[CHAL] Iron Spirit

[Kimaria]

The sky seemed stormy that morning, a hulking mass of grey that churned into darker and lighter shades that seemed to want to threaten rain. Perhaps, Zili thought, he could even smell it in the air, tantalising him with its freshness.

Perhaps the clouds would break upon his success and wash away the dirt and blood from his pelt. Or maybe it would be there to dampen his spirits instead.

No.

He thrust that thought far, far away and, steadying himself, roared out another challenge. It seemed to him that these lands were growing familiar with the sound of his voice. Ah, him again, the hills would say, chuckling and yet curious. Well, perhaps this would be the last challenge he would have to utter after this day and the hills could forget his voice once more. Zili would have been glad of that.

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[magnadearel]

Kimaria

Although it was threatening to rain, Bousvor had decided to take himself out for a stroll. He loved that fresh smell before and after the rains. The white maned male kept glancing toward the glowering clouds. Would they or wouldn't they? It seemed the clouds hadn't made up their minds yet either. With a quirk of his lips he paced on.

The echo of a roared challenge bouncing off the hills caught his attention. He hadn't realized he'd come out so far. Out of curiosity on who would be challenging on such a day, Bousvor headed toward it. As he approached he saw a black lion. "You wish to challenge?" His deep voice rumbled softly like thunder on the clouds.  

[Kimaria]

"I do," Zili replied, taking a step forward and casting a glance at the male before him. This one cut an imposing figure, his pale pelt stylised with dark markings that resembled something of the storm clouds above. He seemed as if he would be a calmer opponent than the one who had come before.

He eased into a defensive stance, then, drawing in a long breath in an effort to calm himself. Having done this two times before seemed to have made little difference. His nerves surfaced just as the first time - though today he hoped he showed it less.

"I have been training for this," he continued, hesitating on making the first move.

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[magnadearel]

Kimaria

Bousvor calmly watched the lion take on a defensive stance. His green eyes taking note of the deep breath. Was this lion nervous? If so, how much? That could be a telling factor he knew. He smiled, "then show me what you have learned." Despite waiting, the black lion didn't make any move to attack. Bousvor hoped he wasn't frozen in terror.

"Don't hold back. Don't hesitate!" The experience captain decided to start things off to demonstrate his advice. He leaped his considerable mass into action. Ironically aiming to the side of his opponent. He turned his forward momentum from the first leap into a second aimed at the black lion's exposed side.  

[Kimaria]

This lion seemed wiser than those who had come before and that, of course, was something to be concerned about. A wise lion was a far more fierce opponent than one who was not. A moment later and this was confirmed as the other made the first move, his paw striking him a heavy blow against his ribs.

Startled, the black lion allowed the blow to knock him sideways and, in a desperate attempt to land a hit and fend the other off, swung a paw up and around.

Truly, he thought to himself, by the time he was a member of the pride he'd have faced off against all of its reavers!!

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[magnadearel]

Kimaria

Nerves or inexperience? Bousvor felt bad that it looked like he was going to trounce this male instead of letting him into the pride. Still it was a test that all new comers had to pass. At least he could keep trying.

His weight knocked his opponent sideways as he expected. An experienced warrior may have been able to dodge away when he saw Bousvor aiming beside him. He felt a faint scratch on his foreleg where the other had tried to counter attack. It barely hurt.

As tempting as it was to go easy on the boy, he knew he couldn't do that lest he let weak blood into the pride. Bousvor waited for the male to rise to his feet. Some of the crueler reavers might have gone after him while he was down, but not Bousvor. The green-eyed male stood and waited.  

[Kimaria]

Shaking some sense back into himself, he rounded again, determined not to lose spirit even though things seemed to be mounting up against him. Scowling darkly, he set his paws firmly and, with at least a little more calmness, made another leap, extending a forepaw outwards to try and land another attack on Bousvor.

This was getting embarrassing now.

Before he knew it, his friend would likely be a reaver and answering his call for a challenge...then he really would have to hang his head in shame.

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