[Duel] I will return as many times as it Takes

[DragonsRage24]

She had waited longer this time, and she was more accustomed to the sands underfoot. Her fur atop her head was becoming a little ragged from the sun exposure, but it suited her disposition, her feelings surging inside. The fire in her veins coursing and burning from want and desire but she did not merely want it, it was a part of her life even being so distant from what she wanted. Flicking her tail she went over the dunes again, seeking the same spot where the last instance took place. Her fourth time now, four.

Rellik knew no matter how long it took she would keep returning and she was tired of being away from what she called home already, and would give her life for readily even though she lay beyond the borders even now. All she knew here was that red female she dueled twice, this male she had dueled once and sought again, and Iroh, the silent beacon in the desert nights.

Seeing him upon the dunes, she smiled and waited, it seemed fitting, an open plain between them as they stood on opposing dunes, opposing forces but they were both anchored here. She bowed her head low, raised it and roared out her challenge and began towards him at a slow run.

The incline would be difficult, but no mater, she paced herself this time. She was healed though a strain in her shoulder seemed to remain from the constant use. As she felt her blood rushing through her entirety, she began up the other dune, it was not that much higher but she needed to get him down to the center. It would be hard the second, fourth time now, but hopefully her persistence would pay off.

She leaped towards him claws outstretched aiming to thrust her weight against his side to send him down into the open area, snarling all the while although the snarl was not full of anger, but strength, confidence, fire.  

[Kimaria]

Ah, so she was back. Perhaps this time she had heeded his words, waited a few days before started training. She certainly looked brighter than she had been, more confident too. He smiled, finding himself liking this girl as much as their last duel had infuriated him. He sensed a talent here, a talent that was harboured and sharpened at every downfall. She did not let failure get to her, this one. She was eager to try again and again until she met with victory.

Those were the kind of lions he needed here.

He roared in return, a signature of sorts, declaring the duel official. Then she was coming, and swiftly, too. He'd almost forgotten how swift the females could be. Not weighed down by mane or bulk, they were swift on foot, agile on land. That was one of the reasons that females were the masters of the hunt.

Then she hit him.

The attack was indeed enough to have him stumble and, as Relik had hoped, the red lion was forced back into open land. It was a strategic move for the both of them. Dunes were not good for maintaining balance, as Kidondo had just discovered.

He let the decline aid him in his speed and he turned to see if she followed.

"You seem well. I am glad of it." He called back, turning into a defensive posture as he waited her next move. He wouldn't attack just yet, wanting to see how much she had recovered and if there were any new tricks waiting to show themselves.  

[DragonsRage24]

Rellik watched him stumble and she smiled in success of her first attempt though she knew now to not let her emotions get ahead of her this time, to not let them cloud her judgement at all. Silver eyes attent she watched him, waiting, almost baiting but she didn't want to get too ahead of herself now. "I took hold of your words since last time, we'll see how this goes now, but know this, I will never stop, never cease, never give in."

She swayed her tail, feeling a shift in her position and she ran towards him, trying to keep low to the ground to keep her balance stable upon the shifting sands underneath her, though as she lept for him, she felt nothing, the sun was behhind him and she sneered, coming to a halt, her back to the sun.

"Seems we all have our little tricks," she needed to stay focused, keep the sun behind her so it would be in his eyes and not her silver hues. She prepared herself now, keeping moving slowly but efficiently, she didn't want herself cornered.

"But I've learned, and my waiting have given me strength," she hoped, watched and waited while moving before him, she looked almost like a legged seprent upon the sand, moving back and forth, but she didn't want the sun in her eyes again.  

[Kimaria]

"I am glad to hear it. I like the fire I have seen in your spirit. You shall succeed, if not today, than someday. I know that." He called to her. He had felt rather bad about what he had said to her that day but perhaps he should not have if it had brought such a creature to him today. She was different, certainly not the same lioness he had fought with before. She was certainly better rested and there was something else too.

She had confidence this time and she was clearly thinking about what she was doing.

She moved again but was scorned by the sun at his back. He thanked its warm rays from protecting him and leapt sideways, away from her advance, keeping just out of reach.

He could play the biding game.

He turned to watch her move, nodding a little as he noted what she intended. She wished to use the beauty of the sun against him.

Yes. She was learning.

"You certainly are stronger." This was said more as an affirmation to her words rather than in reply; quietly and under his breath.  

[DragonsRage24]

She watched him as as she awaited his movements, she stood quietly listening to his voice. Such an elegant speaker, and wise as well, his words to her before had helped greatly, she had learned and would continue to learn as she grew, just as the fire within her grew and never faded at all. Flicking her tail she smiled, "The fire will always return to its hearth, no matter what obstacles try to make it stand at bay," she would return and grow in size and confidence, in strength though still some lonely embers would flicker in the ash left behind. But the flame would always rear up and return again.

Rellik would never truly be gone from this place even if her paws were not upon the sands of the Firekin.

"It is time you see what I've learned," and she ran at him, but as she closed in on his figure she pushed her forelegs down upon the ground, and instead of creating a frontal attack, her side rushed at him intending on knowing him over. She didn't wish to scar him, only prove her worth if she could do it without claws.

Though her attack left her open for a defensive strategy, but with success, sacrifice could be soon to follow.  

[Kimaria]

She moved with great speed and Kidondo was torn between admiration and the need to defend himself. He shifted his weight just in time to but it did not stop the effect of the surprising method she turned against him.

With a snarl, he stumbled from his paws, rolling in the sand. As he fell he lashed out at her with a paw, claws sheathed so as not to draw blood. But his attack was badly timed and met nothing but thin air.

At least, if she had intended on following up, the lashing of his paw may have put hesitation in her.

Rolling back to his paws, he was quick to dance away from any advances coming his way.  

[DragonsRage24]

He was faster still and she reached out quickly as he moved to try and grasp hold of his side (not with her claws, merely to grab hold and try to force him down). She admired him, and was thankful to him that he would duel her again. Though as she reached out to grab him she was met with sand and skid to a halt again, breathing hard trying to keep her focus together.

She had rested, she had waited, why was it harder now?

Rellik snarled in frustration to herself and graced her claws over the sand in frustration. Why was this harder?

"How many times will it take," she mumbled to herself though she doubted he would hear. She watched him silver eyes attuned to his form.  

[Kimaria]

His calculating eyes saw her...what was it? Tiring, perhaps? She had flown with incredible speed across those sands. It proved that she was getting used to walking and fighting upon the shifting tide. It also proved that she needed to pace herself a little more, not expending too much energy to begin with.

He still had all of his.

He started circling, stilling his tongue to concentrate on his next move, watching her for the signs that she had left herself open.  

[DragonsRage24]

As he began to circle her she followed in opposite side eyes focused on his being. As they circled and danced in the duel her paws stepped into the dips his weight had made in the sand she followed in. Could she really compare, was she ready yet?

"I'll never be done, I'll keep coming back," she spoke simply to him, in the chance that this would not end in her favor and she began to wonder if she was truly ready. She had just only rested, gotten used to the sands, her body was adapting, and so was her mind.

Was she ready?

Her weight shifted downward as she stepped half in and out of his steps and hers intermingling, and it caused her to stumble, and as she tried to keep herself steady, she found herself watching her footing rather than his eyes. She lunged for him again and missed, stepping awkwardly and her ankle ached, as she tried to catch herself she stumbled, the sand was a good adversary and seemed against her this day.  

[Kimaria]

He had waited for the mistake and it had come. She was eager to go into the offence this one. Too much offense and not enough defense, perhaps? Yes, maybe that was her downfall.

With a snarl, he leapt at her, drawing back a paw to strike her with it. His aim was true, swift and purposeful.

The attack had been a long time coming, but now it was here he was going to make it count.