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 Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:09 pm
 Not a good day. Roihu woke up on the wrong side of the den - literally - and couldn't calm himself since. He reorganized all of his medicinal supplies, and even medicated himself just a little bit to try to soothe his nerves, but he knew he'd be bitter all day. Just yesterday he'd found himself beaten by a white rogue in a duel - a white rogue. He sighed with a great huff every time he remembered the fight, knowing that the lion was now part of the pride and owed some form of respect. Though he hadn't seen Nkera since, which was fine by him. He supposed he'd brush it off eventually, but a lost duel of a lion from a family that was very soldier-based was evident of some form of personal shame. But he was a medic at heart, and duels were not meant to be such a big deal for him... though that likely wouldn't stop him from challenging the next lion he saw, just to see if he could make up for it.
((such a brief intro omfg im sorry))
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:45 pm
 The next lion Roihu would happen to see was Huozin, a typical red and white example of the Motoujami-Simo...and of course, related to a minimum of half the pride. Or at least, that's what it seemed like, that he was always running into aunts and uncles, cousins, and lions that he wasn't entirely certain how they were related to him, he just knew they were. In short, better safe than sorry. Today was not necessarily a hunt day, but the red lion enjoyed going out anyway. If only because it was harder to trip over hotheads out there. Not to mention he'd had fun dueling with rogues of late. A win and a tie certainly helped his mood, so Huozin was smiling as he passed the big, red-maned black lion.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:03 pm
((Gonna start the actual duel posts in my next reply))
As various lions of the pride passed around him, he couldn't help seething at their apparent complacency. And there, that one, barely brushing past him, he had a godforsaken smile on his face. The smiling red goof hadn't done anything but walk too close, bearing that look on his face. Roihu, of course, was anything but smiling. So naturally, he wouldn't tolerate it in anyone else. Not today. He was not a loser. And he wouldn't lose again.
So holding to his resolve, he spun around at the red lion - marked, of course, with white, moreso than on his own pelt, which only reminded him even more of his previous battle - and growled, "You there! I challenge you to a duel." He didn't care if he was in any way related to this male, but it didn't particularly look like it - though he was clearly a couple generations older. At least there would be no repercussions to deal with. Not like duels ever really had negative repercussions. Not in the Firekin, where it was so common. Nevertheless, it helped that this was just another stranger on whom he could vent his anger.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:18 pm
Huozin blinked and turned towards the unexpected voice. He recognized Roihu in a vague "you are from around here" kind of way, but had no real idea of who the other male was.
Well, challenges were fairly normal in the day to day life of the Firekin, and it wasn't at all unheard of for a lion to be challenged by a pride member he'd never really met before. It didn't tend to happen that often for Huozin, but the red lion rolled his shoulders in a shrug.
"Okay. Let's duel!" he replied with another smile, this one just for the black lion in front of him.
Easygoing and Firekin almost never went together. Except wherever Huozin was standing.
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fuKurohane generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:47 pm
Roll 1 for Roihu: bide
Total: 2
Roihu shook his head, baffled. The red lion wasn't even phased by his clearly angry challenge. As a Firekin, he should be ashamed of himself. He was so blantanly cheerful, so laid-back. Roihu dared to judge him even as lazy or soft in the head - all lions of the desert were supposed to be bold, weren't they? It peeved him, which was the last thing he needed.
He was here to let off some steam. So as the stepped off to the side, forming a clear space to battle, Roihu was glad Kiberiti had stayed behind in the den today. That snake certainly hadn't helped last time. Once they were alone, he dropped into a crouch, hackles raised, waiting for his chance at a strike.
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:24 pm
Roll 1 for Huozin: Hit
Total: 3
Huozin watched his opponent of the day as Roihu stepped into a clear area, sank into a crouch...and stayed there. How...bizarre. This lion wanted to pick a fight with him, and now wasn't attacking? That went against everything the red lion had observed in hotheads to date.
Well, if the black lion wasn't going to attack, he might as well start things off. And if his opponent was going to sink into a crouch, Huozin would have to show him the error of his ways.
The red lion charged his opponent, claws outstretched, aiming for the ears. A sensitive part that tended to stick out from the rest of the body. An easier target until he could get Roihu out of that crouch.
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fuKurohane generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:36 pm
Roll 2 for Roihu: hit!
Total: 5
Alright, so waiting for his opponent to make the first strike may not have been the best idea. He had meant to leap out of the way, but waited too long and felt the sharp sting of claws ripping through his ears. He snarled in frustration, knowing he would likely have to stitch them back up himself later. But as he was still in his crouch, he managed to close his jaws around one of the legs that had struck him. He tasted blood, but he couldn't be sure if it was from the other Firekin, or from the liquid trickling down his face.
They made no introductions this time, though it felt like a more formal duel than his last one - though perhaps that was simply because it was against another Firekin. Did Firekin need to introduce themselves to one another before a duel, if they had seen each other in passing before, or perhaps knew their extended family? He couldn't be sure. But right now he wasn't in as much of a mood for playing, which could have had farcical introductions. He wanted to taste more blood, so his jaws held fast.
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:50 pm
Roll 2 for Huozin: Hit
Total: 6
The red lion snarled in sudden pain as he felt teeth closing in on his left foreleg. Well, he supposed he'd opened himself up to that one. There was that much to be said for a crouch - it kept all your limbs close to you and where your opponent had trouble reaching them.
Still, it annoyed him that he hadn't pulled his leg back fast enough to prevent the black lion from latching on. Huozin shook the offending limb experimentally, testing Roihu's grip. It was...solid.
Well, fine. The black lion had had to stick his head out somewhat to bite Huozin's leg in the first place. And that meant that his own neck was a bit exposed.
So that's where the red lion aimed his teeth. Not to break the arteries, of course, this was not a hunt. Just to refocus his opponent's attention.
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fuKurohane generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:59 pm
Roll 3 for Roihu: bide
Total: 7
That's more like it, he thought as he heard the snarl in his ears, his head whipping back and forth as his opponent attempted to shake him off, his own growls muffled through the red fur in his mouth. But he released with a great roar as he felt jaws close around his throat, which he himself had to scuffle to break loose from. His mane was thick, which he was thankful for, but it was only common decency for two lions in a duel not to fight to the death. The red lion could very well have ended it right there, had he ignored such manners.
So he managed to break away, but not without losing a few generous clumps of red and white fur from his mane. This duel was proving to be much more satisfying than his last. This lion actually fought back. Still, the white stranger, Nkera, had managed to win by waiting for him to strike, wearing him out. Perhaps that duel had some greater meaning - to teach Roihu some patience? It would take more than a single duel to teach him that, but he nevertheless adopted Nkera's strategy, and began to circle the red lion before him, growls leaking from his throat.
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:18 pm
Roll 3 for Huozin: Hit
Total: 9
Good, that had encouraged the black lion to release his leg! The red lion tested it, determined that there was no more damage than the puncture wounds of teeth, and thus it was perfectly sound to stand, run, and attack with. Huozin noted, with amusement, that Roihu was now circling him. It was the sort of position the red lion usually assumed in duels like these.
However, if he circled and Roihu circled, boy would that be a boring fight. His lip curled upward in a slight smile at the thought. He supposed that made it his responsibility to improve the quality of this combat!
With the ease of a Hunter who'd brought home snakes for dinner, Huozin pounced the other male's tail with teeth and claws. Here, he held back much less than he had with Roihu's throat.
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fuKurohane generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:08 pm
Roll 4 for Roihu: miss
Total: 8
Roihu was losing. That much was clear. He had learned nothing. He was failing his mother, if not himself. He was definitely better suited to the life of a medic - and his rage was eating up his insides. He had to succeed.
But his attempt at playing by the methods of his previous opponent had failed. The red lion had lunged at him - again - and he had been unable to get away - again. His tail seared with pain, teeth and claws grinding into the bone. He roares again, but the pain intensified his feeling of failure - which did not improve as he failed to accurately strike back, more focused on trying to get his tail away from the red lion's jaws.
Yes, perhaps his opponent was more of a true Firekin than himself. Calm or otherwise, he could certainly land a solid hit. That was such a basic characteristic, and Roihu no longer had it.
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:44 pm
Roll 4 for Huozin: Hit
Total: 12
The red lion finally released his opponent's black tail, having made his point that Roihu could not escape him. Having proven that fact, Huozin decided to press his advantage. He wasn't a normally violent sort, nor hotheaded, but somewhere along the way he'd managed to pick up a fair bit about tactics, and how to adapt to the situation at hand.
He'd never think himself to be in the wrong rank however. No one as easygoing as the red lion was would properly fit into the army.
With his hold on Roihu's tail released, Huozin reared up on his hind legs, bringing both paws down onto the other lion's back. Maybe this would teach that hothead to pick a fight with a passing lion.
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fuKurohane generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:52 pm
Roll 5 for Roihu: bide
Total: 10
Roihu couldn't hold back the flash of fear in his eyes as the red lion crashed down on top of him, knocking out his breath as he collapsed on the ground. A mighty Firekin, indeed. This battle was - literally - crushing. His last was barely more than a draw, but this would leave him with more than a few wounds. Even his pride was wounded. He couldn't even match a lion who'd been raised in the mountains, much less one that came from here, in the sands. The same sand that his body was being ground into, filling his mouth and eyes, dirtying his fur. He couldn't even bring himself to stand, he was so ashamed. He caught the red lion's gaze - and he still didn't know his name - but still said nothing. There was no taunting in this duel. No introductions. A straightforward match. A fair one. Yet still, he knew he had lost.
He anticipated a finishing blow, and remained frozen in the sand, blood leaking from his wounds. He had gained more to stitch up - perhaps he should offer his opponent his services, when it was all over? It was only proper. It was a fair enough reward for a won battle. A battle, of course, that he likely never should have started.
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:36 pm
Roll 5 for Huozin: Hit
Total: 15
Well, this was rather satisfying in some ways. To completely cow a lion who had challenged him to a duel for no apparent reason. Not that Huozin was ever one to seek out a fight. Still, even though he could see defeat in the black lion's eyes, he didn't think the lesson was quite finished yet.
Sheathing his claws - he wanted to prove the point, not maim the younger male - the red lion gave Roihu a firm cuff on the nose with one large forepaw. Not the worst blow of the day, certainly, he didn't want to utterly humliate the other lion.
Standing back, Huozin looked his opponent up and down.
"That was stupid," he informed the black lion. "I certainly hope you're no Soldier or Guard...because then I'd be worried about our pride's reputation." Huozin might not care for fighting, but he'd been born to the Motoujami-Simo and was not in favor of seeing the pride's image sullied by poor training.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:20 pm
Roihu flinched as the paw swiped his nose, like some misbehaving cub. A suitable reprimand, really. He was more honorable that this. He knew he was better than this. But he had let his rage get ahold of him, again, like it always did. He would likely not be pursuing any more, any time soon. But he did what he came to do, which was vent - and he learned his lesson from it. It was probably for the best that he had lost.
So as he stood stiffly, grimacing from the ache in his back, he answered, "No, I am no Soldier or Guard. I'm not even a Hunter." He wanted so badly to explain that he was raised by a Soldier, raised to be a Soldier, but he instead followed in his father's footsteps, but he knew it would sound like pathetic grovelling at this point. "I'm a Medic," he corrected. "I'm the one dealing with the wounds, not dealing them out. I could help your leg, if you wanted?" It was the least he could do, after all.
It was stupid. So, so stupid. He was a failure, and an insult to the Firekin.
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