[DUEL] Potential (Katranak x Anwar)

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Anwar was absolutely, thoroughly, and complete disgusted with the Myrsky Syntynyt. Oh sure, she’d known intellectually that in the vague time before she’d been born lionesses had been considered lesser beings and had been treated accordingly. She’d been born to one of the first litters after the Warlord had changed the laws to allow females to become Reavers and more.

Laws could be changed back, unfortunately.

She’d hoped for something, to be grandfathered in to a position, but instead they wanted to make her a Valkyrie. To rank her beneath so many of the morons she’d made into Reavers. That was...unacceptable. It said nothing of the female Warlord they’d had either, but as that wasn’t Anwar the dark lioness couldn’t spare a thought for her.

She couldn’t remain. Not and keep her own pride and combat capabilities. Which brought her here, through the harsh desert, to a pride that might just welcome an experienced Captain. She didn’t expect them to allow her to keep her old rank...at least not until she’d proven herself. But experience did count for a fair bit.

“I’ve heard,” the lioness announced loudly to the ears she was certain were listening, “that this is a pride which values its lionesses for all their skills, and not just their ability to bear children. Have I found such a place...or have I been told lies about cowards who would keep their females downbeaten to salve a male’s pride?”  

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"Excellent," Anwar replied, pleased to not only hear confirmation of the rumors she'd tracked but also to be facing a fellow lioness. She might have preferred to completely outmatch a male, but beggars couldn't be choosers. She meant to be a chooser in the future, but for the time being she was the supplicant, seeking entry to a pride that would hopefully serve her better than that of her birth.

Without another wasted word, the lioness attacked, lashing out with a forepaw. It was a glancing blow however, and not at all the opening she had desired.  

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The brown-maned lioness cursed under her breath as her opponent shoved her away, upsetting her balance. Rookie mistakes, that's what Anwar was doing, and she hated herself for making them. What she needed to do was calm down, breathe deeply, and recenter herself.

To that end, the former Captain took a few additional steps in the direction of Katranak's shove, putting more space between the two. That should enable her to better set herself up to receive the next blow.  

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Anwar growled as she took yet another blow, her tactical retreat having failed her. It was annoying - she didn't want to lose - but at the same time it was gratifying to meet a lioness of such skill in this pride. It made her all the more determined to win a place for herself.

It didn't help that Katranak was significantly larger than the Stormborn, or that she was using that additional weight to good effect as Anwar's paws batted ineffectually against her opponent.  

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It was embarrassing to have her opponent telling her what she already knew. Anwar was frustrated - no, furious - at herself for her miserable performance today. To be losing so badly...it was as if she was the rawest Reaver recruit!

"I know that," she growled in response, managing to evade being completely pinned by wriggling out of the way. The Stormborn flailed at her opponent in passing, knowing that any blow she landed there would be more luck than aim. Still, she had to try something.  

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Sand was definitely treacherous footing, but it was barely worthy of note in the face of how badly Anwar was doing against her opponent. Why, Katranak barely had to do anything at all! And still Anwar was struggling horrifically. She had never, ever, been so badly overpowered in her life and it was making her angry.

Anger was, sadly, never the solution. Two out of four legs slipped on the sand, bringing Anwar down with Katranak on top of her. The smaller lioness hissed her frustration. There was no possible chance of recovery.  

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"Ugh," was Anwar's first reaction to the unsurprising news of her loss.

"Well, I should thank you for this confirmation that your pride doesn't let anything as stupid as gender shape its opinions," the lioness continued. "My name is Anwar, and I won't forget this."

Pulling herself to her feet, the one-time Captain retreated away from the pride's lands. Her tone had been such that it was difficult to say whether it was threat, promise, or gratitude.

One thing was certain. She would return.