[CHAL] Great determination.

[Zosie]

Tendaji had been watching this pride for some time. It was different to the others. He'd seen his fair share of prides in his travels and granted he had never been in one, but he would watch them and figure out roughly how they worked. He still had a lot of curiosity about the pride however, and he wanted in.

When he wanted something, he was going to make sure he got it, no matter what it took.

He would have to win a challenge, and as he approached the border, he drew himself up to look bigger. It was all in the confidence. He had the skills, but perhaps these lions would be stronger.  

[mouselet]

The white lion smiled to himself as he saw the stranger standing just over the border of Stormborn lands. From the other male's aggressive stance, fluffed up for, and specific positioning, the Reaver knew exactly what he wanted.

He wanted in. And was determined to win his challenge and attain that coveted right.

Ensis had seen many challenges in the time since he'd first won his own challenge into the Myrsky Syntynyt, and many challengers. Each one was different, but so many thinggs were near universal.

"All right then," he said as he came near. "Let's see what you've got." Who knew, perhaps he'd even learn something from the stranger.  

[Zosie]

Tendaji nodded as the biggest form of greeting he wanted to give before he charged. He didn't want to waste time with formalities. Not now he was ready to try for his challenge. His mind was in the game, and his face reflected that. Deadly serious, eyes focused.

Letting out a snarl he used his back legs to propel himself forward and launched his body towards the green and white male. He aimed to throw himself on top of him but he may have misjudged the angle and looked like he was going to scrape the lion's side instead.  

[mouselet]

Well, the other white lion certainly had fire in him, Ensis had to admit that. It was a trait he was happy to see. However, aim was a little off. The Reaver sidestepped the frontal asssault and made a swipe of his own as the stranger hurtled past. The swipe wasn't really intended to hit, but more to keep the other male from coming too close. It wasn't Ensis' intent that they spend the entire time wrestling.

A challenge was, after all, to see what a would-be Stormborn was made of. To make sure that no weaklings were permitted to join the pride.  

[Zosie]

His jump had indeed missed his opponent and he had ended up driving his hard into the earth, his joints shuddering gently. He managed to avoid most of the lions swipe, but it caught his ear with a moderate blow. It began to sting and Tendaji scowled. Useless, sensitive things, ears were. The blow had thrown him a little off balance, but he threw all of his weight into a paw aimed at the lion's chest. His aim felt much better this time.

He had spent some time practicing in the rogue lands, and training on his own, but it wasn't really wise to pick fights on other rogue lions, so this was his first fight against another in a long time.  

[mouselet]

Most lions, after the incredible fumble this stranger had made, would take a step back, analyze the situation and then come back stronger than before. The other white lion, however, was not most lions. He skipped the analytical and contemplative step and move straight into another attack. Hence Ensis was taken off guard when a solid paw, with all the force of the other male's weight behind it, plowed into his chest.

Surprised or not, Ensis was not about to let that strike go unanswered. Since the stranger had so obligingly put his limb into the Reaver's reach, Ensis would do the only logical thing.

He bit down on the other lion's foreleg, fully intending to hold him in place and not let go.  

[Zosie]

Tendaji was appreciative of the other males strategy which seemed to counteract his slightly hap-hazardous one.

He felt sharp teeth pierce his skin and let out a pained snarl. He glared at the male for a moment and tried to remain calm, using the bulk of his weight to try and remove himself from the males jaws. He made a series of badly-aimed swipes at the defender's head, but was slightly too distracted for any of them to count for much.  

[mouselet]

The white lion was trapped, with Ensis' mouth on his leg. However, the Reaver had made a slight miscalculation - the stranger was larger than the lions he usually fought, and had a better position by being on top in this struggle. However ineffective the blows at Ensis' own head were, the general shifting of weight accomplished the goal.

Ensis was forced to release his prize or he risked losing his teeth.

Spitting out excess fur, the white Reaver regained his feet and began to circle warily, not choosing to attack yet as he analyzed his zealous opponent.  

[Zosie]

Successfully managing to shift the weight in his favor had meant his bloodied forearm was free. It was sore, but it was something he chose to ignore until after the fight. He did not want to be distracted further, he had a goal to achieve today.

The Reaver began to circle and analyse, but Tendaji did not want to give him a chance. Though he was aiming to win, he did not want to do too much damage. Joining a new pride would surely be difficult if you accidentally kill one of them on the border. He struck again as soon as he could, launching himself at the males shoulders with all the calculated and measured ferocity and open claws he could muster.  

[mouselet]

There was, Ensis decided, as he ended up on his back again, a lot that this stranger had to learn about patience and strategy in battle. He had the heart and, as the white lion could attest, the strength to withstand a very great deal. But he wasn't going to call this challenge complete, not yet at least.

But he wasn't about to tell the other that the outcome had already been determined. Instead he kicked with his back legs at the bulk of the body above him.  

[Zosie]

A stiff kick to the ribs did it's job of dislodging Tendaji from on top of the other male. He took a sharp inhale of breath and backed off a little for the first time since he had issued the challenge. His mind wondered for a moment and he realised he didn't know how the challenge would be decided. It wasn't a fight to the death, he knew that much. Would his opponent decide? Would there be someone to look over the wounds? He shrugged internally and decided he wasn't in too bad of a position at the moment. One thing he did know about fights, was that they could be lost as quickly as they could be won.

His moment of brief thought was interrupted by his own determination roaring at him inwardly. He wanted to finish what he'd started, and aimed the paw of forearm that wasn't bloodied towards his opponent with a leap. He aimed for the legs this time. The male didn't look as injured there.  

[mouselet]

He wasn't actually certain what it was that had gotten the stranger off of him. Ensis knew he hadn't put as much force into those kicks as he could have...perhaps he'd done something to put his opponent offbalance. Regardless, he appreciated the chance to catch his breath as the other white lion, for the first time, took a step back to actually look at the situation. Idly, the Reaver wondered what he was thinking in this first breather he'd taken this fight.

He didn't have much time to wonder as the other male came at him once again. His trajectory was low and Ensis wasn't sure he was steady enough on his feet to really combat the blow. So he let it hit, let it overbalance him, and then the minty white lion let gravity help him fall onto his opponent.

Panting slightly, he lay there for a few long moments.

"I think that's enough."  

[Zosie]

Well, that was obviously a slight miscalculation on his part. The defended had gone straight on top of him, and now he was slowly being crushed under a mass of white and green fur.

He let out a grunt as he too caught his breath. He would need to come up with a better strategy for fighting, he was rather exhausted. Or maybe it was simply because he wasn't used to it. He didn't have much time for fighting talk, or for trying to distract opponents.

"It is?" Were his first words to the stranger, unsure of what was about to come next.  

[mouselet]

"Yes," the Reaver answered conclusively as he carefully disentangled his limbs and rose to his feet. Pink eyes considered his opponent. Yes, there was fire there, and even if he was inclined to let his drive lead him in battle, there was a sense that this white lion's skill could be tempered and improved.

"I am Reaver Ensis," he introduced himself at last. "You will come with me, and we'll make a Freeborn of you." With that being said, Ensis turned and headed for the heart of the pride. If the younger lion wasn't a complete idiot, he'd follow and find his future.

If not, then no loss.  

[Zosie]

Tendaji felt a sudden and overwhelming sense of both relief and pride. He nodded graciously to Ensis as a way of acceptance. He would introduce himself later, for now, it looked like there was no time for chatting.

He was still a young adult male, very driven, but he knew that joining this pride could make him stronger, more skilled.

And for once his determination was overtaken by excitement.

((END))