[CHAL/JRP] Prove Your Worth [Tabari x Ensis]

[oo Ded]

He was hoping things would go better this time around. Tabari wasn't at all happy with his last performance here. Since his duel with Anwar the lion had spent time in the lands near the border training. He hadn't had the luck of finding a partner to do battle with but at least this time around he had some idea of what he was going against. Sure, there was the distinct possibility that the fighters in this pride would have more varied fighting styles and his new opponent would be something completely unexpected, but Tabari had long since decided that he would come at this next fight with all the tactics he knew that he had.

It was early afternoon and the skies were clear. The sun was warm on the painted lion's back as he made his way towards a vantage point near the border of the pride. His tail twitched behind him in anticipation. Tabari's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the lands.

There was no point in waiting. He knew what was to come, and he was prepared. He let loose a roar as a call to challenge and he waited.  

[mouselet]

It had been some time since Ensis last faced a would-be pridemember. So when he heard the roar and saw the brown and white male, he was perfectly pleased to accept the responsibility of sizing up the other's skill.

The white lion trotted up to his challenger and stopped mere breaths away, studying his opponent for a moment.

"I am Reaver Ensis," he introduced himself. Then he threw most of his weight behind a forepaw headed for the other lion's face.  

[oo Ded]

So not all Stormborn fought the same.

The realization came to him quickly as her recognized the pale green paw moving quickly towards him. That was quick. The lion was suddenly close to him (closer than he would have preferred), but he had little time to size up his opponent before the attack came. Tabari had only heard the reaver introduce himself before he was force to move to the side to avoid the lunge.

A snarl escaped the lion's maw as he shifted his weight beneath him. He hadn't moved quite quickly enough and he felt he paw make contact with his shoulder. Tabari hissed and prepared a lunge of his own. The scarred lion moved towards Ensis' legs in an attempt to disrupt his weight before moving upwards for a strike at his body.  

[mouselet]

The Reaver permitted his opponent to tangle their legs together as it brought his head down near the same shoulder his paw had hit. Instead of using fangs - for this was a match, not a duel to the death - he instead rammed his forehead into the other male's shoulder.

Sure it would hurt Ensis as well, but the lion who only used standard tactics was soon defeated by his more experimental opponents. Besides, it was a trick he'd seen used effectively, and the white male had always wanted to try it.  

[oo Ded]

The sudden contact of he other lion's head against his shoulder was unexpected and Tabari noted to himself that he should watch these Stormborn spar as clearly they had some tactics that he wasn't expecting. The sudden hit sent the lion tumbling to the ground. Even the most inexperienced fighter knew that being pinned down like this wasn't a good place to be.

A snarl left Tabari's maw and he reached his paw to the side, claws digging into the dirt and flinging dirt up with the hope of getting some into his opponent's eye. It was a tactic he was used to back when his fighting ground were the desert sands. He centered his weight beneath him and threw his body upwards, claws out in an attempt to break skin at the reaver's hide.  

[mouselet]

Well, that was fighting dirty, Ensis thought with good humor as his vision was obscured and he landed on top of the other male. He tried to scrub his eyes clear with one paw, but was distracted in his attempt by a number of sharp claws piercing his belly. The white lion gritted his teeth at the pain even as he admired his opponent's skill, and rubbed harder.

It seemed to take forever, but finally his pink eyes were clear once more. Unfortunately, he still needed another moment or two to figure out what he was going to do now.  

[oo Ded]

His tactic had worked, but unfortunately not quite as he had planned. The weight of the other lion as he landed pushed the air out of Tabari's lungs in an audible "oof." There was a moment of struggle as he attempted to move out from beneath the reaver, taking advantage of his opponent's temporary confusion.

All the wriggling couldn't really get him free, though. Well, this was awkward.

Tabari pulled his legs in and pulled to one side in an attempt to steady himself. A snarl escaped him and he thrust his weight upwards, trying to break his body free from Ensis'.  

[mouselet]

It probably wouldn't have worked if Ensis wasn't also trying to extricate himself from the awkward position they were entwined in. As it was, the white lion wobbled around a bit, swiping vaguely at the other male with one paw, half to keep him away, half hoping he'd make contact once or twice.

Yes, well, his eyes were still tearing a bit. It happened. That dirt was persistent.  

[oo Ded]

There was only a brief moment of gratification as Tabari moved his body away from Ensis. Having to struggle to move away made him feel a bit uneasy, though, and whatever relief there was became cut short as he was smacked by a paw. A growl escaped the lion and he steadied his weight over his paws.

Tabari was growing quite tired of this fight. It was time for it to end, one way or another. His body grew low to the ground and he lunged with all his weight. He attempted to move as quickly as possible to leave Ensis the smallest amount of time possible for his opponent to prepare. He was ready and he was determined, aiming his weight at what he tried to determine as Ensis' center of balance.  

[mouselet]

Enough was enough, he deciced, sidestepping the lunge. But did he really need to strike another blow? Ensis was quite certain he and the paint-marked lion had come to a nonverbal agreement already.

"I think you have quite a bit of skill and experience, Brother," he said, speaking again for the second time that match. "But luck was not always with you today. Perhaps we should go home and see about fixing that."  

[oo Ded]

Tabari's lunge made no purchase. The other lion seemed to come to the same conclusion as he had. His paws skid against the ground and, as Ensis spoke, Tabari shifted and stood tall to face his opponent.

"As do you, Ensis. A fine battle indeed." His tail twitched behind him. He took a pause to interpret the reaver's words, ears pinning to his head. Was that it, then? Clearly the lion had decided Tabari to be worthy of joining the ranks of the Stormborn. The once-desert dweller shook his mane out and nodded.

"After you," he spoke, his tone stern and collected. "I suppose I should take the opportunity to introduce myself as I had no opportunity before. I am Tabari sim Demir."