A story by Charles Robbie.
A battle for supremacy to find out who´s the ultimate warrior...and real king.
At northern India, in an unespesific region, reside two long time rivals. Wich one, represent the authority and rule their respective territory.
Deep in the jungle, Rajah, a big and fearsome bengal tiger. Rajah is unique among his peers, because his body lacks of tigers´s distinctive stripes. Just a few stripes on him, most part of his body is orange with a white coat and belly. Rather than being covered by stripes, Rajah´s body is covered —in most part— by several scars from previous fights with other tigers. Not only his back, flanks, but his face. He almost lose an ear and get lamed in one of his hind legs, due to fighting other tigers and anyone who dares to challenge him.
Unlike other tigers —who ambush their prey in order to avoid injuries— Rajah´s attacks are direct. He enjoys to battle his potential meal face to face to death. Hunting this way, not only gains reputation of being fearless and merciless, but of becoming the "ultimate fighter", in order to feed his ego. Rajah has killed many animals not only for feeding, but just for fun. In several occasions, Rajah has killed many infant deers and elephants as well, just for "practice". He also took down by himself a large asiatic phyton, playing with the snake´s body until get bored.
The rest of the animals whom live the terror of being part of Rajah´s menu, cannot live like this anymore. For them, Rajah is a merciless emperor, whose empire lacks of balance, unrespecting the laws of nature. For them, the tiger is the personification of chaos. They want to get rid of him and live in peace.
A few miles away from Rajah´s empire, there´s a kingdom ruled by Khan, a black maned —to the shoulders— asiatic lion. Khan has been the king for a long time. He gained the throne killing his father and brothers —he almost got kill fighting his peers, These events, proved to him not to be a "skilly" fighter.
As a result of this "traumatic experience" of almost being killed, he decided to avoid any kind of confrontation, leaving these duties to his group of lionesses.
Deep inside of him, Khan is afraid of fighting, and eventually death, because he knows he´s not so strong, unlike Rajah. Both cats met once in the past, when they were cubs. Their rivarly begun when, they were playing, Rajah beat Khan in front of the lion´s parents, humiliating him. A young Khan vowed revenge on Rajah. The tiger, eventually gained his reputation for himself, and not for being part of a dynasty. So, Khan envies Rajah for his skills and cunning, for ruling an empire by himself, without any kind of help, while Khan relies and depends on the support of his pack of lionesses —due to his cowardice of fighting.
Khan is seen as a "false king" and dictator, by the animals who live with him. The lion doesn´t tolerate any kind of critics or comments, and protests as well. Once, he ordered to his lionesses, the execution of a group of gaurs, who were protesting for the lack of water in the river, as Khan rejected the proposal of moving in search for water, having decide to wait until rain season. He´s kingdom is passing through a time of crisis, due to Khan´s failed decisions. He only takes care of himself, not showing interest in the problems of his society.
One night, far away from their respective homes —and after many meetings in secret— the population of both territories, sending their respectives representatives, decided to work togheter, with a witty plan on mind: lure both cats into a fight to death, in order to get rid of them.
"That´s nothing comparing to Khan. That lion is a dictator. He doesn´t tolerate any comments or critics towards him. He has no honor and doesn´t take care of us,"said Hela, in behalf of her partners living in Khan´s kingdom. She is part of the elephants pack."We need water, we need grass to feed on, but Khan doesn´t take care of our problems!...and, if we try to do something by ourselves, he sends his lionesses to intimidate us, " added Hela, worried about the situation.
"We cannot say the same. We are trapped. In behalf of my group, we have presence in both territories," said Nala, from the wild cows of the region. "Your plan seems to be logic, but...how would you lure those beasts into a fight?, it could be suicide, just think about it."
Two vultures, descend from the top of the surrounding trees. Kala, Hela and Nala look at them with caution. For them, vultures are related to death, and most animals try to avoid them. It´s a pair: Kaia and Rack.
"We have eavesdropping your meeting, and we have good news for you. We can volunteer to lure both kitties into a fight. We know how. The cuestion for you is...are you agree?, " said Kaia, in a sotf, but menacing voice.
"Why would you want to help us," asked Kala, doubting on the birds intentions.
"Because, it could be a great meal for us. Those kittens will kill each other, and we want to taste the flavor of fresh meat! We already taste the flavor of rotten flesh. Thats why. But if you have problems with that, well, you can try to find other way," said Rack, showing a lack of interest.
"I do not trust you! You want something in exhange, beside that reason," claimed Hela.
"Calm down, you serpent-like nose. Of course we want something in exhange...your infants. Leave them alone, let them die by malnutrition. We want to taste the flavor of tender flesh," said Rack, laughing with evil.
Kala, Hela and Nala do not say a word. They´re speechless, just looking at each other.
"So...what do you say?," asked Kaia.
"You got it. But...do it fast. Hurry up!," said Kala, in a serious manner.
Both birds start flying and part ways. Hela and Nala are staring at Kala. They cannot believe what the young gaur has done.
Rack arrives to Rajah´s cave. The tiger is chewing the bone of an infant deer. "It tastes good," said Rajah, while moving his ears in order to detect Kaia´s presence. "If you have nothing importat to say, leave, before I use your feathers to clean my fangs," said Rajah, growling at the bird.
"Take it easy, orange boy!, of course I have something to tell you," said Rack. He´s nervous. "It´s about Khan, your foe from many years. Do you remember him?, well, he has challenged you. He put his kingdom on the line against you. You win, you take his territory, but, you lose, you´ll have to relinquish to your power in this region," said Rack. He´s ready to fly if the tiger attacks.
"Finally!, that coward has the guts to face me," said Rajah while lauhging. The tiger proceeds to walk towards Rack. "My empire would be bigger than ever. I´ll take Khan´s kingdom!, I can beat him, I did it once."
"Of course you can!, you have gained all of this by yourself. You can do it. You know what?, I heard that Khan said, he could beat you within forty seconds," said Rack, mocking on Rajah.
The tiger roars angrily, frightening Rack. "I´m better...I´m better!, " claimed Rajah as he leaves his cave. He runs trough the jungle to Khan´s kingdom. He´s being followed by Rack, and by most of the animals who are afraid of him.
Meanwhile, at Khan´s shelter, Kaia arrives. Quickly, one of Khan´s lionesses pins down the bird, ready to kill her, but she´s saved by the lion´s interference. "Leave her, she might bring somes news...don´t you?, " asked Khan to Kaia, while beholding his kingdom.
"Yes...your majesty. It´s important. I´m afraid your kingdom in under risk," said Kaia while recovering from the attack. She´s afraid of the lions. Khan is calm, he turns to see Kaia. "Under risk?, you are wrong. Everything is fine here. I´m the king and that´s what matters," said Khan. He shows no emotions.
"It´s...Rajah!, your majesty. He´s coming right here...and right now!," yelled Kaia while watching the lions. Khan face shows fear and worry. "Ra...rajah?..., no...impossible!," said Khan to himself. He suddenly roars in frustration. "That...that bully is coming here, into my territory!," said Khan in his mind.
"He´s coming to challenge you. He claims to be better. And, he wants your kingdom," said Kaia, still hanging arround.
"We can take care of the tiger, your majesty," said Mela, the leader of Khan´s pack of lionesses. "We can beat the tiger. You don´t have to worry about it. Your safety is priority for us."
"No!, I can...I can do it. I´m not the weak from the last time. That tiger...will know me!," said Khan. He´s worried than ever. "If I win, I would take his territory, I´ll merge it with mine and I´ll be the undisputed king!"
"But...your fighting skills, you don´t have so much as well," claimed Mela. She´s worried.
"Nevermind!, I´ll take down that tiger. My mane is fully grown and thick. It will give me protection," said the lion, confident on himself.
Rajah has arrived. He calls out Khan. All animals —of both populations— are witnessing the moment. Among them, Kala, Hela and Nala. "Come out, you coward!, I´ll beat you, this time for good and I´ll take your domains," yelled Rajah, outside Khan´s shelter.
Slowly, Khan shows up. The lion is followed by Mela and rest of lionesses. Both cats stare at each other. "Has been a long time, Rajah. Where did your stripes go?," said Khan. He´s mocking on Rajah´s appearance.
"I´m fine with this. Unlike you, I do not need someone watching my back all the time," said Rajah, growling. Both cats roar. "I´m glad everyone is here. They will witness who is the most savage and badass. The ultimate king!," claimed Rajah. He´s ready. "You got it!, everything is on the line, " replied Khan.
The fight starts. Rajah goes immediately for the kill. He pins down Khan, grabbing the lion for its throat, in an upside down position. Khan struggles to get free from Rajah´s death grip. The tiger has a tremendous strength and holds Khan for a while. Khan manages to get free. Rajah´s mouth is fulled by a chunk of mane. Khan quickly recovers and gives heavy blows to Rajah´s face with his front paws.
The tiger´s face is bleeding, but it doesn´t care to him. He stands now on his two hind legs and attacks Khan on his flanks. Rajah strikes with both paws at the same time. He´s fast giving blows. The flanks of the lion are mangled. Rajah tries again to bite Khan´s neck, but only gets more mane, so he must focus in the flanks of his foe. Both neck and shoulders of the lion are protected. Both Rajah and Khan, are getting tired, and are bleeding so bad.
"What´s the matter?, Are you done?," said Khan. He´s barely breathing. "You´re protection is good," said Rajah, thinking on his next move. Most of his face in torn.
Khan charges at Rajah, but the tiger surprises him by standing on his hind legs and charging against the lion —again— with his front paws, tossing Khan away. Khan barely recovers and charges again. Both cats give heavy blows to each other. For a second time, Rajah pins down Khan again in a death grip, but the tiger snatches a big chunk of mane again. Both separate again.
The spectators are watching in awe. They´re making bets about the outcome. They´re cheering.
"I have to give a heavy blow to his right flank, is very damaged,", thinked Rajah. The body of boths cats are wounded. Khan´s mane is partially gone. Both give a fierce and louder roar. Everyone cheers. About to give their last strike...two gunshots!, so loud, frightening the rest of the animals, fleeing away.
Both Rajah and Khan, are lying on the floor, they´re dead. Two hunters approach: an old and a young hunter. "One tiger and a lion in my first hunting!," claimed in awe the youngest hunter. He looks at the bodies of both big cats, their scars and damage. "Why were they fighting?," asked the same young hunter.
"Who cares?, they lost to the greatest...us," said the old hunter, while checking his rifle.
"Who would win...a tiger or a lion?," asked the young man, drinking some water. "It will depend of each individual," replied the old man. "They will look great on my living room!, call the rest to help us carry these trophies," ordered the young hunter.
The bodies of Rajah and Khan are now on display in the young hunter´s living room. They´re in a combat position, with Rajah dominating Khan.
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