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Still with her goal of climbing the ranks in mind, Katranak was taking her training very seriously. She didn't have much of a social life and she didn't really care, this was how she liked spending her time. Besides, she had Utsaha and the jackal was not only helpful but a good friend. The pair frequently lurked in the Training Grounds and today was no exception. What was unusual, though, was that they stood in the middle of the sparring area quietly chatting before Katranak stepped back and traced a wide circle in the sand.

"This should do," she said, walking back into the middle of the circle thoughtfully. Utsaha looked doubtful.

"Sure," the jackal said, "But it won't last long."

The lioness walking from the edge inward had already disturbed the tracing, and it would only get worse when she fought. But the plan was less about the exact boundary and this was a way to visualize it.

"That's fine, you just keep watch," Katranak replied, "Now let's find an opponent."

Roll 1: Glancing Blow!
Total: 2

Katranak spotted Huoxin as she approached, offering a grin and a nod when she offered a challenge. It was an exceptionally polite challenge but it was all she needed, really. An older, out of practice lioness.. she would have to adjust her strategy accordingly but she had two goals in mind so she was ready.

"Sure," she said, "Get ready."

A nod to Utsaha and the jackal marched away to watch the lions spar. While each got into place, she made a mental note of how far apart they started and the invisible boundaries that Katranak would be setting for herself.

Katranak barely waited for Huoxin to get ready before lunging forward.

Roll 2: Bide!
Total: 4

Katranak missed her mark, though she felt the nearness of it- and also barely evaded the counter-attack of her opponent. Rusty enough to not be able to full dodge, not so rusty that she couldn't counter equally. Unlike Huoxin, Katranak was silent when struck and fell back into the sand. She didn't go far but she didn't immediately strike back either. Mindful of her imaginary circle, she kept close and looked for a better opportunity.

Utsaha made herself comfortable in the sand some ways away and watched closely, too, lest she miss something useful to discuss with the lioness later.

Roll 3: Glancing Blow!
Total: 6

Katranak was so close that it was amazing that she managed to dodge Huoxin's next blow, but far less surprising that it was followed up by a poorly aimed blow from the younger opponent. She knew even as she reached out with her paw that she wasn't going to hit but stumbling back would be worse than a failed follow-through. From the side, Utsaha was starting to see a problem in their training plan already. It looked to her like they did indeed find something that the soldier needed to work on.

Roll 4: Glancing Blow!
Total: 8

As Huoxin landed the first real blow of the duel, Katranak finally made a sound: she snarled in frustration. It didn't cross her mind that she might be doing better if she wasn't trying to keep the fight so restricted to one place, she didn't have the time to think about that- and stumbling backwards, away from the blow, only made her more frustrated.

So she lunged forward again, closing the gap created by the solid blow Huoxin got in, and tried again to get control over the situation- not as poorly as some might, but clearly not headed for success unless her opponent fumbled.

Utsaha shook her head from the sidelines. Katranak was thinking too small and she was limiting herself too much. So far there was nothing that should have been exceptionally difficult to handle but the young lioness was making it worse for herself. And her opponent, she guessed, but the obvious flawed choices the dark lioness made wouldn't be as obvious to someone who wasn't familiar with her.

Roll 5: Miss!
Total: 9 - Katranak can't win

The frustration of missing again didn't help Katranak's focus as Huoxin retaliated. She didn't even see it coming before she had been struck again and set stumbling away again, growling and trying to steady herself but not giving herself enough time. If she hesitated, this would have been Huoxin's chance to end the fight, so Katranak foolishly tried again. Desperately, instead of striking out with a paw, she pounced.

If she didn't get full control now, it was over.

And unfortunately for her, she missed. Her paws touched the sand and she knew it was over.

Utsaha was shaking her head from the side.

Katranak missed her attack and barely dodged one more blow from her opponent.. and she knew there was no recovering from this unless the duel was going to go on for far too long. She was a proud lioness but she could admit defeat, she had to be able to or she wouldn't get very far. Or learn anything or whatever.

"I concede," she said, taking a deep breath and moving purposefully away from the red lioness, "You win."

She shook herself off and tried not to look too frustrated about the loss. At the very least, she was being polite about it and not storming off, so that was something. Utsaha recognized the end and started walking back in towards them, already starting to review all the mental notes she had made to share with Katranak when they were alone again.