Originally Posted by Lawlipop (Post 344848) The dark grey's calm and steady tone was in contrast to Nero's irritated and rising one. He stared directly in his eyes, a clear nonverbal gesture meant to intimidate. His chilly ways did not phase the blonde tom and kept his composure, his yellow eyes remaining to glint down at him. The odd tom gestures to the body that was still attached to his maw. "I am not too busy to investigate potential trespassers to add to the pile." he mumbles. "I have no use of this body other than to keep it away from the clans to avoid pesky confrontations from them." He remembers the battle with SkyClan not too long ago. The battle that took their Co-Commander's life. That battle claimed SkyClan the victors and the Syndicate as the bitter underdogs of the whole skirmish. Even moons after, Nero can tell both groups are doing there best to nurse the wounds they afflicted on each other. "I am not merciful towards those who trespass on Syndicate territory." he adds, flexing his claws that are still painted with another's blood.

Able to hold a gaze. In fact, returning it directly without a flicker. He's trying to intimidate it seems. Just as if he were staring into the eyes of a kit, or any other cat, Hannibal's eyes showed nothing, just a dull sense of curiosity.
Hearing what the larger tom said, voice muffled around the body, the dark grey tom couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow in feigned surprise. It was clear this tom was a fighter, he would have known if he was a guard, hunters didn't hold the kind of strength he did and healer was out of the question. So this tom was a fellow fighter. But one which he didn't know much of. All he knew was his name and that his mother had been quite domineering. He hadn't chosen to keep tabs on him because personally he didn't mind him all too interesting to keep tabs on. Another reckless killer that has been born within the ranks of the Syndicate. And the fact that Nero stood here so carelessly with a body hanging from his jaws only chose to prove this judgement in Hannibal's mind.
The dark tom's eyes didn't flicker when Nero flexed his bloodstains claws, in fact, he didn't even seem to take notice at all.
"Do forgive me if this sounds rude to you, but I believe the smell of the corpse in your maw has blinded your nose. If you were to take a moment to drop it and take a sniff, you would find that I am purely of the Syndicate, born here to be perfectly exact."
The sun swayed through the dense canopy of the territory in a way to cause Hannibal's claws to glint coldly for a moment.
"So I believe that your threat is misguided and useless in this moment,
for I am one of the very cats that patrols this territory to keep trespassers out."

Originally Posted by Lawlipop (Post 346233) *casually makes a double Nero* Nero has already been spending his time in the territory stomping around, trying to sniff out any cats trespassing onto Dusk Syndicate territory. Any intruders that got sniffed out by the Syndicate fighter would have to answer to his claws, which has never allowed any transgressor scratchless, most of his unfortunate victims never even made it out of the confrontation alive. He spots a white silhouette gracefully slip by from the corner of his eye. He follows it and sees a white molly carefreely strolling through the territory. He uses the flora around to sneak his way in front of her to confront her. He glints his yellow eyes at her, but the strong scent of Dusk Syndicate was on her. He relaxed and grew less tense, his stern look changed to something that had a mix of disappointment in it, and turned around, preparing to leave to scout some more.

The slim white oriental feline was reaching closer and closer to the border when she heard a rustling ahead of her. Her pale indigo eyes peered through the thick bushes and flowers of green leaf, and a cats silhouette could be made out just barely. The fur along her spine rose and she emitted a soft growl. She stepped forwards seeing they had turned away, preparing for a chase. She then stopped and sniffed in the spot they had been standing in and they recalled the familiar and home like scent of the Syndicate. It was one of her own, but she didn't know them personally, and from the smell of it, they were a tom cat. So maybe a bit of fun could take place. She creeped forwards, keeping her body low, as if she was stalking someone. She saw the dark figure of the tom ahead of her and she smiled maliciously. Then in a turn of events, she darted forward at a remarkable speed, one worthy of a Windclan warrior. She ran forward, the cats body looming closer and closer. She then jumped, making her body fly over the top of the cats head. As she landed, she allowed herself to role over, tumbling in the decaying leaves that still lingered from last leaf bare. "Hello there." She purred, turning back to Nero.

Originally Posted by Fern (Post 346417) Kovu smiled, ears perking as he listened to the molly speak. "Yes. This should be very fun." The tom said, eyes glittering as he said his next words, "Let's practice fighting." He picked up on Maia emphasizing what she would rather do, and honestly, he would like to as well. The muscular tom held in a slight purr as her tail brushed over his shoulder and walk a few tail lengths away. The dark red tom grinned and padded to Maia's side. "Lead the way," He mewed softly.

The molly rose an eyebrow and grinned, "Let's go." She purred bumping him lightly with her shoulder. The fighter padded forward, her tail waving behind her as she padded a little ways away then turned around to face Kovu, trying to hold back a smirk. Maia crouched down, flicking her ears and watching the tom. She bounced forward playfully and swatted at the red tom before she jumped back.

Originally Posted by Duskflight (Post 346687) Able to hold a gaze. In fact, returning it directly without a flicker. He's trying to intimidate it seems. Just as if he were staring into the eyes of a kit, or any other cat, Hannibal's eyes showed nothing, just a dull sense of curiosity. Hearing what the larger tom said, voice muffled around the body, the dark grey tom couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow in feigned surprise. It was clear this tom was a fighter, he would have known if he was a guard, hunters didn't hold the kind of strength he did and healer was out of the question. So this tom was a fellow fighter. But one which he didn't know much of. All he knew was his name and that his mother had been quite domineering. He hadn't chosen to keep tabs on him because personally he didn't mind him all too interesting to keep tabs on. Another reckless killer that has been born within the ranks of the Syndicate. And the fact that Nero stood here so carelessly with a body hanging from his jaws only chose to prove this judgement in Hannibal's mind. The dark tom's eyes didn't flicker when Nero flexed his bloodstains claws, in fact, he didn't even seem to take notice at all. "Do forgive me if this sounds rude to you, but I believe the smell of the corpse in your maw has blinded your nose. If you were to take a moment to drop it and take a sniff, you would find that I am purely of the Syndicate, born here to be perfectly exact." The sun swayed through the dense canopy of the territory in a way to cause Hannibal's claws to glint coldly for a moment. "So I believe that your threat is misguided and useless in this moment, for I am one of the very cats that patrols this territory to keep trespassers out."

Originally Posted by TheBread (Post 347287) The molly rose an eyebrow and grinned, "Let's go." She purred bumping him lightly with her shoulder. The fighter padded forward, her tail waving behind her as she padded a little ways away then turned around to face Kovu, trying to hold back a smirk. Maia crouched down, flicking her ears and watching the tom. She bounced forward playfully and swatted at the red tom before she jumped back.

Originally Posted by Fern (Post 347466) "Perfect." He mewed, flashing the molly a grin as she swatted at him. Kovu crouched down, making a small rumbling purr in the back of his throat. He swished his tail slowly behind him, watching Maia. The dark red tom darted up beside the molly, swatting at each ear with his paw. His yellow eyes glowed as he purred again and stepped back to return to a crouch.

Maia grinned and purred, her waving tail dropping. The fighter reared back and attempted to knock the red tom onto his back. She stretched out toward him, her eyes bright with interest.
[Sorry, short]

Originally Posted by TheBread (Post 348616) Maia grinned and purred, her waving tail dropping. The fighter reared back and attempted to knock the red tom onto his back. She stretched out toward him, her eyes bright with interest. [Sorry, short]

Originally Posted by Nighty (Post 346797) The slim white oriental feline was reaching closer and closer to the border when she heard a rustling ahead of her. Her pale indigo eyes peered through the thick bushes and flowers of green leaf, and a cats silhouette could be made out just barely. The fur along her spine rose and she emitted a soft growl. She stepped forwards seeing they had turned away, preparing for a chase. She then stopped and sniffed in the spot they had been standing in and they recalled the familiar and home like scent of the Syndicate. It was one of her own, but she didn't know them personally, and from the smell of it, they were a tom cat. So maybe a bit of fun could take place. She creeped forwards, keeping her body low, as if she was stalking someone. She saw the dark figure of the tom ahead of her and she smiled maliciously. Then in a turn of events, she darted forward at a remarkable speed, one worthy of a Windclan warrior. She ran forward, the cats body looming closer and closer. She then jumped, making her body fly over the top of the cats head. As she landed, she allowed herself to role over, tumbling in the decaying leaves that still lingered from last leaf bare. "Hello there." She purred, turning back to Nero.

Originally Posted by Fern (Post 348783) (it is fine) Kovu grinned, yellow eyes gazing into Maia's. The molly caught him off guard when she reared and attempted to knock him down, he fell backward, belly exposed. He felt slightly cautious about what the pretty molly would do next, but he doubted she would hurt him.

The molly dropped down beside him, huffing, "That was fun." She said, pawing gently at the tom beside her. Maia grinned and rolled onto her side, raising an eyebrow at him. "Would you like to do something else?" She asked, her honey-like tone coming back again as she met his yellow eyes with her amber gaze.

Originally Posted by Suspiciousmindz (Post 292538) Illusion became more weary as the dark tom moved in her direction, however she didn't think much of it. Why should she? Hannibal wouldn't do anything now, would he? He had no reason to, or at least Illusion didn't remember him having a reason to. She was just about to speak again when his quick movement caused a shriek of surprise to leave her body as she was thrown backwards into the ground. She slid for a few moment, stunned by what had just happened. She didn't exactly have her fighter training in line; she was just getting gaining back her muscles that had depleted with her lack of exercise. The fluffy white she-cat was soft right now. She had no way of defending herself now. The air was knocked from her and she was taking too long to recover from the blow. Her deep optics blinked a few times as she slowly rocked her head back and forth to clear it. "Wha- Why?" she managed to mumble once she finally started to recover. Illusion lifted her head to look at the gray tom who -- assuming -- was moving towards her already. Fear filled her gaze, she didn't know why he was doing this. What would her kits think! Oh, this was terrible, and there was no one out here to hear her calls for help. It was unavoidable and Illusion was already accepting it as she didn't try to get up to flee. There was no way her body could outrun that of a cat who was fit.

Patience was very much a virtue, and a virtue that Hannibal had plenty of. Many moons now he had waited, letting her grow a family, letting her get soft, letting her forget. And now, it was finally time to tie off this loose end. The only cat that has ever survived one of his attacks, and not because he let them do so. It was a shame that she had forgotten it, but then again, it was part of the plan to let her do so. It would make this final encounter so much more.. Monumental.
The dark toms head slammed into it's target, exploding into her chest and sending her backwards in a motion that was so fast that a cat as soft as her would hardly have a chance of escaping. Perhaps if she remembered her training, if she hadn't grown soft, if she hadn't became a mother, she could have avoided it. But she didn't, and he had made sure of it. He made sure not to visit her often, to not speak to her often so that his figure wouldn't rouse past memories, potentially setting his plan back farther. And now it was falling into place. Skidding to a stop, dazed momentarily, Hannibal approached, burning eyes focused on her, reading her face. Fear, confusion, perhaps thoughts of her family. Oh how different you've become since you were a trainee Illusion. You could have became a decent fighter for this Syndicate, if you hadn't done what you did. But unfortunately, you can't turn back now and retake your actions or words. Rudeness is intolerable, no matter how great of a fighter you could have become.
No words, not at the moment. He let her question hang in the air as he stood there, a mouselength away. She wasn't going to move, or run, she knew what was going to happen and Hannibal knew too. He had all of the time in the world.
After a long pause, letting her mind frantically try to rediscover what she did to deserve this, he would finally speak.

"You were my trainee, a trainee that showed great promise in the ways of being a fighter. But unfortunately, you held a trait that is insufferable, a trait that I will never tolerate. Rudeness is a plague that must be cleansed, especially if you dare to present it in my presence, in which you did. You were saved by that she-cat, Hera, had she not been here I wouldn't be having to do this now, but she was there and you had been momentarily pardoned. The only cat who has walked away from me alive when I had full intentions of you being dead."
Hannibal sighed and watched Illusion for a moment.
"You didn't think I could really let you live, did you? That I would forget?
Perhaps if it was some other cat, but unfortunately enough you're dealing with me. Now, with this gift of memory given, I believe it is my time to truly put an end to you. Have you any words that you wish to be said before this happens? I will say beforehand that I have no intentions of culling your family, I have no reason to, they will be as safe as they are now."