[Duel] A Time and A Place

[Kimaria]

A lone red figure could be seen where, once, there had been nothing but dunes. All grace and curves of a body young and fit. She was not what you might call bulky or muscled but her long legs spoke of many a day as a traveller, wandering from land to land without one fixed abode. But her past was a secret thing and this journey had not been made because of the past.

It had been made because of the future.

Her instincts had drawn her here and it was here to which she intended to be, no matter what hardship might be coming. There was a shadow in this land and it was dark and foreboding. But she was here and she was ready. This would be the first challenge of many and - win or lose - she would put in her all to make sure that she brought no shame to herself and those who had aided her in coming this far.

She paused and called out, long and low, hoping that someone might hear her and come to test her strength in battle.  

[mouselet]

There was a stranger, the source of the noise. And the reason why a stranger would want attention from the Motoujami-Simo was to duel. The red and white lion stretched his neck with a lazy smile. He might not be as gung ho as most of the pride, but he would never turn down a duel. Nor did he have any qualms about fighting a lioness with all his might, after all, women held high regard in the Firekin.

"I am Huozin," he introduced himself to the stranger. "I shall be your opponent this day." The big lion gestured with a paw as if to say "after you".  

[Kimaria]

Move 1/5: Bide

Ah and there he was. A polite enough lion for a warrior - something that pleased her immensely. Being described as a 'warrior' implied honour but she had learnt that sometimes things were not always as they had appeared. This one, at least, lived up to expectations.

She offered a small smile and dipped her head politely, as was her own custom. "Thank you for your time. You may call me Shaak." And, taking a small step back, smoothing the sand with a slow sweep of a paw, she took her position and tried to garner what might be his weakness and what might be his strength. Generally speaking with males, they had strength on their side but lacked in her agility. Perhaps she could play that in her favour?

She took a small step to the side and feigned an attack - perhaps to test the speed of his reaction.  

[mouselet]

Move 1/5: Bide

Huozin nodded politely to Shaak. An interesting, somewhat outlandish name for a lioness, but who was he to quarrel with a rogue? Yes, she wanted to join the Firekin, but it was not his place to judge her, merely to test her skill and see if she was worthy.

The lion stepped back, smoothly dodging her attack. Though, she hadn't seemed to put much power into it to begin with. A feint, eh? To start things out? Huozin judged he should keep an eye on her, for she might be a tricky one to duel.

He himself disdained to attack so early, instead circling with her, watching how she moved and looking for an opening.  

[Kimaria]

Move 2/5: Hit

He'd reacted quickly. Smoothly. He had clearly duelled many times before which meant that this might be tricky. She supposed if this was a true test it only made sense that they wouldn't allow Firekin fresh out of training to do face rogues - unless those newly grown ones were adamant they could handle themselves. Shaak expected that such circumstances would not have been unheard of. Nevertheless, this Huozin was not one of those.

And now he seemed to be trying to evaluate her...

She side-stepped sharply to the right, her lithe body twisting as she set her paws hard against the sand and pushed off. The force carried her towards him with some good speed, her paw drawn back so that when she closed in, she could swing it out and - hopefully - take him by surprise.  

[mouselet]

Move 2/5:

A paw to the face was indeed a surprise, and a rude awakening. Huozin backed up again, shaking his head to clear any lingering effects of the sudden and unforseen blow. He'd been right, this lioness was one to be wary of! Perhaps it was his (relative) inexperience that had allowed her to land the blow. After all, the red lion was technically a Hunter, not a Soldier, though like any Firekin he was trained to fight from birth.

Snarling, more from pain than anger, Huozin reared up on his hind legs to bring his forepaws down hard on Shaak. If she wanted to play rough, so be it. He could certainly oblige!  

[Kimaria]

Move 3/5: Miss

Despite the lucky hit, Shaak was not the type to celebrate prematurely. If anything her face seemed to show a strengthening in concentration rather than a break in it. Still, the focus didn't help when he retaliated. He snarled, the sound of it stirring adrenaline in her veins and she stepped to the side again in an attempt to predict his counter attack.

Unfortunately, she hadn't expected him to be so willing to throw his weight around and when he reared up she realised - too late - that his angle had given him the advantage. Her side-step had done nothing and when his paws came down they hit her across the neck and shoulders. The impact sent her chin down against the sand and she staggered, her forelegs feeling strangely weak and strained from having tried to push back against his weight.

But, strangely calm, she turned her downwards momentum in a roll, throwing her weight so that she rolled on her side. And, as she did so, she threw out another paw to try and keep him away from her vulnerable underside as she tried to find her paws again. The attack she sent his way hit nothing but she hoped it would be enough to stall him to prevent a further successful hit on her.  

[mouselet]

Move 3/5: Bide

Impact. Ah, what a sweet sensation, to feel his paws coming down hard on her neck and shoulders. Not positioned properly to break anything, but still satisfactory in a duel. Then the lioness rolled out from under his grip - partially because the red lion had released her - and she swiped a paw in his general direction. The attack was worthless, a waste of time and energy.

Huozin's lip curled in a sneer as he evaded the paw easily. If you knew you weren't going to hit, you shouldn't even bother to attack - that was his motto. The red lion would hold off his next strike, however, so that Shaak could regain her feet. It was cruel to strike an opponent while they were down, particularly when this was merely a duel, not a fight for one's life.  

[Kimaria]

Move 4/5: Miss

She found her feet relatively quickly and span to face him again, sinking her paws into the sand as if to get a feel for the shifting ground beneath her. Her tail whipped up into the air bringing with it a spray of sand that caught in the wind and fanned out, cloud-like for that brief moment.

Her face was still controlled even if though she could sense the duel slipping away from her. She might have landed a strike but his had clearly been the stronger and Shaak could not help but feel backed into a corner with little other option than to press the attack. She could bide her time, sure, but these duels could only last for so long and if she did not prove herself before that ran out than she would be turned away.

Taking the risk, the female shifted her weight onto her hind paws, giving herself some lift so that she could swing out another paw - aimed straight for his jaw.  

[mouselet]

Move 4/5: Bide

She recovered her ground quickly, Huozin had to give the lioness that much credit. But the red lion smirked openly as she swung another paw at his face. Like he was going to fall for that move twice in one duel? Such a pity. She really had to work on her originality if she was going to join the Motoujami-Simo.

It really was a shame. Shaak had started out this duel so well. But now it seemed she was fading fast. It went against his grain to attack a faltering opponent, so Huozin would bide his time yet again, waiting to see if she would attempt one last hurrah before calling it quits.  

[Kimaria]

Move 5/5: Hit

Frowning with thought she shifted her weight, bouncing on the tips of her paws as if trying to make a quick decision in what to do next. He was clearly waiting for her to make a move. To make a mistake, but perhaps this plan would all come good in the end. Lull him into a false sense of security and then strike when he least expected.

Keeping her face carefully void of expression she advanced again, tipping back onto her hind legs once more to leave her front paws free to attack. Her left paw jabbed outwards as if to go for his jaw again, but, at the last moment she retracted that limb and struck out with her right, swinging it around as hard as she could manage - hoping it would find home against his shoulder. Hoping that she wasn't going to prove herself utterly useless in the field of battle.

 

[mouselet]

Move 5/5: Miss

Huozin roared involuntarily as the lioness connected - hard - with his shoulder. His unbraced posture, combined with the force of her attack landed the red lion on the ground. Scrambling for purchase on the sand, Huozin surged to his feet once more and moved to retaliate...but it seemed the lioness had side-stepped his blind charge!

Well, that was what he deserved for attempting something so bald and obvious. The red lion staggered slightly as he regained his balance and turned to face his opponent. As far as he was concerned, this duel was over.

"You are a worthy opponent, Shaak. I would not count this a victory, nor a loss, but quite impressive nonetheless."  

[Kimaria]

His last attempt had failed and with it came the conclusion of this duel.

Shaak faced him and, with a small smile, bowed her head again. It had been a good duel and, in her opinion, as close as one could get. "I would be honoured to duel with you again someday, Huozin." It had been a good duel and though her strength had not won it, perhaps her attempt at strategising had, overall, earned her the favour that she had needed to be accepted.

"Thank you. I look forward to getting to know both you and the rest of your people."

/fin