[DUEL] Ain't nobody got no Class (Azula x Kenna)

[Daffupanda]

The Outlands was not the desert; it was not home in any way, shape or form, and yet... it was the closest Kenna had come to feeling like she was back where she belonged. This was not to say that her blood would cease to sing at the sight of the dunes, if she ever left to wander again, but now, at least, she had a place she could come back to. The mindset of the lions within the pride was something she could resonate with; she understood the feeling of rage, of being misplaced, cast out and replaced by other blood.

These ones, she understood much better than the cold, iron blooded lions of the sea. These ones had fire. She understood fire much better than iron.

The vague notions fleeted through her mind before the red lioness drained of any thought aside her sister dangerously circling around her. This was one battle where she could not use bulk to her advantage; Azula was as big as she was, and not at all intimidated by her size, which she had used as a natural advantage in the rogue lands. As such, a good offense was the best defense, as father had always said.

Without so much as a word, Kenna lunged forward to aim a swipe at Azula's face, trying, not really to land the hit, but rather, ward her off so she could possibly aim a tackled blow to her side.

LadyPipen

 

[LadyPipen]

Azula had never seen something so outlandish as lions living in great termite mounds, even in her travels back to the desert that still claimed her heart, though no longer her home- yet there was little denying the passion that gripped the lions here, though their ways seem strange, it was no stranger than a lioness of fire worshiping sea or storm- much less strange than that, in fact.

There was a passion in these lions, though. Passion and fire and honor, and finding such things again was more than welcome- especially given the chance to hone her skills on her sister once more. Her muscle was still sweetly sore from their last bout, and her limbs were tired from travel, but these were things she'd condemn her children for feeling, and so as she circled Azula put such thoughts to the side.

Her hind leg still drug- her sister knew of that trick by now, she was certain, but habit did not allow for her to put the limp aside and besides- she musn't give spectators the wrong impression. Kenna remained as still and impassive as ever, leaving Azula to pace menacingly.

"What's the matter, sister?" Azula hissed, "Did you forget your spine in the roguelands? Should I make it fair and give you my tail?" she spat, egging and urging and the moment Kenna lunged, Azula dropped to her elbows- not one to dodge to the side and leave it open when she could use the attack to get close, and she leapt for her her sister's chest- better to knock her to the ground, if possible, or mar that soft belly.

Daffupanda

 

[Daffupanda]

Red eyes narrowed at her sister's words, but no other outward reaction was given; she'd never fallen for that particular trick when others had used it, least of all Azula. Distraction via words was not how this would go down, and the near languid stare back at her opponent said so better than any words she could have chosen to spit out. After all, in her experience, it was easier to frustrate an opponent with no reaction than with a good come back. In fact, if anything, after a beat, Kenna offered the other lioness a smile. A small, just barely there upward tilt of her maw that seemed to express vague amusement, almost a 'Ah, I see what you're doing there, my sweet, dear sibling, and it shall fall flat'.

Still, as her sister dropped, she met her full on, her body slamming against the other lioness' own with force matched, almost as if trying to test how much she could shove or move the other. An unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, it seemed, and with an aimed, but still silent swipe at her sister's chest, Kenna pushed herself back away before she could be tackled to the ground.

No, Azula would give her no opening on the side, and a tackle from the front would be ineffective. Perhaps her sister had the right idea with the chatting, in this case; it would come down to wits, "Why sister, I'm offended," she drawled as her own tail flicked behind her, "After all, I don't think I need remind you who father put in charge. It was not you, for all that inner fire... nothing to temper it with; ever heard of wild fires, Azula?" granted, the barbs are were not aimed to hurt; both sisters knew 'father' was lazying it up in the pridelands. Whatever he'd had to say was moot, the unworthy slob, but still, perhaps a blink, or a twitch from the other lioness, however small, would give the former queen the opening she needed.

Perhaps not.

It mattered not; a good fight was a good fight, win or lose.  

[LadyPipen]

The trick went as well as could be expected- her sister was no pushover, just as trained and experienced as she, and rather than waste time and energy trying to shove her sister when it had worked so well initially, Azula used her muscle to push herself away, chest stinging from the force of her sister's claws- a light wound, but momentary failure all the same as Azula's maw opened in a silent snarl, circling for a non-existent opening once more.

Kenna's barbs were as blunted and useless as her own- a show and, in complete honesty, part of the fun of the battle. Finding who had the sharper tongue was just as enjoyable as who had the sharpest fang, "Better a wildfire than tamed, sister. I was never hounded into submission," she hissed- there was no opening, and there would be no opening- coming from the side was foolish, tackling head-on would be as moot as trying to unbalance her. To gain, she had to give.

"Are you no more than a slave now, sister? Has the storm tempered your flame?" The limped foot would not do- with a twitch of her ear, Azula charged, raising paw to rake claws down her sister's face- either she was blinded, or she dodged... And Azula had no intention of giving her sister a respite this time, and would follow step for step... All that was needed was one misstep- Kenna was just as weary from travel as she, despite outward appearance, and that would be her chance.

Daffupanda