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 Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:45 am
An odd sort of surprised squeak escaped his throat when she trapped his leg. She had told him what she was planning on doing but experiencing and hearing seemed to be two entirely different things with fighting. Luckily Fox knew what she was doing and he had no reason not to listen to her.
He folded his legs and lowered himself down with her locking his eyes on hers for a moment before looking down to see exactly how she had his leg. It wouldn't do him any good not to see it after all. The whole point of this was to teach him how to fight.
"Break?" He asked looking up from his leg. It was mostly curiosity now. If you could kick out a knee could you also push the leg enough and break it?
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:58 am
'If done quick enough, and with enough force yes. I would use your momentum and snap the leg at a wrong angle.' Fox smiled, returning his gaze for a moment before releasing his leg and sliding back up into a standing position.
'Of course, once I have you on the ground and I'm just planning on incapacitating you, I can give you a tap on the head. It's all in the speed. For training's sake I do this all slower, in reality for this to be effective it would happen in seconds, you attack, I snap your legs down, or injure to get you off balance, you fall and knock you out..' she stopped talking, all tensed again.
'The birds..' she whispered, looking urgently at Lamb, and they had indeed gone quiet.
'Be on your guard..'
As she spoke, Shinoma had made her mind up and came charging out, moving swiftly towards the couple, her wings held at her side until she was right near them, and then she unfurled them, flashing her fangs and flicking her snake like tail onto the ground.
Fox did not take her eyes off the mare, and she urgently hissed out the corner of her mouth for Lamb to get up, not knowing if he was still on the ground or not.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:44 am
It all sounded quite painful to him. Of course this was probably why fighting wasn't something he should be actively seeking out. It certainly wasn't a problem for him. Right now he was learning to fight so that if something unfortunate happened he wouldn't be the one in pain. That, and because Fox had offered and he knew nothing about it. Oh the things he went through for knowledge.
When she fell silent Lamb lifted his head to look up at her. "Birds...quiet..." He turned his head away from the mare and towards the trees. He saw the reason for the silence coming straight at them. Something coursed through him and he pushed himself up quickly not needing Fox to tell him even once.
His dark pink eyes studied the bright creature heading their way with curiosity. His initial response had been completely instinctual. Now, his mind was in complete control again and all it was thinking was that the thing coming at them looked remarkably similar to a bat that flew into a fire pit.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:06 am
Shinoma looked at them in a lazy fashion, sizing the pair up. Of course neither looked like they would be much of a match - no fangs, horns or spikes between them, but she'd been watching them and knew that the mare could fight. The glare she was receiving from Fox was a steady one, with only a hint of fear, and the Kalona was grudgingly impressed.
She didn't get the same sense from the stallion, of being able to fight back and she dismissed him for the moment as someone to toy with after fighting and defeating the mare.
'Move back..' Fox said to Lamb in a low tone, out from the corner of her mouth as she stood her ground in front of the Kalona. This would be no time for over ambitious bravado - obviously this had been the one that had been watching them, and as the smoky mare had come out so boldy she was obviously a very typical Kalona and was spoiling for a fight.
A cold line of fear ran swiftly down her back, but was mastered as quickly as it came. She could not afford to make mistakes and she had to protect Lamb, and get them away from this hellish looking Soquili, and with all limbs intact if possible.
Shinoma began to circle, and Fox did the same, her pulse quietly racing as she tried to weigh up her opponent.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:06 am
The look his mentor was shooting the intruder made Lamb wonder if they knew each other. He couldn't prove or disprove this consideration, however, because neither seemed to want to chat or really speak at all. He didn't understand anything that was going on, he had never seen a kalona before in his life and he'd only heard them mentioned before. The young stallion wasn't even aware that he was looking at one.
His mouth had opened to ask what she was when he heard Fox's voice. Why he was being told to move he didn't know but he wasn't going to ignore her. Giving his dark head a nod her took several steps backwards all the while wondering what was going on.
Once he was a good distance away he ceased all movement, not even his tail moved. Standing like a statue his eyes locked onto what was happening ahead of him to try and figure out what events were unfolding. So far it didn't look to be much. The two circled each other like vultures circled the dead and he could find no reason for it.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:19 am
'What do you want?' asked Fox of the Kalona mare, as they continued to circle, each were placing their hooves just so, not betraying any sign of movement towards the other...yet. Fox would never initiate combat anyway, and certainly not when the resulting outcome was sketchy at best.
'To have some fun of course.' came the reply, Shinoma's voice oozing menace.
'First I'll play with you until there's no life left, and then.' she cast a look at the deep blue stallion.
'Then I'll turn your love into worm food.'
Fox shook a little, betraying her feelings by shooting a look at Lamb when the crimson mare threatened him, her eyes going straight back to the Kalona, stamping a hoof as she stood her ground against her.
'No you will not.' Fox replied, plainly, her voice steady as she could make it. She'd never fought a Kalona without several other warriors of a herd by her side, and her body flooded with adrenaline.
'Unless I say otherwise, stay back..' she addressed Lamb once more, her body twanging now with tension - this was it.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:31 am
From where he stood there wasn't much that Lamb could hear. What he was able to catch however sent a cold feeling down his spine and a warm sensation through the rest of him. They were going to fight and from the sounds of it the bright female intended to kill both Fox and himself.
A frown tugged at his lips and he moved to step forward when he was told not to. He froze with one leg still in mid air. His expression of concern froze with the rest of his body with the exception of his tail. It moved out to one side to keep him steady before going as still as the rest of him.
Right now he wanted to help her. He didn't know how exactly he would accomplish this however and logically he would only get in the way. That would be of no use at all. For the moment all he could do was watch where he stood despite not really wanting too.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:04 am
If I die, you go with me.. Fox thought, as they both stopped. She watched as the Kalona appeared to glance around idly, as if they were both insignificant, and this was a way to pass a few seconds in her day but Fox wasn't fooled. She didn't take her eyes from the mare now, despite wanting to know how far away Lamb had moved. She only hoped that he had done as she had said, and wouldn't interfere.
Shinoma looked back at the mare, smirking at her stance. This was a warrior, but with her usual arrogance she dismissed her as less, because she only saw defiance and not bloodlust in the other mare's eyes. If she had seen that, they could have been allies.
'Such a waste.' Shinoma said, and charged, her head lowered, aiming to slice into Fox's shoulder with her first attack. Fox had anticipated this, stepping neatly to the side, and butting into the Kalona's own shoulder.
Shinoma hissed at her initial failure, swaying with the hit and being pushed a way with the hit, but kept most of her balance, slapping Fox across the head with a wing, scoring lines along her face with the sharp claw tips.
Fox shook her head, spraying blood from her vision, and shoved herself back, pivoting on the spot and roundly kicking the Kalona in the side, winding her long enough for Fox to step back.
Shinoma coughed, feeling the dull ache along her ribs..bruised but not broken she reckoned, and she sized her up again, looking at the grounded mare whose face ran from the scratches she'd inflicted. She took a moment to lick clean the wing, savouring the blood taste, flicking the wing away and charged again.
Fox reared at the same time, and their front legs locked, heads moving swiftly as they each snapped teeth at each other, Shinoma's fangs flashed dangerously near Fox's throat and she snapped her head upwards under the Kalona's chin, a jarring motion that made her see stars, and caused Shinoma to slice her bottom lip with her own fangs. They were still joined at the legs, Fox shaking her head to clear the fuzzy feeling.
Shinoma wrenched her legs to one side, toppling Fox over, who landed heavily on her side, she managed to roll out of the way of the descending cloven hooves that aimed for her head and scrambled once more to her feet...she wasn't quick enough and Shinoma struck again, this time pivoting herself to bring her tail into play. She struck Fox around the head, and then back again, wrapping the end with its vine-like tendrils around the mare's neck and tightening. Fox gasped for air, pulling back, trying to reach the tail with her teeth, but Shinoma squeezed tighter, dragging the mare around as if she were a pet on a leash, exerting more strength than her smokey limbs betrayed.
Fox wheezed, forcing a word out;
'Laaamb..tail..'
She only had one chance, he needed to distract the Kalona or even attack the tail himself so that she could get loose.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:27 am
Lamb did nothing but watch for a while. This was a great opportunity for him to study how a fight actually looked but he was having a hard time looking at it as unattached as he did with their lessons. He winced every time the demon mare landed a hit on Fox but made no move to approach the pair. He tried to pretend that what he was watching was just another lesson because that was the only way that Lamb was able to keep himself from charging in.
The moment Fox hit the ground, however, he was on the move. It was simply too difficult for him to just sit and watch his friend get hurt. She meant to much to him to just let that happen. As the strangely designed tail wrapped around Fox's throat his eyes narrowed dangerously. He could barely hear Fox's voice but he knew what needed to be done.
Lowering his head, he pinned his ears back and dug into the Earth to push himself faster then he ever had before. Using his tail to aide his steering he angled himself directly toward the bat winged mare preparing to ram her. Fighting wasn't something he knew how to do but he was pretty sure getting hit full on by a charging horse could do some serious damage or at least stun the stupid brute.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:38 am
Shinoma was having great fun, slowly throttling the life out of the mare, that she'd gotten quite lost to her surroundings, even forgetting for a moment that there was still the stallion - but so what? He wasn't anything to worry about...
Fox heard the approaching hooves in a daze, her vision was blurring but she managed to find Lamb, charging in like a knight errant. Her heart leapt and plummeted - he was going to save her, he was going to get hurt! She dug her hooves into the ground pulling back to keep the Kalona's attention fixed firmly on her helpless prey.
Shinoma pulled harder, and only then did she realise that the stallion was approaching. She hadn't time to release her tail and move and so Lamb would hit straight into her side. Her wings unfurled as she crashed down, swept off her hooves by the impact, and she landed awkwardly on one of them, wincing as one of the fine bones that was attached to the wing membrane snapped beneath her weight, rendering the wing useless. Her head hit the ground hard as well, and she lay still.
Fox had collapsed as the tail had slid off her neck, falling again to the ground, coughing as she was able to breath properly again. She didn't think her windpipe had been damaged but her throat was bruised, and it would hurt to talk or anything else for days. She had to get up though, they had to get away..
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:56 am
As he connected with the mare he realised something: he wasn't just going to stop easily.
The winged mare feel to the ground and the force of the blow echoed through his body sending him falling backwards a little dazed. He shook his great head to shake the dizzy feeling from himself. It hadn't been the best idea but as he got to his feet it was quite clear that it had worked. Fox was free and the demon still lay in the dirt. Unfortunately his friend didn't look to be in much better shape.
"Fox!" He took a couple quick steps over to her on still shaky legs to assess the damage. She didn't look too good. He lowered his head to nudge at her gently a worried rumble eminating from his throat. "Can move? Need help..." He muttered turning his head away from the tan mare to check on the beast that lay fallen not far from them. He didn't much care if she was hurt right now, that had been the goal, but he wanted to make sure that she wasn't making a move to attack them.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:20 am
Fox hadn't seen Lamb hit the mare, only his approach but she asked anyway, unsure how he'd managed to knock the Kalona down.
'Are you okay?' she croaked, wincing at the pain that registered when she spoke. She looked over at the mare on the floor, noticing the movements of tail and side, the Kalona was not close to dead but merely unconscious. She wiped blood from out of her eyes again, looking up at Lamb.
'We have to go, before she recovers enough to get up.' she replied hurriedly, her voice a whisper, rocking her body and managing to get onto her hooves, her legs shaking from exertion. She winced again; there would be bruises and scars, but time enough to feel and worry about her injuries when they were a safe distance away.
The blood rushed away from her head, and she swayed a little, leaning towards Lamb.
'Let's go.' she said, straining her voice in her urgency to be gone.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:13 am
Lamb was a bit confused about her concern for him. He was fine. Any damage on him had been his own fault and was minimal. She was bleeding. Logically she should be more concerned about her own injuries and not him. Still he nodded his head to signal that everything was fine with him as he watched her clamber to her feet.
There were no arguments that they should leave but Fox didn't look exactly steady standing on her own. This thought was proven as she swayed towards him. He stepped closer to her so that she could lean on him and keep from falling over.
"This way...we leave like this." He said with a nod towards the mare before turning to glance over his shoulder. Progress like this would be slow and he hoped the demon would be out long enough for them to get out of there. "Where to?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:37 am
Fox gratefully sunk against him a little, glad that he was bigger than her. He could take her weight, and he wasn't half as cut up as she was.
'Thanks..' she murmured, looking around. Where were they to go? She had to think tactically and quickly, when all she really wanted to do was sink back onto the ground and lay there for a week.
'The caves,' she said suddenly, after almost falling into a stupor.
'Where I took you when we first met, they are a few miles from this spot in that direction.' she flicked her head slowly, pointing west of where they standing.
'We need to travel in water as much as possible, so she can't track us easily.' Fox once again looked at the Kalona who still hadn't moved. It was possible she was feigning how badly she was injured and so she was taking no chances.
'Let's go..' she repeated
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:06 am
The caves? He turned his head westward and tapped into his internal maps to check that he remembered the way. It had been a while since he had been there but he remember the path pretty clearly.
She wanted to travel in the water though. He glanced to her still bleeding injuries. Water liked to wash things away, that would clean her wounds but how much of her life would she lose in the process? He had never seen a fresh cut submerged before so he wasn't sure what would happen but he had watched the rushing water carry away leaves and other things before. The same thing could happen with blood right?
Still, standing around thinking about it was just wasting time so he started off in the proper direction. He moved slowly to make sure that Fox could keep up with him and continue to use him as a support and also to keep his eye out for water ways that they could travel in. Something that moved a bit slow would be best so that if something happened they wouldn't find themselves in peril.
Despite all the bad there was one good thing that Lamb could think of. Fox was allowing him to help her. It brought a smile to his face albeit a small one.
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