before that was for sure. The huge python racked his brain for a moment, thinking about who this horribly scarred lioness could be. She was an Outlander from the looks of it, and seemed to have been through hell and back from the look of her many scars that crisscrossed her pelt.

"I'm Hista." The snake's tongue flicked out as he spoke.

Is that...it couldn't be...Scruffy? She's dead! She died in Nottingham! She can't be back!

Dotty couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the battle-scarred lioness she both feared and loathed. She half believed that the voice in her head which chastised her for being foolish and weak, which reminded her of Scruffy, had somehow manifested itself. The idea horrified her. She had been glad that Scruffy had died only because she had no idea what the brutish lioness would do around her young cubs...

Maybe if she lived, Mauko would too. Maybe she could have killed or routed Zira before she tore apart your son. The idea haunted her somewhat. She had no illusions that Scruffy would have been an equal if somewhat lesser threat but if Scruffy had lived, maybe Mauko would still live as well. She didn't know, there was no way to change the past. 

Still, Dotty swallowed her fear and grief and strode forward to meet the other feline. She was probably the last person that Scruffy would want to see. She knew that Scruffy hated her as much as she hated her...if maybe with more distain than fear driving her. Still, Dotty was a somewhat familiar face and if Scruffy had truly returned from the grave, she would find out soon enough.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Dotty said, trying to keep her tone as even as possible so as not to betray her feelings.

She snorted, pausing momentarily to eye the snake with a general distaste she held for anyone she came across. A snake. Not extremely valuable but not entirely expendable either. And yet it wasn't enough to spark her interest, as few things do. She gruffly snorted, and continued walking even before the snake had finished hissing it's words to her.

I'm Hista.

"I'm leaving." she quipped with a grunt, "I don't care for over-sized glorified slugs." she remarked without sparing the snake a second glance. The lioness continued her steady stride forward, and yet she was cut off again. This time by a more familiar face. She straightened up, her neck rearing back and peering down at the lioness who'd stepped into her path. A moment of silence, before she finally spoke and Scruffy cocked a brow.

I didn't expect to see you here.

A deep throaty chuckle sounded, heavy and raspy against her jowls as it expelled. Chilling. Dotty spoke, and she laughed. Of course she hadn't expected to see her. She thought she was dead. And after such a period of being gone she was sure she was all but forgotten. Did they miss her? Perhaps. But not for any sentimental reasons, Scruffy knew.

"Didn't expect to see you either." she remarked without so much as an ounce of kindness. Dotty's tone was even, but Scruffy suspected there was more beneath it. The whiny lioness had only ever been overly emotional and bratty. Even building what appeared to be a rivalry between herself and Scruffy. As if she would lower herself to such a thing with someone like Dotty. She never cared about the childish lioness nearly as much as she thought she did.

"Made it this far. Must have steered clear of any battle." she snorted. Did she hide? As cowards often did? "I see Nuka's army didn't work out well for you."

"As I recall, Nuka's army didn't end well for you either."  She pointed out. After all, Dotty still lived whilst the other lioness had perished. She hadn't even lived to see snow for the first time, or the birth of Dotty's cubs. Scruffy had the nerve to call her out when she herself had fallen victim too...albeit in a very different manner to herself.

"Well...yes. I have my daughters to think about now. I'm not about to throw my life away on a whim." Dotty replied, her ears flat against her skull. She knew the implication of the other feline's words. Coward. She believed Dotty was weak because she didn't throw herself at every minor skirmish. This was Scruffy alright. Death apparently hadn't changed the vicious lioness an ounce. Dotty didn't expect that it would, Scruffy would always be Scruffy whether alive, dead or haunting them all "Besides...I can't leave them alone. Not with her."

Zira. If there was anyone Dotty hated it was the queen. She had thought that her hatred of Scruffy had been the most she could feel of that emotion but she was wrong. Very wrong. Scruffy was no longer her great enemy, to be honest she never was, Zira was the object of her loathing and seething anger. She almost wished that Scruffy had ended her life the day that Nuka had led them out of the Outlands and to their new lives.

Scruffy chuckled openly at that, rolling her shoulders and flexing her paws. She let Dotty finish her bit, turning her head from side to side to ease the stress in her neck. Scruffy new they'd be fools enough to believe she'd been dead- but Dotty still thought she'd actually died? Sure, there had been revivals in the war but Dotty was a bigger idiot than she'd originally thought.

"No..." she disagreed, nonchalant but still nasty as ever, "I think Nuka's army ended pretty well for me. You didn't see me knocked up with a bunch of Nuka's brats. Amazing they made it from the womb actually... Bad genes..." she grumbled, apparently seriously considering the combined parents. Scruffy didn't like either of them really, and they both knew that Nuka had shown a greater interest in Scruffy than he ever had in Dotty. Another set of Dotty's words peaked interest in Scruffy, and the glint in her crimson eyes was far too pleased.

"Only daughters. No sons?" she rasped, "Oh how disappointing. Couldn't even provide one simple thing that he wanted. You are of course still trailing after Nuka, aren't you? And has it been everything you ever dreamed of? Are you hopelessly in love with one another, raising your children like a happy family?" she crooned in a nasty, faux wistful tone. Scruffy knew fully well what Nuka and Dotty were going to be like.

He never had an interest in Dotty.

"I think not." she summed. "Those daughters would be better off if you'd been lost to battle."

Don't react to her baits. She wants you to lose your temper. Keep calm. It'll annoy her more if she sees she can't break you as easily as before. Wounded pride was nothing to Dotty anymore. Scruffy' taunts had lost their bite. It was hard to be affected by them when she'd known worse pain than a few well-placed jabs. Her ears staying flat against her skull was the only indication she was going to give the other lioness that her words had any affect at all.

Besides, in regards to her cubs, Scruffy was wrong. Both her girls were healthy and strong and Mauko had been as well. Strong and all of them intelligent. "And this coming from such an expert on cubs. Why I'm sure with such a large brood that you've had you would know all about them. And, I'll have you know, I did give Nuka the son he wanted. In fact, Mauko was such a blessing that Zira feared Scar would make him his new heir." Dotty fired back. Scruffy didn't need to know of Mauko's death by Zira's paw. She didn't want to hear what Scruffy had to say about that. It was an old wound but it was still raw.

"If you did so well out of Nuka's army, why come crawling back here? Couldn't handle being all alone with no one barking orders at you or could you not hunt for yourself and needed us "lesser" lionesses to do the work for you?" Now Dotty was playing with fire. Insulting Scruffy would not end well but Dotty's fear of the other feline had lessened. She wasn't so great a threat, just a bully who enjoyed throwing her weight around. Dotty's goals stretched higher than taking Scruffy down a peg or two but she couldn't resist the opportunity to do so once more.

"Mom!" Dotty turned her head, a brief spark of fear in her eyes as Nia came bounding up to the duo. With her red fur, Dotty's amber eyes and her distinctive spots under both her daughter's eyes, there could be no doubt who this was. "Grammy Zira said to get you for the hunt. She says me and Kuzi are coming out with you to learn...Who's that?"

If Scruffy had a week she couldn't list off all the reasons Dotty was a fool. She seemed to think this arguing was anything more than a humorous nuisance to her. If Dotty was trying to bring her down a peg or two, she was doing all the wrong things. She sneered a grin, tilting her head and considering the young lioness as if she was a particular shade of pathetic amusement.

"Is this crawling?" she growled a laughed, "I had thought you'd known more about that, being the way you are. But as far as I can see it looks like you guys are worse for wear. You need more felines like me." and the look that followed said a lot without her having to vocalize it. And less like you. Weak. In any case, Scruffy looked far from malnourished, so Dotty's hunting assumption was laughable. Colossal female as she was, her frame rippled with all those familiar muscles however scar adorned. It only made her look more formidable, especially while she towered over Dotty.

A laughable dwarf.

Mom!

Oh now this was interesting... Scruffy's crimson gems watched the small lion cub hop over to where they were. Red fur, and easily recognizable spotted markings. Scruffy knew a whelp when she saw one, she didn't need the dots to tell her this was one of Dotty and Nuka's darling daughters.

Fine. Dotty wanted to play big girls now? Scruffy would play big girls with her.

No warning whatsoever, while Dotty turned to look horrified at her daughter, Scruffy leered forward, ducking her head below Dotty and pushing off the ground she threw her full enormous weight into her. Her shoulder would connect specifically with the lioness's chin, perhaps jarring her but undoubtedly rattling her brains. After she'd toss her aside her next point of action was clear. Clearing the distance between her and the russet lion cub, she'd close down atop her like a monstrous shadow, jowls viciously meant to close around the poor young girls throat and lift her like a rag-doll. If given minor complications, and seeing as the cub was minuscule in comparison to her own size, she'd turn and spit a snarl past the cub in her mouth at Dotty.

If Dotty was smart, and that was up for debate more often than not, she'd know Scruffy's tendencies to hold children hostage. This was no exception.

The shoulder connected with Dotty's chin, sending the smaller lioness reeling back. Being hit by Scruffy was like being hit by an adult buffalo, she was powerful and hard and Dotty's head spun as she fell back a few steps from the impact with her chin. She could taste blood in her mouth, the force of the impact had caused her lip to split alongside being temporarily dazed. It took her a few seconds to regain her senses before she realized what had happened. Scruffy had attacked her, not completely unprovoked, but out of the blue nonetheless. It didn't take Dotty long to realize that she wasn't the colossal lioness's true target. Dotty was just an obstacle, Nia was Scruffy's intended victim. Scruffy did always have a sick fascination with kidnapping, maiming and killing children. It seems even those of her own allies weren't safe from her.

Nia was routed in place by the shock of the strange lioness's sudden attack on her mother. She didn't understand what was happening or why. She didn't understand that she should fear Scruffy because she had made herself the target of the massive lioness's wrath. With her mother temporarily dazed, Nia growled and unsheathed her own tiny claws, ready to put her grandmother's training to its first real test. She wouldn't let this large lioness hurt her mother!

"Leave my mom alone!" Nia snarled, preparing to pounce on Scruffy to provide a distraction for her mother. 

"Not my daughter, you bitch! Nia! Get out of here! Run!" Dotty's amber eyes held a feral light born of a mother protecting her young. All bets were off now. If Scruffy wanted her daughter's blood then Dotty would ensure that she had to pay dearly for it. She may not stand much of a chance against the other feline but at that moment she didn't care. She wouldn't let anyone harm her child. She had lost one cub already and it had almost broken her completely, she would die herself before she let another of her cubs face the same fate as Mauko. With any luck her daughter would reach the safety of the other lionesses before Scruffy could catch up with her. As little as she trusted Zira, she was sure that the other Outlander females wouldn't stand for the cold-blooded murder or torture of an innocent cub. Scruffy may be powerful but how could she stand against an entire pride if she angered them?

Scruffy may be both larger and stronger than her but Dotty did have one advantage over her opponent: she was smaller and therefore faster than Scruffy. She didn't need to win this fight, only provide a delay. Still, Dotty intended to deal Scruffy a blow she wouldn't soon forget. What Dotty lacked in fighting prowess she made up for with a talent at hunting. Just imagine her as a large buffalo. Get a hold her and stay firm. It wasn't much of a plan but it was a plan regardless. So, before Scruffy could focus another attack, Dotty feinted left as if to shield Nia before darting to Scruffy's right. Her claws dug into the dry earth for traction as Dotty launched herself at Scruffy's back, claws fully extended to clamp down on her shoulders and keep a hold on her.

Scruffy's shoulder successfully connected with Dotty's chin- she could feel the teeth connect in her jaw and the rattling of her frame being bowled out of the way. Scruffy had already began her advance on Nia, who wasn't honestly that far away to begin with. She'd launched forth, muscles flexing as Nia took a stance of aggression and called out protests. Foolish child- just like her mother.

Not my daughter, you bitch!

By the time Dotty began talking, Scruffy was already on top of Nia. Scruffy was no fool, she wasn't going to hang around for a second and wait for Dotty to recover, the fact that they have both stopped to talk only gave Scruffy an even more ample amount of time to grab the kid. This was one of Dotty's many flaws in combat. There was simply not enough time to banter when precious lives were at stake. And even more amusing- she wasn't finished.

Nia! Get out of here! Run!

Too late. They'd both squandered their time and the cub was nothing but feeble against Scruffy's massive size. A fragile leaf. Her weight was thrown into the small russet creature, and her jowls closed around the back of her neck as she let a vicious snarl unleash. Colossal form turned to face Dotty who would no doubt want to be on the attack, her face contorted in ripples and tensed muscles as she held Nia in her jaws, hot air blowing against the poor girls neck as Scruffy heaved great snorts and growls against her. If Dotty wanted to continue her attack then it was all on her. Scruffy was holding all the cards now.

And Dotty should have known better.

((ooc: Eehh you made that kind of awkward for me by ignoring the fact that when Dotty was hit it was to move her aside and stun her while Scruffy went for Nia... But thank you for changing the post...))

Nia squirmed hard in Scruffy's grasp, growling and hissing her anger at being handled roughly. She wasn't afraid of the larger lioness even if her mother was. She twisted around, trying to claw at the larger lioness's face in hope of release. Nia wouldn't let this strange lioness use her as bait. Nia would fight to the last if she had to.

No! No! She'll kill her!

Dotty panicked, seeing her daughter held in Scruffy's powerful jaws. She was under no illusions that the other lioness would crush her daughter's throat with no hesitation and without waiting for Dotty to give her a reason. She needed to get Nia out of Scruffy's grasp and quickly. Dotty couldn't bare the thought of losing another of her children. Not again. Not to Scruffy. She wouldn't let the lioness who had helped make her life in the Outlands a misery to take one of the only spots of joy she had in her life now.

She'd die first. 

Using her smaller size to her advantage, Dotty launched herself upwards at Scruffy. She aimed for the lionesses neck, exposed when she had lifted Nia off the ground and held her daughter squriming. It was a move that Scruffy wouldn't expect especially when she held her daughter's life in her jaws. Still, it was a chance that Dotty couldn't afford not to take. If Scruffy harmed Nia then Dotty's own fangs would come down and crush her windpipe. If Nia died then so did Scruffy herself.

((ooc: Sorry >< I'll edit that bit out if you want.))

((ooc: seriously... Pay more attention to the posts it's like you're not even reading them and it's getting frustrating... Scruffy didn't lift Nia and expose her throat.. She's used her weight against Nia... It's making it really hard to respond to your attacks reasonably. ))

Nia's squirming would be subdued by a tougher grip, teeth laying into the childs neck rougher than before, as Dotty went for a charge. But Scruffy's neck wasn't raised and exposed- She had bowled her daughter over and grabbed her, turning in time to await Dotty's move, but not once had she lifted the creature. So when Dotty lunged apparently for her throat, it was easy to see and easy to deflect. She kicked back a step, her hind legs bracing and supporting her frontal weight as she swiped a massive paw at Dotty's cranium to deviate the momentum she'd built for the attack. It'd bring her to a halt and no doubt sprawl her to the left despite her wishes.

It was pitiful

The squirming and hissing child in her jaws. The weakness of the failing mother before her. All because she wanted to play big girl. All because she thought she could 'take Scruffy down a peg' for once instead of playing it smart and keeping her mouth shut. This was the outlands, it had always been where the strong survive.

Dotty was not strong. And neither was Nia.

Overwhelming hate rose. Not specifically for Dotty, or even the cub. For the amount of disrespect that was shown for true brutality. Had Dotty no brains for self preservation? Did she not realize this was not just about her anymore? That a true force to be reckoned with should not be goaded? All the same, the hate that built was not in the name of her own social justice, but for the writhing cub in her jowls.
Crimson's narrowed, and her ears twitched back against her skull. Dotty had made a mistake. She'd wanted this, she wanted Scruffy to lose her cool. And now she had. She got what she wanted.

Scruffy was pissed.

Brutish lioness pressed Nia into the dirt. Paws settling on her back, the other on her head and pinned the child like a morsel. Claws extended, no longer a care, she'd pierce the child's hide to keep her still and inflict some fear. This allowed her to re-position her jaws, no longer directly on the back of her neck and around her scruff. Turning the cub over, Scruffy's ivories closed into Nia's neck and without hesitation she ripped out her throat.

Blood.

It painted Scruffy's pale maw and pooled across the earth. The life left Nia's eyes and the squirming finally ceased. A steady burning ignited in Scruffy's crimson sockets.

Bloodlust.

She stood up, her neck arched forward as she glared up at Dotty with a sneer, the bridge of her nose rippling as the blood of her daughter dripped from her snarl. Scruffy had ended Dotty's daughter without another care, and now was ready to end Dotty if she so chose to pursue the fight. Surely she'd realize if she died, then Scruffy would seamlessly hunt down her last child. But she wanted to see it, the rage horror and sorrow that Dotty was going to experience. Like fuel to the machine. A paw with unsheathed claws was placed on the back of the cub, pressing it into the ground as she bared bloodied ivories at Dotty.

"Tell your loved ones about how this was your own fault." Scruffy rumbled, preparing physically for a rage that was soon to come. Everything that had lead up to this moment was provoked by her own actions, and now she'd live with it. Or not- if she chose to continue.

Scruffy had killed Dotty's daughter.

"NIA!"

Dotty's voice was half scream and half roar as she looked at the body of her daughter. Scruffy had moved so fast that Dotty couldn't react fast enough. She had killed her daughter right in front of her and Dotty had been as helpless to stop it as Nia had been. Nia's blood was staining her russet fur a deep crimson as it oozed slowly from the massive gash in her throat where Scruffy had delievered the final blow. Her amber eyes, Dotty's eyes, were wide and lifeless and almost accusing.

You were supposed to protect me. You were supposed to protect me, Mother.

Dotty's legs shook, shock and grief warring for dominance in her brain at that moment. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't move. Tears flowed freely down her face without her even registering them. She took one shaky step towards her daughter's corpse when Scruffy's rumbling words reached her.

"Tell your loved ones about how this was your own fault."

No, this was you. This was you, you bitch, you murdered my daughter. She was an innocent and you killed her! It should have been me, you could have went for me but no...Nia, why Nia? I'll kill you...I'll kill you...I'll kill you!

Her look of horror turned to fury. She turned her head to look at Scruffy and her amber eyes held a look of madness born of misfortune and grief. She would die today if it meant she could take Scruffy down with her. Dotty didn't care about living anymore. She wanted vengence. The hatred she had for Zira for the murder of her son had grown to include Scruffy for stealing her daughter's precious life.

"I'll kill you...I'll kill you..." Like a mantra she said it.

Hm...

Zira was sitting, perched atop a hill and watching the scene unfold. She'd spotted the hulking mass from afar and scanned its form. So...that beast was still alive. Zira thought she'd been lost long ago. Sly-Eye would be so pleased. But curiosity was sparking the cat to stay close to the scene and not interfere. Was Dotty stupid, prodding the beast before her? Even she, Zira, knew not to mess with that giant lioness only known as Scruffy. She didn't have a death wish. As arrogant as she came across, Zira would only pick fights that she knew she would win. Picking a fight with Scruffy was not one of those situations.

Tail flicking delicately behind her, the female listened carefully to the scene. No dialogue until the end of this little play. "Tell your loved ones about how this was your own fault." A smile crept up her lips. Well that was one soft hearted little annoyance down. Scruffy had taken her down with such ease. How pleased Zira was that Scruffy was on their side. Zira had kept Nia and Kuzimu around just to spite Dotty but really...they were getting on her nerves. Especially with her two crying princes needing her attention more than the girls.

"I'll kill you...I'll kill you..." She laughed aloud.

"I'd love to see THAT happen," she purred, walking closer. Come on, she thought to herself, let that little mother attack the brute and die. One less thorn in my side. She stalked closer, not actually acknowledging what happened. She rose to a large termite mound maybe six feet from the scene and stood, staring, not saying a word.

Scruffy's maw was still pulled back, baring her ivories at Dotty. Although it didn't seem like Dotty was making a move, having fallen in delusion, Scruffy didn't look like she was about to give up the small corpse of the cub beneath her talon like claws. They extended across her body, piercing the small ones little hide further. Though she wouldn't feel it anymore, the life had left her eyes long ago, it was anything but sensitive and merely drew more blood from the little thing.

"I'll kill you...I'll kill you..."

"No." Scruffy snorted outwardly, "You won't." and shook her head. No mercy, and she wasn't even going to give up the body. The bystanders weren't even noticed at this point, not Zira on her mount, not even Bellatrix, placed at a safe distance and hidden by the chaos itself. She wasn't concerned about being seen. These two felines were far too interested in one another.

Bellatrix, like Zira, had watched nearly all of it. She'd settled to watch when Dotty had begun prodding the massive beast and watched it escalate from there. Passively, even watched Nia approach, had time to intervene. But this was not her affair. Admittedly, when the darker hued lioness had ripped the throat from the young she was shocked, but not surprised. Closing her eyes and bowing her head she shook it from side to side slowly.

That was the price of children in the war. And Dotty, like anyone here with children, would pay for it.

Although when Dotty fell into her trance like state of disbelief, Bellatrix's crystal blues pried open once again. It was now that Bellatrix would step in. She darted past Zira without giving the Queen Bee so much as a second glance, having known she was watching nearly the whole time too, then veered around the massive lioness with the cub- Scruffy unleashed a feral growl at the sudden movement- and stepped between Scruffy and Dotty.

Her back was boldly placed to the killer and she faced Dotty. Silver pelt and blue eyes- she appeared although she were an angel sent from the heavens itself, cautiously approaching Dotty and forcing her amber gems to stare into her own. Just like the sky- the calm blue sky.

"Dotty...." she whispered. Yelling only escalated, but when you whispered people had to listen to know what you were saying. This was the tactic she was going for. A bold move and a gentle voice. She closed the small distance she'd left between her and Dotty, lifting a paw and touching Dotty's front foreleg. A distracting, but eased touch.

"Nadra," she practically cooed Dotty's real name, but with a persistence, "Please- this isn't about winning, this isn't even about losing... Sweet darling this is about surviving..." she insisted. Her movements became less hesitant, and more forceful. The pale lioness took a step forward, and with a fluid movement she butted her head gracefully towards Dotty's face. This would gently entice her to turn away, to move. She was breaking the line of sight as best she could.

Scruffy watched with particular intrigue, though mostly to see if this pale lioness could convince a fool like Dotty to actually leave. If Dotty could listen to reason, that was beyond anything Scruffy knew of the lout headed thing.

"What about Kuzimu, Nadra?" Bellatrix reminded Dotty of the last cub she had left. Mauko had been a tragedy of Zira, and Nia was the newest. Perhaps the reminder of her last child would tug her back to the present. When Bellatrix continued, her voice was hushed, but there was a dangerous importance when she spoke.

"You want revenge? Fine. You go get revenge. You ignore me, you go over there, and you go take it up with that thing." she summed up. The spot between her eyes tensed, "But you take it up with that thing, and you don't come back. You go take it up with her, and Kuzimu doesn't have a mother anymore." she snapped.

A harsh truth, but Bellatrix would speak it.