[PRP] Spill the Red from My Heart (Adala/Kotu)

[Meepfur]

Adala loved the night, the refuge and relief it brought from the desert days. She loved the moon for providing light that didn't burn her and scorch her pink nose until it cracked and bled. She was delighted, therefore, to have landed the nighttime watch now that she was an adolescent; she couldn't go out and fight yet, but she was a reliable and sensible pair of eyes. She could stand in the moonlight and cool air and not be uncomfortable. The young lioness may have been used to sunburn, but that didn't make it hurt any less; it just meant that she was good at sucking it up and not showing that it hurt.

It was difficult to live in the Namib when she looked so much like her Mistweaver mother, a lioness she had barely known before Attila went to find her jungle home, leaving Adala behind. She'd never known exactly why, but it didn't upset her. This was her home, this was where she belonged, even if the desert wasn't kind such pale creatures; in her mind and heart and soul, she was the desert's. She was Qyrhyeshti, though not by blood.

And soon...another few months, perhaps, she would be fighting. For now, though, she watched the oasis, ears erect and eyes wide open.

((Will be using this to test the fight system. Adala will start with 8 base HP, since she's an adolescent in this scenario and should be at a disadvantage.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

Heavy paws made little sound in the soft sands as the large lion trailed after his 'prey' of sorts, violet eyes focused on the pale form ahead of himself. His ears flattened back a moment as he contemplated how long he had been following her, a scowl reaching his lips. Though, Kotu could not be sure if his annoyance came from the fact that he was, indeed, following the young lioness, or from the fact that she had yet to pick up on his presence. Were he an enemy she would be in a great deal of trouble... And for reasons he could not explain, the thought of her learning her lesson too late from an enemy paw.. frightened him.

Better for him to teach the lesson himself. He at least, would spare her life. Though the same might not be said for any other young lion he stalked after, who was not observant enough on their patrols for his tastes.

He continued his trailing until she reached a slower pace, creeping up on the lioness slow and silent until he was in distance to charge her. Whether the roar that cut through the silence of the night as he sprang forward was in kindness to give her some forewarning, or meant to startle her and make the attack easier was anyone's guess as he leapt upon Adala with a heavy swing of his paw.

(As an adult Kotu will start with 10 health and claims the first attempt at an attack)  

[Meepfur]

If he'd given her a chance to explain rather than teaching her a lesson, she might have argued that she didn't notice him because it was him, that she'd unconsciously tuned him out as not dangerous - she was watching for enemies, not Kotu! Granted, she should have noticed him regardless, but that would have been her excuse to the Bey's son.

Adala tried to move out of the way, to dodge the sudden and inexplicable assault, but the sheer surprise of it translated to hesitation (was she supposed to try and hit him?), and she was grazed. Whirling around and backpedaling fast, she demanded, "What was that for?!"

((Light hit -1, HP=7.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

He let her put distance between them as he slowly stalked a circle around her, eyes hardening at her question. A low growl escaped his throat as he readied himself for another lunge. " I should not have been able to catch you unaware. I could be the enemy. A friend turned foe. You relax your guard to easily, Adala. " He lectured, throwing his heavy weight forward to strike out at her once more with his paw. He was hardly trying to fight her full-force... At least, not yet.

He settled for the roll of a firm, perhaps unreasonable, teacher. She would learn, and he would feel less cause to stalk her patrols... This... worry... for the female. It was beginning to aggravate him.

" Do not cower before an enemy! " He growled out. He was not in the habit of granting others permission to attack him. In a spar, it was obvious to do so.. Outside of it, well. That could mean one's death to launch an attack on the heir. Still, that was as close to permission as she would be granted.

(HP=10)  

[Meepfur]

"Hey!" the adolescent yelped, indignant as she was struck in the face, a claw catching her cheek. She attempted to hit back, but it was more of a flail, and she missed entirely. Adala hopped backwards again, trying to outdistance his longer reach and collect herself. This was...this was ridiculous! And confusing! And embarrassing!

"If I'm supposed to be paying attention, why are you distracting me?" she snapped.

((Light hit -1, HP=6.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

A smirk quirked over his lips as he watched the adolescent, slowly closing the distance she had once again put between the two of them. " Do you refuse my lesson then, Adala? " He countered in a dangerous tone. " Or are you simply doubting me? I would not have initiated a fight with you if there were anything in the area. I do not endanger you, or our lands. "

He had once more reached striking distance between them as he spoke, suddenly crouching to take a leap at the female. " Face me! " He demanded once more to provoke her into a proper fight.

(HP=10)  

[Meepfur]

Well, at least he hadn't hit her again! Yet. It was cold comfort, though, because Kotu was going to be coming for her again, and he had almost every advantage in this fight. He had size, stength, and experience far greater than hers. And what did she have? Better speed maybe, agility. She was pretty sure that was not going to be enough.

Either way, Adala was tired of this already. She tensed her muscles, opting not to strike (which would surely be obvious and fail) but to wait for him to leap - maybe if she was fast enough, she could hit him then. And she really wanted to hit him.

((HP=6.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

His eyes lit up slightly when the female finally seemed prepared to take him seriously, and actually face him. No more games, then.

He launched himself forward from the crouch without any further warnings, claws withdrawn in the intent to pin her rather than impale her. But she would not go without damage. Not quick enough to avoid his lunge, he tackled her down hard into the sands, jaws snapping around the side of her neck with a low growl. He didn't pull his teeth as he did his claws, instead letting them sink into the soft fur and skin beneath him.

(HP=10)  

[Meepfur]

Okay, so clearly that had been a terrible idea, because it failed miserably. In theory it had seemed worth a try, that she could jump out of the way and strike him at the same time, but she wasn't quite as fast as she thought she was...or he was faster than she thought he was. Whichever it was, her hasty plan ended in her tripping over herself, and her opponent - seriously, this was ridiculous - pinned her.

AND BIT HER. Adala had never really been bitten before, and she was definitely not okay with it. But how was she supposed to get out this now? He was really heavy!

((Medium hit -2, HP=4.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

He refused to let go once he had her down, growling lowly as he kept his jaws locked into her, enough to hurt, though certainly not enough to tear out her throat. The whole point of his attack was in teaching her to better survive, after all. He hardly wanted to accidentally kill her. He left just enough gentleness in his actions to avoid any huge damage, bracing his paws against the sand at her sides as he tugged slightly at her throat to encourage her to try to throw him off by adding to the pain.

He was not known for being gentle, in any context or situation. Or going lightly on anyway in a fight. Adala however, received... special treatment from him at times. At first only because of her mother, but... Now for entirely different reasons. He waited as long as he was willing before lifting a paw to strike out at his captive.

(HP=10)  

[Meepfur]

No, no way he was going to hit her, too! Fueled as much by indignance as pain, she tried to wriggle out from under him or throw him off, but she just wasn't strong enough to outright dislodge him. She'd have to get him to let her go some other way. She flailed, feigning another attempt to toss him off, but used it to get her back legs underneath him and kick, hoping that would be enough.

((HP=4.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

He leaned away from her flailing paws, eyes focused on her claws. He was unprepared for the blow coming toward his stomach. It wasn't the hardest hit, but it did take him by surprise as his mouth sprung open with a grunt of pain, releasing her from his grasp, but it wasn't enough to dislodge him fully, his weight still pressing down on her.

He snapped his teeth at her again with a snarl, trying to get another hold on the female even as he twisted his body away from her legs. It gave her more room to move, but at least he wouldn't risk another kick to his soft underside.

(Light hit -1, HP=9)  

[Meepfur]

Yes! Finally! His reaction gave her the opening she needed, even if she couldn't quite get out from under him yet. With him shifting so she couldn't kick at him again, she was forced to use her teeth instead. Even as Kotu snapped at her, she snapped at him, all but latching onto his face. It was an intimidating position to be in, pinned and hanging on to someone (especially the Bey's son, was she going to get in trouble if she hurt him?), face-to-face essentially, but at least she had him!

For now, anyway.

((HP=4.))  

[strawberry gumi bunny]

A pained snarl escaped him as she snapped back, her own teeth blocking his attempts to get a hold of her, and sinking into his maw. Uncaring of the added damage to himself, he was quick to jerk back from her hold, letting her teeth rip through him as he pushed away, finally taking himself off of her.

He didn't give her the time to regain her feet however, lashing down at the female now that he was more out of range of her teeth and paws, striking his claws across her side, before finally putting distance between the two of them. He stalked back from her with a frown, eyeing her closely as he prepared for another attack. Despite his frown however, there was an approving glint in his eyes as Adala fought back against him.

No, he would not be permitting anyone to punish the young lioness... Not even for the wound she'd given him that was sure to scar. He was too proud of the progress she was making.

(Medium hit -2, HP=7)  

[Meepfur]

She didn't have long to savor that she'd finally gotten back at him, or that he finally got off of her. He didn't give her any time at all to get back on her paws before he struck her again. Another stinging wound, and she was back to being on the losing side of this fight. When he backed off, she took the opportunity to scramble to her feet, panting.

((Medium hit -2, HP=2.))