[DUEL] Keeping in Shape (Roho & Huozin)

[mouselet]

It wasn't common to see Huozin drifting around the practice grounds, looking for a duel. But it wasn't unheard of either. The big red lion's opinion on not every Firekin needing to be a soldier was known, though not usually spoken.

Still, he felt the urge to flex his skills and practice every now and then. He was tired of facing rogues who clearly weren't up to snuff, and so he was seeking an opponent who was already known to be skilled.

"I should like to duel," he announced to those who weren't already engaged in activities. "Who would oblige me?"  

[Kimaria]

Still sore from her last duel against a rogue lion, Roho was out on the training grounds, keeping an eye on the youngsters as well as scouting around for anyone new she could duel against. Her confidence had taken a bit of a beating as of late - though she would sooner die than admit that - and she had been seeking out new competitors in order to try and work out a more successful technique - especially when fighting off against males.

Her losses against males were her most recent ones to note and, in truth, there was only one way she was going to get better. To face them. To watch. And to learn.

She recalled a saying her old, dead teacher had told her.

The road to success is littered with challenges. You can either evade them or face them. The latter is more frightening but it will lead to greatness. And she wanted greatness. Not for the applause of others but for her own self-need. She was a perfectionist and she wanted to be great at what she did. Roho would not be happy otherwise. And so, when Huozin came a drifting, it was she who answered.

"I shall oblige you, warrior." She didn't recognise him immediately - which was strange - so perhaps he was one of the new recruits come to temporarily join the soldiers for the war effort.

"My name is Roho." She continued. "Have you newly signed up for a soldier's training?"  

[mouselet]

"I am Huozin," the male replied, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgement. "I am a Hunter, merely seeking practice against fellow pride members, no more and no less," he informed her. He was not a Soldier. He had no intention of joining the army. It wasn't for him.

That was his story and he was sticking to it.

"In that case...let us begin!" Huozin announced, once he was sure that Roho was ready, moving from a stance into a rapid attack, intending to headbutt the lioness before him.  

[Kimaria]

Move 1: Hit

She gave him an acknowledging nod, her face not offering any hint at her thoughts on the matter. All Firekin could fight - or that's what she believed - and so she would consider him just as she would consider a fellow soldier. He was big and strong and, from the look of him, was certainly not a lion who lazed around on the sands all day.

He was enthusiastic, too.

And no one had ever used that move on her before.

She had expected sweeping claws or a hard shove. But what she got was a flash of pain between her eyes. She reeled backwards in response, bringing up her heavy paws and throwing them out at his head and muzzle in an attempt to drive him back before he could throw her off-balance (a clear danger seeing as she was up on her hind legs now).  

[mouselet]

As far as opening moves went, he was somewhat pleased with how his headbutt had worked, but the two paws weighing his face down were rather unexpected. And unwelcome, as he could feel Roho's weight bearing down at him from them. Huozin waved a paw in her general direction, but focused his attention much more heavily on backing out from beneath her grip where he could see once more.

He had no desire to be trapped so easily.  

[Kimaria]

Move 2: Glancing Attack

His attack failed and her evasive manoeuvre had proved affective. Now. What had she done differently that time? No. No, it was luck. Roho couldn't fool herself. He'd taken her by surprise with that strike to her head and it was only sheer luck that the strength of her retaliation had been enough to knock his paw wide. Her brow furrowed with concentration - clearly not happy with herself for relying on so-called 'luck' and shifted her weight, digging her hind paws deep into the sand.

Then, as quickly as she could, she threw her weight at him, paw outstretched to catch him across the chest. Unfortunately for her, she undershot, and only the tips of her paws caught him.

No good. It was rushed. Nothing ever good came of rushing.  

[mouselet]

Huozin had brought his attention back to the fight just in time to lean backwards, allowing him to turn what would have been a punishing blow into a glancing attack. That...had been close. He could not afford to let his mind wander in a duel. No matter that this was just practice for both of them. His pride and honor would not let him give any less than his best.

Instead of turning around and attacking again, the red lion chose to circle instead, moving smoothly over the shifting sands and refusing to yield while he considered what strategies and tactics would benefit him best against this opponent.  

[Kimaria]

Move 3: Bide

His circling was a little unnerving, though the pause was welcome. He was clearly trying to think of a way to break through her defences, so, perhaps she could try and come up with something or her own. It was a shame he had not chosen to become a soldier. He showed a remarkable aptitude for staying on his feet and mounting unexpected attacks. Perhaps his lack of formal training had made him more unpredictable?

The thought was an interesting one indeed and she would think on it later in greater detail. For now, though, there was a duel to focus on.

For the time-being, she chose to mirror him, her eyes focused on him, her limbs moving with calculated steps, trying to ensure that he didn't draw too close nor too far away.

 

[mouselet]

Was she copying him? Taking a breather? Resetting her focus? Or just playing some kind of mental game with him? Huozin was no Elder, but he'd been around long enough to know that all were perfectly acceptable thoughts to have cross one's mind during a duel. The trick was to know what your opponent was thinking.

To get a better idea of how Roho thought, the red lion took a swipe at her, one that intentionally fell short...though not by much. How strongly she did or didn't react would give him valuable insight into the lioness' thoughts.  

[Kimaria]

Move 4: Miss

He moved, the shifting of his body giving away his plans. Still, even with the early warning, he moved quickly enough that she felt the air shift beside her shoulder, prickling the fur along her shoulders. Her heart was pounding in her chest now, the blood in her veins heating at how close a call it had been.

She landed awkwardly as she avoided him, staggering on the uneven surface. And the opening would leave her vulnerable. Her body lurched in response, her paw shooting up again to deal him a swift smack across the nose and send him backwards.

But his face was not where it should have been and her paw met only air. He was fast on his feet!  

[mouselet]

Inwardly, Huozin smiled. So, she was hair-triggered enough to move instantly when he did, but did not have the experience to understand a feint for what it was. That was typical of Firekin soldiers who didn't have a deceitful bone in their body. He tended to like those lions and lionesses for the people they were, but that ignorance could get them killed in action if they weren't careful and didn't learn to remedy it.

Taking advantage of Roho's apparently confusion, the red lion moved around to her side and raked her flank with his claws. Not nearly as deep as he could have gone, and with only one paw instead of two, but enough for her to know that she would have to improve her situational awareness.  

[Kimaria]

Move 5: Hit

The spike of pain flashed through her system and her reaction was instantaneous.

Her body twisted around, throwing her weight around to add to her speed as she turned to face him. And, in the next second, she was going for his neck, her teeth sinking into the thick fur of his mane - enough to hang on with but not quite deep enough to pierce the skin. Still, her grip was strong, and she liked to think that in a real battle it would be near impossible to shake her off.

With a soft snort, she tightened her jaws briefly - perhaps as to show that it was a hit - and then relaxed her grip, dropping to the sand with care.

"You fight well." She replied when she had caught her breath. "You sure you won't consider signing up?"  

[mouselet]

Huozin stood still as he felt the lioness' teeth gently p***k his neck. Clearly he had severely underestimated her speed and was now paying the price - this duel went to Roho. The red lion waited until she had released him before doing anything else.

He shook his head with a smile. "Why should I enlist when a Soldier has clearly beaten me?"

It might not be the best answer, but it was the most pertinent at the moment. It also didn't get into any touchy politics of any kind. Not that Huozin felt he shouldn't speak of them, but the Firekin were called "hot-tempered" for several very good reasons.  

[Kimaria]

She did not smile. Did not frown. Simply looked at him with her ever stoic face. "Why? Are you a youngster who needs to be told and taught? You lack discipline, perhaps, but you have the instinct as all your kin do. Every single lion here could rise to become a soldier if he or she wanted. What keeps you from that, hm?"

She circled him, eyeing him critically. "Is it fear? I could understand that, perhaps." Roho was afraid of what lay ahead, but she was braver for knowing that she was training to prepare for that day. If she was a civilian in these times? Then yes, her fear would be greater still. "Today you made an unpredictable move, made a successful feint and kept your calm."

She levelled her gaze at him. "And when the Nergui come, what will you do, Huozin? Will you stand by idly or will you rise up to fight?"  

[mouselet]

The lion's eyebrows rose as Roho pursued her aim. This was...not a conversation he wanted to have. He was not a Soldier. He did not think like one. He did not wish to think that way. But how best to express himself to her without offending anyone?

"I am a Hunter," he repeated his earlier words. "I will help to keep the pride fed and I will protect our borders when the Army goes off to war," Huozin went on because her stare was starting to annoy him, as if she was some teacher who would not let him go until he had answered completely enough.

Perhaps he had chosen the wrong lion for a practice duel. He would have to do better in the future.