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 Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:29 pm
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His brow furrowed, maw gaping, his gaze stoic as strategy played through his mind like a game of chess. His own paws paced, matching her step for step, his gaze locked to hers, watching for that faintest hint of movement, the betrayal of a weakness, the proclamation of intent.
This time it was Ashi who struck first, one forepaw sweeping a cloud of sand at the lioness' eyes, a tactic meant to blind and conceal his true attack. He leapt through the dust, a red flame erupting from the smoke, talonned paws outstretched, fangs barred in a horrifying image.
But it was a misdirection, talons striking the sand instead of hide, his head turned to strike at her belly from below, jaws slamming closed, fangs seeking to pierce flesh and tear through hide.
There was no restraint in his strike, no remorse or mercy. Her life, her safety, they were not his concern, nor was his hers. If one wished to emerge, to survive, it was for them alone to see to it. That is not to say he wished for her death, such was not in his thoughts, it was simply not his task to see that she lived or escaped. For the emotion to be real, the fight must be as well. |
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Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:12 pm
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:17 pm
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As fangs sank into flesh, his head jerked, tearing at the wound he had inflicted. It was a curious feeling, tearing through another's hide, yet it gave him no pleasure.
A hiss, talons raking across his shoulder, slashing into his own hide. Good, she was not weak, he had chosen his opponent well (fighting the weak did nothing to improve his own skills). But there was much more to the stoic assassin, perhaps more than she had expected.
How much more damage could he have done with such a bite, and yet at what cost to himself. It was too risky.
The bite released as quickly as he had struck, . Muscles tensed, the lion leapt, carried by the powerful stride of his hind legs. A short leap, forepaws extended, talons like daggers prepared to sink into hide, his jaws parted in the snarl of a warrior, an assassin for the strike.
He aimed to land on her back beyond the reach of her fangs, to sink his talons into her shoulders and crush her to the sands beneath his weight. |
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:17 pm
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:33 pm
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A satisfied smirk, Ashi's paws curled, talons digging deeper into hide, ignoring the talons that slashed desperately at his own flesh, just barely catching his side, his hind legs.
"It seems you are weak after all."
His words were sharp as he spoke in her ear, clearly meant to sting, to enrage. But though his words were spoken as truth, he knew she was far from weak. He could feel the strength as she struggled, even as he held her pinned under his weight, unwilling to surrender. He had simply been the better opponent, he had been faster. On another day, perhaps things would have been different.
"If I so chose I could kill you now, it would be easy."
His maw parted, an ear piercing roar. For a moment, if only for a moment, it may have seemed he would follow through on those words. Ah, but that would have been such a waste, and he had no desire to taste blood today. |
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:11 pm
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:55 am
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"And yet, all your struggles cannot save you."
An empty chuckle, clearly taunting was not Ashi's strongest skill; if he was lucky, the lioness was too enraged to notice. And such magnificent rage it was, that anger, the desperate struggle, the refusal to give in or surrender. How difficult it must be to accept that she had lost, that her very life was at his mercy, such a beautiful struggle.
"How will you face your death?"
His jaws had parted once more, fangs glistening in the summer sun, baring down for the strike. Was it the end? Did he truly intend to kill her here?
At the moment his strike would have taken her neck, his fangs instead pierced her ear. A sharp, merciless bite, but a far from fatal blow. He did not intend to take her life, he never had, he had only wished to see how she would face it.
"I thank you, you have taught me much today. We will have to do this again sometime."
Satisfied, his parting words spoken, the lion released her, turning his back to walk away, such an interesting day. |
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:22 am
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