[SRP - North] Lesson: #1 [Thrain & Anga]

[Quaji]

Stat Counter

Lion vs. Cheetah

Thrain
HP: 30 +5 (for Captain rank)
Hit: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 11
Miss: 1, 7 and 10
Critical Hit: 4, 9 and 12

Anga
HP: 15 +2 (for Guard rank)
Hit: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12
Miss: 3 and 6
Critical Hit: 8 and 11

A message had come several days ago from a cheetah by the name of Xian Lan. Thrain had received it and heard that this new guard in the West wanted to better herself. It seemed to him like it had something to do with her species as well. Being a cheetah, in a rank normally full of lions, had to be tough. He wouldn't know exactly how tough, but maybe if nothing else, he could help her a little. So he had replied through a falconer that he agreed to train with her for several weeks, one-on-one. It was always promising to see new blood enter the pride and since she had sought him out, there was no way he could refuse her.

It had been only hours since the bright blue cheetah had arrived in the North. It was much colder than the West was. The air was thinner, the terrain much less forgiving and everything seemed to move slower than the fast-paced living in the crafting capital of the Tianxia.

She had heard rumors about the lion that had saved a duke in the West. He had to be the one to teach her. There was really no one else aside from maybe the Lt. colonel, but he seemed so...far away. The higher the rank, the more inaccessible someone was, right? That's how it felt anyways. This Tie Shi was lower, closer to her rank, making it less awkward to just flat out ask him to train her.

Roaming the rocky lands of the North, she searched for her competitor.

"Ah, there you are." A voice called out to her.

She hadn't even noticed the sandy lion just....sitting there, waiting. He seemed so regal, like he belonged with nobility. Maybe he did. Anga didn't really care. This would be the day her new life would really begin.

"Are you ready?" The captain called out again. Somehow he had expected them to wait for a day before beginning, give her time to adjust to the differing altitude and relax from her travel from the West before diving right into their first duel. But as she shook her head and crouched low to the ground, it seemed like now would be the time.

There, with one of the soldiers to act as a judge, the two began their duel.  

[Quaji]

Thrain roll - Crit! -13 HP

Right off of the bat Thrain charged the lithe cheetah. There was no holding back, aside from the rules in place of course, in these duels. Especially this one. This was a duel being done specifically so he could evaluate her strengths, her weaknesses. So that way he could actually help her beyond common knowledge. She had sought him out to become her teacher for a short time and while he had other duties to attend to, his primary duty was to the pride. She was part of it last she knew, so his duty was also to helping to progress her towards whatever goal she had in mind for herself. Even though this was just an evaluation, he could not just let her win.

The large lion leapt, paws out but claws away as he attempted to get her on the ground. Thrain knew the thinner feline would be faster than he would, especially in bursts, but he had never dueled a cheetah before so this would be a new experience for him. At least he had his weight to throw around, to try and get the upperhand.  

[Quaji]

Anga roll - Hit! -8 HP

Young steel blue eyes widened at the sight of a large male lion lunging at her. She froze. Anga had defended against scavengers while out in the rogue lands, against wild dogs and even a hyena at one point. But a full grown lion?! That was a whole other watering hole that she didn't even want to go in.

Thrain's movements were a success as she failed to react in time. His attack landed, pushing her to the ground with one of his large forearms. The ground hurt as it connected with her sides. There would be no doubt that bruises would form there overnight.

The sun was just about to set as Anga's paws began to push against the captain's chest, legs, face, whatever her tiny, bony paws to find leverage against as she began to feel as though she was failing this entire thing. That this entire expedition was a waste of her time, of his time, of everyone's time.  

[Quaji]

Thrain roll - Crit! -4 HP

The young cheetah was panicking, that much was clear to Thrain as she rapidly just started trying to him anywhere she could gain footing on. No claws were allowed in these duels so her hits did little to him. There would be some bruised but it would not be enough to keep him from his duties.

Frowning, Thrain rose one of his forepaws, letting it hit Anga's shoulder, causing her to roll onto the other one, her eyes closed. It was a hit to see if she would continue, hard enough to impact, but hopefully not bruise. She moved, but not the way the captain had been hoping. The frown worsened. Already this guard had given up. As far as he was concerned, she was not fit for duty and should consider a different profession, but he would not speak ill of her. The frown vanished. Instead a tired smile took its place as he stepped back, off of her, letting her up.

"Captain Tie Shi is the winner!" The soldier who was judging cried out.

It hadn't been much of a win and it definitely didn't feel like one to Thrain. Lowering his head, he nudged the cheetah gently, trying to avoid the areas he had injured.

"Rest, recover and send word for me when you are ready to try again."

Two small nods later and the duel was officially done. Anga rose to her small paws and left the training ground to nurse her wounds, leaving Thrain to tend to his other duties. This was only lesson number one, he would need to prepare for several more in the future.

[word count: 1014]