[JRP] It's time to d-d-d-d-d-duel! (Shireen v Prinike)

[Puhterodactyl]

It had been some time since Prinike had attempted a challenge at the Myrsky Syntynyt pride, but her wounds and hurt pride had finally recovered. It was a brisk and somewhat chilly day, made worse by the fine mist carried by the ocean breeze that also stung with salt. She was familiar with the sensation and not much looking forward to the way she knew that same salt water would feel in whatever scrapes or cuts she might sustain in the upcoming battle. But nevertheless, she trudged on to the place rogues went to fight for membership. The sight of the grounds made her defeat feel even fresher in her mind, but she banished the thought. She could not afford to be distracted.

Hopefully she would not have to face Ensis again. Though he was a fair opponent, she did not want to lose to the same lion, regardless of who they were, twice.

"Are there any reavers who would accept my challenge today?" She called out, a little uncertain if the wind would steal away her call or if it would reach a reaver's ears.  

[Puhterodactyl]

In between her vikings, Shireen did not want to get too rusty or off of her game. The dark and diligent reaver roamed to where rogues came to try their luck at an Askorun challenge for membership. Usually reavers did not have to wait for very long in order to get their chance, it seemed the Stormborn was always growing at an incredible pace between new rogues and endless gaggles of new cubs under paw. In lieu of any said cubs to occupy her time, or even a mate to bother with, the arena was a fair enough way to spend her time. But now, she would just have to wait.

But not for very long, it seemed. Her ears perked up at a challenger's call, and she answered with a roar to claim the privilege. She loped over at a brisk pace, muscles rippling deftly beneath her coat.

"I am Shireen, a reaver. I shall accept your duel. As the challenger, I shall grant you the first move." She spoke confidently and grinned at the white lioness, bracing herself and feeling the hot rush of adrenaline that preceded a fight.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Prinike felt she was a little bit better of a fighter than to rely on the reaver's courtesy, but she allowed it at least for the sake of getting started. She nodded and they walked to more level, sandier ground, Shireen following behind her. The lionesses circled one another, Prinike returning Shireen's smile, though she was incredibly tense beneath it. Sometimes she made slight false-starts and the speed with which Shireen was able to react was incredible. Were they already so mis-matched? Prinike swallowed hard and braced herself.

It was now or never!

The white lioness lunged at the dark reaver with both of her paws extended forward, hoping to claw (not deeply for their duel) a flank or side or at least jostle the other lioness off of her feet. (2)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Without the amount of experience that the reaver had, Prinike's moves were comparatively more predictable. They were techniques and stances and moves that Prinike would learn in time once she had been a part of the Stormborn for long enough, but it certainly gave Shireen an immediate advantage. At least they both seemed similarly matched for size, though.

When Prinike finally did launch her first move, Shireen tried to leap back, but an especially soft patch of sand took more of her momentum than she expected, and Prinike managed to make her trip over her own feet. The challenger's claws grazed her side, thankfully not cutting deeply below the surface. Perhaps it would scab over, but it was not anything to worry about.

Gathering her body beneath her again, she sprung at Prinike, trying to catch her from underneath and send her reeling backwards. (2)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Prinike only managed to anticipate Shireen's next move to a slight extent because Shireen had had so much more ground to make up for having been pushed back by Prinike's first move. She managed to avoid a really forceful blow to her jaw, but took the brunt of the attack in her chest, leaving her sore and a little bit winded. But now Shireen's face and neck were nearby!

The white lioness quickly went to grab the reaver with her front claws and sink a bite into her neck. She was able to latch on, but did not apply windpipe crushing force like she would have to a prey animal. She did not know what the rules were surrounding challenges where the pride member was killed, but regardless of if it would jeopardize her membership or not, she did not want to permanently hurt Shireen. She had seemed nice enough in their couple of lines of exchanged dialogue. She just wanted to slam the other, dark lioness down to the ground was all. That really was not that much to ask. (3)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Shireen's vision went a little bit black at the edges as Prinike closed down on her wind pipe. When the black lioness fell to the ground on top of her challenger, she gasped for air as Prinike let go. She scrambled to gather her footing, but she was still dizzy- even more so for having had her airway cut off for that brief moment. She shook her head to try to clear her mind and regain her focus, but Prinike was close to launching another attack so she did not have much time. The reaver grimaced and did the best she could, which was to try to broadside her opponent with her shoulder. It would be the most she could do in lieu of being able to leap at her, roaring and clawing because she was still out of breath. (1)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Though Shireen mostly whiffed by Prinike, the white lioness too was a little bit distracted in the moment. She felt a little bit concerned now for her opponent. Had it been too much of an attack? Was it still a fair fight? Was Shireen seriously hurt? What if the lioness had some kind of old injury or other kind of ailment that made her more susceptible or prone to those kind of attacks and Prinike ruthlessly and unfairly took advantage of it?? Her eyebrows knitted together in concern, even as she was bumped by Shireen.

Realizing a moment or two later that it was her turn to attack, she tried to knock Shireen off of her feet again. Maybe if she was felled once more, the reaver would realize the potential serious harm that she was being exposed to by carrying on the fight and she would resign herself for her own safety? It was the best Prinike could hope for at the moment, she figured, again hardly thinking of her potential membership at stake. (1)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Shireen was not the sort of lioness to just give up that easily, unfortunately. She had lost practice duels and spars against pride mates before, so she was no stranger to loss. However, she still needed to try to do what she believed was her best given whatever the situation was. Maybe her stubbornness was a genetic gift or curse from one of her grandparents (not that she knew, but her grandfather Tichaona was certainly hard to sway).

The black reaver struck out at the white lioness with her scale-patterned leg, claws extended forth. She was aiming at the other lioness' face (not eyes) but honestly she would take whatever she could get at this point. (2)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Probably about half of the power that Shireen would have wanted or intended to go through her blow and into Prinike's face actually managed to make contact, but it still hurt quite sharply. She felt her maw sting with Shireen's claws and the salty air that immediately pervaded her wound. Her head throbbed for a moment before becoming a duller ache. It was still quite distracting, though. She frowned and wrinkled her nose to try and focus through the pulsing of her head. She probably should end this as soon as possible. Shireen would not back down, for better or worse of her own health, and Prinike knew that the more experienced reaver could certainly wear her down given enough time, even in the black lioness' present state.

The challenger resolved herself once again to try and bowl Shireen off of her feet. Since she was still so close to Prinike from the blow to her face, the white lioness crouched down. She sprung up and into Shireen's chest, making the first good and solid contact that either of them had managed to land for the entirety of the fight. (4)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Shireen was knocked flat onto her back and hit her head on a firm spot of sand. She roared in pain and took an extra fraction of a second to roll off of her back. She was still reeling in quite a bit of pain and discomfort, but she pushed herself on her belly towards Prinike's feet. With her paws and claws outstretched, she latched on to one of Prinike's grey legs and bit down, hard. She got the front of the leg so she failed to sever the tendon (which was a good thing, she would not want to have a crippled pride mate because of her). A loud yeowl from her opponent conveyed that it at least smarted, though, but Shireen knew battles were seldom won by ankle biting. (2)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Yanking her paw out of the other lioness' mouth may not have been the smartest route, as it tore her flesh a little bit more, but at least she was freed. Grains of sand were now sticking to the tacky blood staining her white and grey coat. Shireen had managed to get back onto her feet again, but in that time, Prinike circled around her.

The white lioness used her own claws to try to yank Shireen's back legs out from underneath of her, and the weakened black lioness' hind end fell to Prinike's claws with less resistance than was offered at the start of their fight. Could it be? Would this be over soon? With Prinike really winning?! (3)  

[Puhterodactyl]

Shireen struggled to her feet for the third or whatever time, panting from exertion. She wheeled to swipe at Prinike, who was still somewhat behind her, but the twisting of her body lessened the efficiency of her attack. She managed to strike Prinike again on the head and in a spot very close to the first area where Shireen had clawed her face. At least that would lend some usefulness to her attack. (2)

However, Shireen knew that she had been beat. Panting still, she ceased her onslaught (or rather, her attempts at defense).

"Challenger! You have done well. I concede defeat to you. Welcome to the Myrsky Syntynyt."  

[Puhterodactyl]

Prinike could hardly believe her ears! Could it really be true?! After all this time? Though blood was flowing freely into her mouth from Shireen's final blow, the white lioness grinned widely, not minding in the least bit the metallic taste of her own blood (or was some of it Shireen's too, from when she bit her throat?) The white lioness bounced on her feet (less the injured one) and let out a happy roar.

"Thank you, Shireen!" She would have had to stop herself from gushing about how excited she was and happy and relieved, but words failed her, anyway. Instead, the grin was stuck on her face with the blood and the sand and the salt and she followed Shireen into the pride for their reward of tending and sweet, sweet catnip.

the end
Prinike: 1,116 words
Shireen: 830 words