[DUEL] Take Two (Zuka & Geni)

[mouselet]

This was not at all where Geni wanted to be. Even if it was home. With the pride agreeing that bright yellow pelts were no shame at all, the one place the bright red lioness wished to be was next to her sister, Erle. Erle could finally return, and hold a rank other than Huria with her yellow fur and black markings. That was, above all else, what Geni desired.

Instead the return Water-Seeker found herself confronting a fireless male looking both determined and hopeful. Ugh. A challenge. Not at all what she'd wanted today, but it would reflect poorly on her to let this male go by and hope someone else would take care of him.

"A Duel, huh?" she asked aloud. "You've got some nerve, fireless one."  

[mouselet]

Well, it was a proper response, sure enough. At least he had some wit and some manners. Not that Geni cared. The red lioness was often called rude, for her in sorrow at her sister's absence, she could be brusque and cruel with words and actions.

Hence she saw no need to dally any further with this stranger.

"Sure," she replied, and immediately charged headlong towards him.  

[mouselet]

The blow fell, but not solidly, and Geni stood her ground against her opponent. Sure, it was easy enough to evade a charge - she'd clearly broadcast her intent.

But now he'd left himself open and she was at his flank. The lioness took a swipe at the long spread of the lion's side, clearly intending to get a bit of her own pride back.  

[mouselet]

Charging headlong was a simple enough move to read. And yes, Geni thought about sidestepping her opponent the way he had done to her earlier. But that would be stupid and, more importantly, repetitive. Winning a fight was about more than knowing a single attack.

The red lioness stood firm, braced against the white male's charge, taking the full hit in the knowledge that it would bring him into her range with no escape.

Once he had come, Geni rammed her skull into her opponent's. That would teach him a lesson!  

[mouselet]

The lioness smiled inwardly, refusing to let her challenger see how much the headbutt hurt her. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to do by a long shot, but the effect seemed well worth it as the white male backed off for the moment. That meant the initiative was in her hands now.

However, Geni was more interested in seeing the lion's reaction than in beating him into a pulp, so she circled, refusing to stay in the same spot she'd occupied before.  

[mouselet]

Again, Geni let the blow land. While he was touching her, the challenger was in easy range of anything she cared to unleash upon him. Besides, her shoulders were strong and she was sure the blow was nothing vital.

The Water-Seeker opted to go slightly more violent than she'd been thus far today. She angled her head and opened her jaws to bite down on the offending foreleg that held a paw on her shoulder. She would savor the taste of his fur...and blood.  

[mouselet]

When the stranger shook his leg, she let go obediently. He stood apart, watching her. His pale eyes looked uncertain, possibly nervous, potentially afraid. Geni offered him a smile that was as red as her fur.

"Good," she told him. "You're right, there is fire in your soul. The Motoujamii-Simo welcomes you."

Without further ado, the Water-Seeker continued her interrupted journey back home. If the white male followed fine. If not, well, no loss.