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Move One: Bide



This was it; the day she’d waited most of her life for. After the death of her Grandmother, Ain had decided to leave their comfortable home by the sea and started on a long and perilous journey across Africa- in search of a father she didn’t know, and a new place to call home. It had taken longer than she’d imagined it would, and she had met many strangers during her travel, but at long last she seemed to have found what she was looking for.

The Motoujamii desert was hotter and more dry than anything she had ever known. For a lioness who had spent most of her life by the ocean, splashing around in the froth of the nearby tide, it would take some getting used to. But Ain wasn’t intimidated. Grandmother had taught her everything that she knew about the Firekin, and the blue-eyed lioness was more than prepared to prove her worth.

Ain did not know if she could win, but she hoped that she might.

The young lioness stood across from her opponent, with her blue eyes glued to his, and simply waited. She was excited, and a little bit nervous, but Grandmother had trained her well. Ain knew not to get carried away.

It had taken much practice, and several blows to the head, but she had learned patience.

Move Two: Miss

The lion that stood ready before her was impressive in his size. She was built strong and sleek, beautiful in a brick house sort of way, but she was nothing compared to the lion that opposed her. Ain remained where she was, as still as stone, and watched him like a hawk. He was bigger than she was, but there was more to brute force when it came to winning a battle. Grandmother had taught her this.

A tentative, but well-meaning smile flashed across her pretty face, and she opened her mouth to speak. There was a genuine; ‘good luck’ on the tip of her tongue, but it was cut short the moment the boy started to move.

She was prepared for this, conscience of the advantage his homelands provided to him, and ducked out of the way in time to avoid his outstretched claws. Serious, now, glad that the battle had started, Ain’s teeth glittered like diamonds in the desert sun.

There was a defensive snarl on his lips, one that she was unconscious of, and her fur stood on end when she reached out to him with a determined paw. Her claws swiped at his cheek.  

Move Three: Miss

They were moving very fast, and Ain was suddenly very grateful to Grandmother for her teaching her so thoroughly. Her heart beat like a drum within the confines of her chest, but she was not frightened as much as she was excited. He had missed her! She was holding her own! If she had been younger, and if Grandmother had not been so thorough, Ain’s glee might have made her careless. As they were, however, the lioness hadn’t missed a beat.

She was too clever not to be cautious, and knew not to get caught up in success so early. The course of a battle could change like the wind; unpredictably, and without much warning. Besides, dodging wasn’t really winning. In order to do that, Ain was going to have to land at least one blow.

When the lion circled and lunged for her side, Ain darted out of the way before his teeth could sink into the vulnerable flesh there, and she parted her own jaws. Growling with purpose, lips curling over her gums, she leapt forwards, and attempted to sink her teeth into the thick fur of his mane.

If she succeeded, she knew that she would not really harm him, but her intentions were hopefully to intimidate, and to shock.

But she would miss.

Move Four: Bide

Confusion was not as good as intimidation, but they were sisters in a sense. Ain’s chest rumbled with the efforts of her breathing and her heart felt ready to burst with excitement when her opponent retreated. Her sapphire eyes locked onto his fiery ones, and the lioness stood up a little straighter; held her neck a little bit her, and returned his gaze with determination. She refused to break. She would not be coerced into doing something foolish.

Travelling from the ocean to the desert could not possibly have prepared her for the dry heat of the air and the way that the sand scorched beneath her paws, but she was not having as much trouble as she’d expected. The weather and the terrain would take some getting used to, but Ain had always suspected that. This was not her first battle. She’d come to the pride understanding what she would have to do, and had readied herself for it accordingly.

“Its a nice day for a fight,” she murmured from where she stood, and a hint of a smile graced her lips.

Move Five: HIT!
Summary: 2, 1, 1, 2, 3 = 9 (win!)

Temper, temper, temper. This lion had one.

Ain was not alarmed when he bolted towards her, and she held her ground with a level of confidence that was almost regal. Grandmother had prepared her for this. It was the moment that she’d been waiting all of her life for and, while Ain was still very young, her’s was an old spirit. She’d been many places and seen many things, and this was not her first fight.

A playful smirk played along her pretty face at his growl, and she saw his paw way before there was anything to be worried about. Scowling suddenly with concentraion, Ain’s tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth, and she had darted into the side in one swift, fluid movement. She growled with anticipation and, swiped the back of her paw across his face. Hard. It was a powerful, practiced backhand.

Ain let out a gleeful yelp when her paw connected with his face. This, like his growl, was cut off halfway through as she was surprised by his next attack. Ain gasped in surprise when he rose up, and was too slow. His paws connected firmly with her shoulders, and she was sent, sprawling in a whirlwind of dust and sand.

She spluttered, stunned, and tumbled with Etney. Her fall was shorter than his, because she had not moved with the same momentum as the male had, but it was painful nevertheless. Wincing, panting for air, Ain was slow to get to her feet. Blue eyes swept over the sands and she spun around, wary of another attack, but stopped short at the sight of Etney on his side.

A couple of heartbeats passed before she spoke, and she sounded concerned when she did.

“Are you alright?”