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Thabiti watched as his fellow pride members fought upon the sparring fields. He had not partook in any physical activities as of yet, reserving himself for when the sun waned in the sky, cooling the sands and the fighters. His paws had healed some since his visit to the medical dens, though he never had the opportunity to see the lioness whom led medics. Ea was not present that day he had met the twin, Fia. The dark lion smiled at the thought of the female. She was the other reason he had become more reserved during his sparring. Normally, he would go head first and fight anyone who offered, even shouting challenges to his fellow members with bolstering fun. Now, he hoped that the female would make her way here so that they could finish the challenge that was issued that day.

A fight between Fia and Thabiti.

Amber eyes glanced the grounds once more before looking toward the dune that cascaded down to his playground. Hopeful that the native would make herself appearance.

Looking down at his paws, he noted the deep scars that littered the leathery pads. From time to time, they stung, others they were numb and he felt nothing. The blistering sands did very little to soothe the pain, but he saw them as a way to improve his toughness. Enduring the heat and the pain. But these scars always hurt. Always stung. Often times he felt himself wince when a ping of pain ran up his legs. No matter how much he trained, sparred, and rested, he could become a walking wall of strength, but a focused attack upon his paw pads would debilitating.

Dark ears perked up upon the sound of his name, bringing a grin to his face as amber eyes glanced to the dunes to spot the female coming down it. Fia has arrived at last and his loosened body tensed in anticipation of what was to come. Yes, the day had arrived to fight a good fight, the first female to spar with him. A warrior race like his! His Hongshan blood boiled at the thought. "Thabiti waited days for Fia. Fia not show. Thabiti thought Fia scared of big Thabiti." He gave a hardy laugh as he raised to his feet, walking to the other side of an open area to give themselves room to spar.

He was a Hongshan, a warrior race just like the Firekin. He was more of a brute strength male - brawn over brain, attack with what he can and where he can and debilitate any poor soul to take any of his strikes. She had challenged him to use all his strength and he had intended to today, but he worried he might do some permanent damage to the female. However, she was much more agile and he was certain females had tricks that they used to win their way.

It would certainly explain how they got the males of the Hongshan to stop sparring and go back to their dens.

"No hold back. Ea will eat Thabiti for this." He nodded as he prepared himself, allowing her the first move.

Thabiti was a seasoned warrior. Sparred many times a day that the sparring fields had become his home away fromt he Red Quarters, it was where he was most comfortable. He had plans, but the most basic had always worked for him. Hit hard and hit fast. With his bulk and strength, he should be able to sustain most attacks from the female and still be able to deliver a decent blow. If she intended to talk throughout all this, hopefully she'll distract herself to give him plenty of windows of opportunity.

With a snarled roar, the Hongshan lunged forth with a mid-body swipe. Feeling a paw connect with something, his body immediately rolled away to get away from strike range.

"Thabiti give no time to counter."


Move: 1/5
Result: Hit

Move: 2/5
Result: Hit

The lioness was able to make a quick recovery and strike back just as he was leaping away, causing his side-roll to become more of a tumble. The dark lion crashed into the sand, but just as the lioness had, he pushed to get back to his feet. He had underestimated her physical capabilities; to be able to take a blow like that and still be able to counter quickly enough to catch him during a side-manuever. Impressive. But he was not going to fall that easily to something like that. After all, it was just a push with his shove and he just happened to fall.

... right?

With a snarl, Thabiti lunged forth into a long-stride sprint, ramming his shoulder against her, attempting to swing his claws upward across her flank. This time he wasn't going to retreat - no, he was going to stay in her space. She lacked something that he had; a mane to defend himself.

Move: 3/5
Result: Bide


Thabiti drew his head back, his amber eyes locked onto her. She seemed to be bleeding and her attack was half-assed. Was she blinded? He simply rammed her, that could not have caused that much damage... No, he cannot be letting bothersome thoughts distract him. Fia wanted him with all his strength, she put this upon herself! But he could not help but feel poorly that she was at a handicap. Blinded and injured...

The dark lion backed up a ways, his chest heaving as he planted his paws into the sand. Lowering his head, he gave a snarl toward the lioness. "Get back on feet. Come at Thabiti."

Move: 4/5
Result: Hit

If she was to lure him, he will bite. Should this be a trick, she best hope she could dodge another assault from the lion. This attack was without sound but the skittering of sands beneath his paws and the desert wind through his mane as he closed the distance between them, lunging into the air for a pin. Claw-less paws connected with her shoulders as the momentum took them into a barreling roll forward. At this distance, no snarl was made but the deep, thundering growl deep within his chest.

It would appear he should end this quickly and whisk her away to the medical dens.

Move: 5/5
Result: Hit....

Thabiti looked down to the lioness, pinned between two large, black paws on each side of her head. Their fight was winding down, and it would appear that the spar was down to its end. The expression on her face was one he had wore many times before. The feelings she let roll within her, he had felt many times before. The male looked through his crimson mask to the red lioness, battered and beaten. No, it was not the physical that ultimately concerned him, it was her pride. They both were warrior prides, to lose was not easily taken. Thabiti snarled as he raised his paw up, bringing it down swiftly to her head.



Tapping her upon her head, the Hongshan eased himself off her her with a face of not pride or smug, but with sympathy. She was still learning, the field was not her place such as it was for him. Today, she took on a bit more she could chew, perhaps, but he would admit that she had potential to clear him off his feet and force submit. "From Hongshan, duels are to death. We spar, we do not kill." he uttered in his deep voice, as he moved to give her space, examining her body for any notably serious injuries. He felt bad about the bruises, he took no blame for the sand as it was an environmental risk, but he had hoped she was not upset with him.