Welcome to Gaia! ::

Final information:

- The winner of this duel will earn the title of 'General' and earn a place amongst the council.
- The lion/ness who is defeated will be awarded with the rank of 'Brigadier'
- The winner is the lion/ness who rolls the highest number across 5 turns. An extra turn must be rolled by each player to break a tie. [Reminder of rolls: 1 - miss, 2 - bide/glancing attack, 3 - hit]
- Even if you rolled higher than your opponent, if you fail to edit your rolls with an RP response, your character is disqualified.

The deadline for this RP is: Friday 14th April. However, as this is the last duel, this deadline can be extended by 1 week if required.

Good luck!

Move 1: Hit

Mat stood on the sands for the final time, her golden eyes shining bright against her dark pelt, a grin on her muzzle. This was it. This was the top. She had reached it by skill and grit, including one extra round of fighting that none of her last two opponents had had to do. Perhaps it was an advantage for them because they had gotten to rest, but to her it was just one more stepping stone to prove she was strong and more than ready to take on the title of General.

But there was still one more stone to step on, and he stood before her just as she before him. They were in each other's path and whoever won this battle would step over the other on their way to glory. Losing wasn't so bad, of course. There was still a high rank to be won in failing now. But Mat wasn't thinking about that - she had her eyes on the prize.

Haru moved first, which was fine with Mat. She dug her paws into the sand and sprang forward to meet him in the middle of the arena, her own powerful roar echoing his, meeting his challenge head on. Quite literally, as one red paw connected solidly with her head. Although she was momentarily knocked to the side, a smack like that wasn't about to put her down and out. She immediately turned, following Haru as he spun, and jumped on his back with a snarl. Had this been a fight she would have sunk her claws into him to hold on, but as this was still just a duel she kept them tucked in safely. That didn't stop her from letting her momentum send them both to the ground, though, and she pounced off of Haru once they finished sliding in the sand.

Move 2: Glancing blow
Total: 5

Mat hopped away from Haru and turned, watching as he slowly rose from the ground. She wasn't sure if he had landed hard on his shoulder or was just taking his time, but after watching him shift to stand she knew he hadn't been hurt. Or if he had, he was very good at hiding his limping.

Not one to sit around, Mat shifted her weight to attack again. She had gone up against soldiers every round - or former soldiers, really - and this was her first time battling a guard. She knew they had very different styles of fighting, but she knew changing her tactics now wouldn't do her any favors. She had to stick to what she knew.

Shifting her weight at the last moment, Mat swiped at Haru and landed a hit. Not any that would leave a sting or an ache, but a hit all the same. She continued passed him, aiming to either scoot by any returning blow or only catch a glancing one.

Move 3: Miss
Total: 6

Mat felt the swat on her rump and she growled at herself as she turned to face Haru once again, sliding in the sand just a bit as she dug in her claws. Although she had never faced a guard she knew their tactics were less head-on and more dip and dodge. It was the nature of things, of course. The pride was well-balanced in its roles and it took all types to be a successful group. Mat was learning a lot already in this battle, too. If she hoped to be General she had to know how guards worked, not just soldiers.

She approached a little slower this time, golden eyes intent on Haru, and just a few paces away she pounced again. She misjudged the distance, though, and her swing fell a little short, swiping through the air and nothing else.

Move 4: Hit
Total: 9

Although she missed, Haru's retreat made him swing wide in return. Mat honestly couldn't tell who had the upper hand here, but that didn't mean she was going to let up at all. She had come this far and promised too many lions that she's see it through to the end, after all.

She didn't give Haru much time to regroup. As soon as he found his footing again she darted in, teeth bared and a snarl leaving her muzzle. She pounced again, both paws connecting with his chest, sinking through his mane to land purchase. She let her weight carry her again, crashing into him and shoving to try to throw him to the ground.

Move 5: Bide
Total: 11

Mat pounced away from Haru once he was on the ground, turning to ready herself for a final attack. Haru was slow to rise once again, though, and his coughed words send a shiver down her spine. He was done. She had won.

Pride and happiness filled her chest as she threw her head back in a triumphant roar, her insides burning so hot with delight that she was sure she could breathe fire in that moment. Finally she grinned at Haru, the first time for the whole match, and moved closer to him to help him to his paws once again.

"Not bad for a guard," she teased lightly, giving his shoulder a bump. "Ah, brigadier now I suppose, she corrected, giving him a wink. "Good fight, Haru. I'm looking forward to working with you." Generals and brigadiers worked paw in paw, after all. This wouldn't be the last time they saw one another.

Turning away from him Mat bounded out of the arena, laughing and prancing in delight. She had always been a impulsive lioness and, while she had gotten a hold of herself as she had grown, moments like this called for a celebration.