[Duel] Creve'coeur x Cyprinnus

[Puhterodactyl]

Creve'coeur had struck out on his first reaving and never looked back. He abandoned his band without a word of where he was going and just kept going. He was not satisfied with what he felt his future would hold for him in the Stormborn. His face told the story to a trained eye. Inherited from Aesir, his eye markings were common in the pride. He was not unique, he was not special, which was not wholly insurmountable of a lot to overcome but... It was too much competition to be unremarkable and mean nothing in his life. Plus it was getting a little bit harder to know who he was and was not related to...

When he reached the desert he figured he'd gone far enough. He'd heard the pride was called the Motojamii– the Firekin. Well, that would probably suit him just fine. He'd heard he would have to challenge a member to a duel, not unlike the Stormborn practice. Also just fine.

The pale lion roared a challenge and waited to see who might accept  

[Puhterodactyl]

A water-seeker, Cyprinnus was not much of a fighter but knew well the importance of training to the pride he had joined years ago. To practice, he had gone to the pits to see who he might spar with, hoping to find some other water-seekers or perhaps medics. When an outsider announced their challenge, he figured maybe they would do– he hadn't passed a lot of options.

"Hello, challenger!" he called.

"If you mean to duel for entry, I accept." Having belonged to the Firekin for enough time made him more succinct.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 1/5 – 2 – glancing attack ] Creve nodded. He was not much of one for words, either. Padding forward to the level ground of the dueling pits, the lions circled one another once, then twice. He took the first move, lunging at the Firekin with claws outstretched. He caught the lion in the shoulder– a fair hit, but not great. Fights were lost when only fair hits were involved. His lunge took him past the lion and he circled on his heels, pacing.

[ 1/5 – 1 – miss] Cyprinnus winced and was knocked off balance. He was more out of practice than he thought. Or this challenger was more powerful than he had estimated. Cyprinnus returned the lash, but Creve leaned back and Cyprunnus’ claws only grazed his cheek– no blood drawn. He grimaced and tried to take a few steps backwards to put some more distance between him and his foe. He hoped things would turn in his favor or else this would be a very long fight for him and probably a very, very long recovery.

[ 2/5 – 3 – a hit / successful attack ] Emboldened by his first (albeit lackluster) hit and dodge, Creve resolved to do better. Weaving and bobbing, he got in closer before lashing out, driving his shoulder into Cyprinnus’ side to knock the wind out of him and get him off of his feet. Creve was younger, stronger and more practiced at fighting thanks to his training to become a Stormborn reaver. The advantage was certainly his to lose. Hopefully his grandfather's god blood would help a bit, too. The boosted size was certainly welcome.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 2/5 – 3 – a hit / successful attack ] Cyprinnus rolled on the ground from Creve’s successful drive. He paused for a moment, feeling dizzy and nauseous and like he couldn’t catch another breath. But the splotchy-coated lion managed to gather his feet beneath him and heave himself back up into a standing position. Grunting and panting heavily, he shook his head at Creve as if to say ‘this fight isn’t over yet.’ He even had a slight grin tugging at the edge of his mouth.

Perhaps Creve was caught off guard when Cyprinnus rushed forward to copy the other male’s move and he aimed to knock his foe off his feet too. Creve was bigger than he was, sure, but the Firekin managed to broadside the challenger and get him on the ground.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 3/5 – 3 – a hit / successful attack ] Surprised and dirty on the ground, Creve got back onto his feet quicker than the older Cyprinnus had managed. The white lion shook the dirt and dust from his mane and grinned in response. He’d have some deep bruising for the next week or two to come but he was confident that he would be nursing any wounds in a new den in his new pride.

Not wanting to play out the tackle-charge, he rose up on his back legs and brought his paws down on Cyprinnus’ body, on the same side he’d just driven his shoulder into. His claws scratched the other male’s side but he wasn’t aiming to gouge or kill the lion. He was having a lot of fun, after all.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 3/5 – 1 – miss] Creve’s second blow to his side felled Cyprinnus once more. He should stay a water-seeker, that was very clear to him now. And he should practice more, but probably in secret at first since he was thoroughly embarrassing himself now.

He tried to stand and his leg buckled beneath him. But given a second chance, he managed to stagger back to his feet. He ignored the vague look of concern on Creve’s face and didn’t want to give the younger male the chance to ask if they should stop on his behalf. He wasn’t through quite just yet.

He limped towards Creve and swung, but it was poorly aimed and more an attempt to demonstrate he was not throwing in the towel yet than an attack he sincerely thought might be good.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 4/5 – 3 – a hit / successful attack ] As more of kindness to Cyprinnus, he figured, Creve did not let up on his assault. The sooner he could end this, the better for the Firekin male, he thought. Creve opted to not hit the white and red and black male on the same side that he had been giving such a beating. Instead, he swiped– hard– at his opponent’s head.

He wondered if that would be enough.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 4/5 – 1 – miss] Cyprinnus was disoriented when Creve struck his head. He staggered back again, shaking his red man, eyes squinted shut, ears ringing. He wobbled and managed to stay on his feet after standing. His vision was doubled, though, when he went to attack Creve. He was trying to draw on any last reserves he had but admittedly the lion was a little pathetic. He ran to charge Creve but the lithe white lion sidestepped him easily– or maybe Cyprinnus had aimed at one of the doubles he saw.

He stumbled a bit, but dug his claws into the earth. He couldn't fall yet.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 1/5 – 2 – glancing attack ] Creve watched him with a piteous look on his face but he tried wipe the expression away quickly. He rushed towards Cyprinnus, but only glanced the other lion’s shoulder, trying to end it mercifully. It seemed even a strong breeze could blow the other lion over, so hopefully this would be enough. The would-have-been reaver wasn't cruel but he was going to win this, he knew.

His golden eyes narrowed as he waited for the splotchy lion's next move.  

[Puhterodactyl]

[ 5/5 – 1 – miss] It had been too much for Cyprinnus, so as Creve struck his side, he tried to respond with a swipe of his own but missed and fell into the sand. He grunted and managed to prop himself up on his elbow. He winced with pain but gave Creve a pained grin.

"Alright, I cede– you win." His breathing was heavy as he spoke but he didn't think he had any mortal wounds. Just enough to leave him limping around the pride for a few weeks.

"Congratulations...?" He realized they had never exchanged names.

"I'm Cyprinnus, a water-seeker. You seem suited more towards being a soldier, maybe."  

[Puhterodactyl]

Creve's chest puffed out a bit with pride.

"Thank you." He was prompted that he had forgotten his manners. He scarcely had any to begin with, but still.

"I'm Creve'coeur. I came here from the Myrsky Syntynyt. I'll consider that– the soldier position." He grinned.

"Sorry I was so rough on you. Couldn't risk being rejected out here in a place like this." He jerked his head to indicate towards the dunes and exposed rocks. He got an understanding nod from Cyprinnus.

"Here, let me help you, brother." Creve offered to let the downed lion lean on him as they walked back to the pride – together.