[PRP] Untimely Realisations [Wook x Roho]

[Kimaria]

The dark lioness took the time to stretch each limb in turn and then padded out into the early morning light. The training grounds were already quite busy - it tended to be during the cooler periods - and she took her time to look around her. Most of the faces she recognised and could put a name to, some of the others she could not. However, this morning, it was one face in particular she sought.

Wook.

There was no telling when promotions would be but there was no harm in preparing early. The more he trained the better his chances of climbing the ladder and to help him in doing so would give her satisfaction, too. Roho would stop at nothing to make sure the right lions got to the top positions, even if she had no real choice over the matter. In the end it would come down to Wook's own strength and prowess.

Moving through the grounds she paused occasionally to nod a greeting at sparring lions, finding an unoccupied space and then taking a seat. It wasn't that they had specifically arranged a time or place but...if she was here and he arrived, perhaps he would come over to see her?  

[Ctrl F Greenie]

It had been many moments following their parting that Wook realized there had been no true time arranged between them, but he was eager - perhaps to eager. The following morning he woke with a start, energy pumped through him in a surplus which he wasn't about to waste. Soon he was on his paws and stretched out his entire body, allowing his bones to settle after a long sleep.

In a short amount of time he found himself prepared, limbered up and raring to take on his newest training partner - Roho, he was extremely pumped to begin his work towards a promotion and would likely accept any and all chances to practice. It was also a bonus that one of those chances landed him some additional time with the dark lioness. Upon his arrival to the training grounds his eyes immediately began seeking her out, even as he greeted those who called out to him he didn't really see them. Wook finally caught sight of her and his heart skipped a beat in his chest leaving him breathless for a moment.

"Roho!" He called out, once he gathered himself up.

"I wasn't sure when we'd be meeting, I'm glad you were just about as eager as I." The large lion gave a warm laugh at his comment - perhaps they both needed a lesson in proper planning.

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

She brightened at the sound of his voice and turned to see him approaching, giving him a nod and a smile and shifting her stance so that she stood at the very edge of their 'arena'.

"Indeed," she replied with some amusement, "you seem confident this morning. How about we see if it is justified?" She arched down into a play-bow and lifted her eyes to watch him. In that moment her amusement faded away to seriousness and she seemed to settle into 'work-mode' with seamless efficiency.

Hm. How was she going to play this?

He was a guard and would likely be more defensive but it would be extremely risky for her to play this game offensively. Perhaps she could try and bait him and then make for a weak spot? Hm. Yes, this was going to be tricky, but she was certain that she'd be able to land at least one hit if she played it safely and wisely.

Abominable Greenie

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

Wook entered the arena, across from Roho, smiling fondly at his opponent.

"A good nights sleep can do wonders." His smile became a playful grin as he mimicked her bow and even followed suit by replacing his grin with a measured stared that had been instilled in him during his adolescent years in training - certainly a trait of those who took their work very seriously. The lion slowly rose, but his muscles were tightly coiled, prepared to move himself rapidly.

"Ladies first?"

Perhaps his favorite part of any good duel, the taunting. His muscles shifted, remained tight, but preparing for a more defensive maneuver as he expected a reaction from Roho - to a degree. Wook recalled that her actions always seemed to carry purpose, as though they were debated about for quite a while though they were likely decided upon in minutes. The lioness he now faced was graceful and extremely agile, not that he wasn't but he was likely better suited for barreling through a situation instead.

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

She schooled herself a moment longer, deciding on the direction of her movement first. The sand was slightly firmer to her left and if she landed well, her stronger, right paw would be free to attempt a first strike...depending on how quickly he moved. It would be a good way to test his reflexes or see if he could predict her attack.

Roho's eyes flicked back to her opponent's and, in the next second she sprang forwards, crossing the sand in a few lengthened strides and leaning in hard to swing her body around. With her far-side hind leg coiled tight beneath her body, she threw her front upwards to free up a paw.

Depending on whether he had moved in to meet her attack, it would either act as her defense or an offence.

Abominable Greenie

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

Trained eyes watched his opponent, the joys of battling in the arenas meant that the attack would actually be worth some salt - not like the typical roguelander that approached their borders and weakly attempted entrance. Fools. If he'd had a chance to truly watch Roho from an outside perspective he would have been in awe at the way she moved, but instead he had to make a quick decision - defend or attack.

Purple eyes narrowed as he met her blue ones, but as they narrowed his lips turned up just a small amount - he'd have fun, regardless of the reason behind this particular duel, enjoying his duty was what provided his drive ample fuel.

Wook began to compartmentalize the situation as the dark lioness pushed into high gear, launching herself towards him in such a manner that allowed him the freedom of choice - of course any situation would likely result in the option, but this one particular gave him an opportunity. Typically he'd have defended, allowing an attacking rogue to attempt in proving him or herself, but since this wasn't the typical scenario he decided to apply himself to an attack.

His own tightly coiled legs, already prepared, released an incredible amount of energy as his decision was made. Wook raised himself up and propelled himself forward, determined to meet the lioness in her assault.

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

The paw she had raised immediately became defensive as Wook made his move, her lower back twisting as she tried to prepare for the inevitable. Yet, quick as she was, even she was not going to be able to get into a good bracing position in time. Roho had expected him to move away or, at best, lift a paw in retaliation. What she got was over and above that.

The strength and weight of her opponent was more than enough to shove her backwards and, with her posture unprepared, her hind legs went out from under her, rocking her backwards and into the sand.

Her eyes - which had squeezed shut in preparation for her undignified landing - flared open again to find herself with her back to the ground and her opponent hovering above her. Well...damn. This was not at all how things were supposed to go. Exhaling sharply to free her nostrils of sand, she attempted to roll away and back to her paws.

Abominable Greenie

Wook, you have permission to pin her if you like XD !!!

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

The world outside of the arena began to grow small as he closed in on Roho - it seemed he had the upper hand, something he imagined didn't happen often for the dark lioness, heck it was something that he hadn't even prepared for. The connection was made far more quickly than he had anticipated, perhaps his agility wasn't as bad as he'd thought, but he didn't have much time to think as time seemed to speed up.

Mere seconds and he found a paw touching the sands, the other somewhere tangled in the pair of them and his hind legs finding their steady ground. Just a few more seconds, since every one of those seconds appeared to count, he straightened his stance out, purple eyes locked with her blue ones as they opened and his previously 'tangled' paw worked to press against her chest - firmly pinning her to the sands on which she fell.

"Where do you think you're going?"

A question, which under other circumstances could sound threatening, but during this situation came out as a playful taunt (which he carried over from his previous taunting tone). Breaths came quickly, but evened out as he began to relax himself - but his damned heart wouldn't quit beating rapidly, had anyone asked he'd have said it was because of the duel itself - not his opponents doing.

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

His paw came down and she froze, her body growing tense at the sudden contact. She could quite easily, of course, have blamed her sudden spike of emotion as anger. As irritation. As frustration at having been bested so easily. But, at the back of her mind, a tiny voice knew the truth of it and whispered just loud enough for her to hear. The whisper, in fact, was so distracting that she hadn't even heard Wook speak.

She shook her head fiercely as if trying to dislodge something from her ear and met his eyes again.

He was...very close.

Her mouth opened of its own accord, though she had no idea what she would even begin to say. If she'd heard Wook before, perhaps that would have given her a hook to catch onto and propel herself out of this stupor. Her jaw shut again, then opened again and between rapid blinking she said: "you're delaying..."

Yes, when in doubt, go back to the one thing that could be relied upon. Trusty battle skills. Was he...waiting for her to try and escape? And...why wasn't she doing so? She was delaying, too. Urgh. Well, this was not fun. She was making a fool of herself!!

With a sharp intake of breath she tried to roll free again, scrabbling to find her paws with a distinct lack of grace not usually attributed to the feline.

Abominable Greenie

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

In those moments where he found himself watching the lioness beneath him the world truly faded away. Suddenly she appeared tortured and he briefly thought that perhaps he had done something wrong or even hurt her? The possibility was always there, but he knew of her reputation, there was no way.

When she began to shake her head he backed up a small amount, in turn it meant his weight into holding her down had faded.

"I'm delaying?" The lion said, mildly surprised by her response - had he not been clear in his playful tone? Concern gleamed in his eyes, but he didn't dare move a muscle lest this be some form of diversion (even the sweetest of lions could be so daft). "Roho.. are you alright?" His question was whispered and meant for her ears only - hosting such a duel in the training grounds meant they weren't alone..

Then she began to struggle again, this time the struggle wasn't well orchestrated or graceful - it was as though she'd lost sight of what their goal had been. Wook took some more weight off of his paw while he considered the possibilities, one of which caused him to prepare his muscle - should this be some form of diversion (as he had originally convinced himself).

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

She was on her paws again and looked as if she were struggling to catch her breath despite the fact that there had been no real exertion. Her eyes dithered from one point of the arena to the next before hesitantly rising to meet Wook's again.

"It's fine," she replied to his question at last, giving herself one last shake to rid her fur of the sand. "I just...I have to go. Sorry."

She span around with only slightly more elegance than she had gained her paws and darted away from the arena, weaving between other Firekin gathered around her. If any of them had cast her welcoming glances she ignored them all. Ignored everything except the damned heart attempting to beat its way out of her chest.

It wasn't until she left the crowded practice grounds behind that she realised she wasn't even sure where she was going. Just away.

Just away.

Abominable Greenie

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

Huh. The world, which had been on pause, returned to full life as he heard her speak and then without an explanation disappear before him. Purple eyes watched as the lioness began to weave between those training and making their way to arenas, as she passed them each one glanced in her direction appearing just as confused as he was.

"What did I do?" He asked no one in particular, still standing precisely where she had left him for a few moments longer. Had he been on the ball he could have chased her down without much trouble, but the shock left him feeling off - so he left the arena and murmurs from the crowd in favor of finding a quieter place to mull things over before ultimately going to look for Roho.

The whole event left him feeling strangely.

Kimaria