Welcome to Gaia! ::

Red grinned as she looked up at the russet-furred beast above her. “So yer finally ready for a real fight, eh?” It snarled a response, chittering as it raised its scuffed metal sword at her in threat. She let her icicle claws form on her hands with a sharp crackle of freezing water. “About time!” she crowed, sneering, “I was about to think that you'd run off somewhere or gotten killed. I'd have been so disappointed, ya know?” she slipped into a battle stance, “Would have been really bored out here. Again.” she rolled her shoulders, “But here you are.” It's tail lashed, a perfect match for her own impatience, and it hissed at her, all ferocity and violence. “Yer right!” she said, pleased, “Enough talk! Lets get to the fun part!” The last part was an exultation, matching the enthusiasm of her leap as she, her icicle claws shimmering in the filtered sunlight, pounced at the beast. It blocked her hastily, ice chiming against metal as it drew back for its own attack. “Nice.” she said, landing with ease and dodging the swing of it's wickedly curved sword, “Keep it up like this, fluffy, and we'll have us a fine fight before I gut you!”

This would be her fourth fight against the young darvithri. Fate had brought them together to fight, again and again, and she had spared its life for the sake of that fight. But, as she had promised it the last time they had met, this would be their final fight – a fight to the death, the violence and integrity she craved. She would not be holding back, not at all. And she hoped the beast would not either, though she doubted it would. She could see her promise reflected in its solemnly blazing eyes, it's desire and resolve to kill her. Yes She thought, as she scored a slash along its side and kicked the beast away, This'll be good!

She grabbed one of her throwing axes and threw it, sparks spewing where it's blade struck the stone behind the darvithri. She darted for it, rolling beneath the darvithri's sword as it swung down to meet her and picking up her axe in one fluid movement. She bounced to her feet, ducking beneath the blade as she slashed her claws along the beast's warm belly. “Come on!” she said, not disappointed at all, “You can do better!”

And it did. The darvithri kicked out at her with a clawed paw, knocking her to the ground. “Ahh, s**t!” she cursed, choking out the words as her stomach ached with the force of the blow. The beast had hit her good – she was vulnerable, her guard was down, and it would be a few moments more before she could get back up. The perfect time, she knew, for it to strike. She rolled out of the way as the sword came down where her neck had been moments before. “Woo...” she exclaimed, “That was close!” The little bit of fear she felt made the whole thing better. This was the kind of fight she wanted, this was the sort of day she hoped for every time she walked into the wilds – something where her life was in danger, where she could really die. Whatever didn't kill her made her stronger, but that only worked if it could.

This Darvithri could.

“I was right not to kill you!” she said, her voice that of joy edged with adrenaline as she headbutted the darvithri in the stomach. Her horns were not sharp enough or strong enough to break the skin, but she was content to return the favor. “This is fun!” She followed through, shoving the darvithri to the ground, “This is more fun than when I fought three baowi! This is more fun than when I fought the dragons!” she laughed as the darvithri kicked its way free, “This is the most fun I've ever had!” they stood, facing each other once again, scruffed and battered. Neither of them were beaten, but both were injured. One way or another, this would be the fight of their lives.
Suddenly, the darvithri's ears twitched and it turned to the side, letting out a startled shriek. Annoyed that it's attention was elsewhere, Red turned to see... just in time to see and dodge a massive boulder that came tumbling from the sloping cliff face nearby.

“Hey!” she shouted in protest, glaring up the cliff, “Back off!” two huge, reptilian creatures – NOT dragons – stared down at her. They roared, a sound that shook her to her very spine. She roared back, not nearly as impressive as theirs, and prepared for an even bigger fight than before.

One of them said a word in their crackling, gutteral language and stomped. Red felt the magic wash over her, a warning. “Oi! Darv! Get out of the way!” she shouted, turning and shoving her foe aside as an ominous rumbling began. Stones fell in a surging tide from the clifftop, tumbling down and gaining momentum as the reptilian beasts – Ordon – laughed at their prey. Red shoved the darvithri out of the way of the stones, only to have her legs hit by a stray boulder midair. She spun, losing control of her fall. There was a ledge nearby, a fifty-foot fall at the very least to hard stone. Red hadn't paid it any mind – she was Ayr born and bred, and was used to such ledges with their fatal falls, enough not to fear them. But now it loomed, opening like a mouth beneath her, suddenly a danger. She slipped over the side with the rest of the stones and was barely able to grab the rocky edge, slamming against the rock face as the landslide tumbled down behind her...