[DUEL] Where my roots are. (Kivuli'Kaa/Kiunguza)

[Lightning Shadow X]

"Now remind me, why did you think this was a wise idea?"

The ever talkative bird that swooped overhead whenever a passing wind wasn't kind enough to catch his wings called out in a mock-curiousity to the lioness below.

Said lioness had been walking for a few days and par the fennec fox she'd managed to snap up from its den, hadn't eaten for a good day or so. She and her avian friend hadn't traveled that far, but it was the heat on her dark-ish blood coat that made the journey feel just a bit longer than what it'd actually been. The bird's snide commentary wasn't helping either and she paused, only momentarily to look up at him with her ears flattened against her skull before continuing the path they'd walked for the past few hours since awakening.

"I've told you this before, Woki." She called out calmly.

"Yeah but-"

"No," She interrupted with a bordering harsh tone before he could even comment, feeling his talons rest loosely on her back as he perched. Tired of swooping and flapping overhead as he listened to her talk instead. "I need to know more about my heritage...and it's only natural for my kind to seek others."

There was a dramatic sigh from the bird on her back before he nested comfortably where her body didn't shake as much. Deciding to give her some peace from his idle fretting before finally the 'ride' came to a halt. It was very obvious they were deep enough in Moto territory for atleast....someone to notice...and the young female wasn't about to be seen as an invader and get her throat ripped open.

Velveteen Angel

 

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Kiungaza was on the prowl for duels. She knew the area where the new members of the pride arrived in, as the guards would not allow them to go any further into the pride than that. Not that many of the new members ever noticed the guards lurking nearby, a constant protection for the pride. It was a pretty boring occupation, Kiun thought. She much preferred the life of a soldier.

An unfamiliar figure, complete with a bird lurking nearby, caught Kiun's eye. She did not pretend that she knew all the members of the pride, but she knew a fair few. Surely this was a challenger?

"Greetings," she called out, stalking towards her. Kiun was a big lioness, but not the biggest in the pride. Her rogue father dragged her size down a little, but she was still bulky and muscled. "Are you here to join our ranks?"

 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

When she was addressed, Kivuli paused and her joints stiffened just a tad as she eye'd over the bulky female silently in an analyzing manner...not as big as she would've assumed mother to be. But that didn't matter much as her ears rolled forward to face the female as she spoke.

"I am." She stated firmly. "I'd be here for nothing else."

Glancing briefly at her avian friend who decided to land on a rock nearby, thankfully for him keeping out of the line of fire between these two, she was offered a small reassuring nod by the smaller creature. His moral support was appreciated as much as his help...but she had to focus first.
Woki had told her within the stories that dueling was how anyone got into the pride nowadays...and by the look of this female, she was on the look out for one.

"Let's hope I don't disappoint."

Kivuli's own blood was tainted by her rogue father, meaning her size wasn't as much as it could've been...but it was definitely substantial enough to be noticeable and with a snort she took her moment and attempted to flank her side into the other lioness's. Quite practically throwing her weight around.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Kiun smirked a little, tensing her claws in the dirt in sheer delight. Finally, a challenger! She did love testing them, as it was only fair they fought someone with strength in order to get into the pride. "Perfect," she said happily, though her happiness was almost disturbingly cheerful, considering the topic at hand.

Kiun allowed the female to get close to her, waiting until the last moment to sidestep and throw a blow towards her, claws extended and intending to sting. She'd never purposefully aim to seriously injure, but the shock of a stinging claw was a good wakeup call to the challengers.

They had to be quite strong to gain entry to this pride, and damn it, Kiun was not going to go easy on them.

"Step up your game," she threw out, falling back from her own attack and tensing her body, ready for the strangers move.

 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

Damn that did sting, it threw out a small but prominent snarl from the back of her throat as she felt that cold lightning shoot across her nerves momentarily before glancing at her pelt and then to the female. A testing blow. She knew the hit well enough at this point but after a moment to recollect herself she sized up her opponent again.

Throwing her weight around wasn't going to do so easily, she really should've known better, these lions were fighters and it was dignified to treat them with that sort of respect. Well enough atleast when it came to a duel.
Huffing briefly through her nose, she shifted herself in a manner that threw most of her weight in one direction before she immediately used the kinetic energy and threw it another way.

Aiming a lightly clawed swipe towards her opponent, she didn't want to harm this female. She just wanted to show she had the right stuff...hopefully.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Kiun side-stepped the challenger's attack easily, but as she threw herself forward, she realised part-way through her lunge that she was way off course. She cursed herself inwardly. Foolish! This would open her up to attack, and left her quite vulnerable. Kiun wanted to be the best fighter in the pride, but it was mistakes like these that dragged her downwards and risked her never rising to the top ranks.

Stupid, stupid! She cursed herself, but she couldn't change her course yet. Instead, she tensed her body, and threw the blow towards the female none-the-less. Her claws were extended, aiming to hurt.

This was no play fight to Kiun. If she had to hurt the challenger, she would.
 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

After avoiding the first blow, she was more than a little surprised at how vicious the next one came. Claws outstretched as well! Her eyes widened as she caught them out of her peripheral vision and managed to avoid a nasty swing to say the least - it also opened up an opportunity for her!
As she watched the other's paw arc out of range she raised her own, claws, again, only lightly extended and returned the earlier 'sting' she'd received from this female.

Not sticking long ofcourse when her claws pulled from the female's hide and she stood back, body tense as she awaited to see what her opponent would do. She could see Woki on the rock to the side, feebley trying to offer support by squawking inane words and cheers. Much to her groans.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Kiun smirked, even though the sting across her flesh hurt. It was the joy of the fight that was getting to her. Finally someone who was worth the fight!

"Good!" she snapped, with a grin crossing her face. "You're trying."

The bird off to the side was rather annoying, but she supposed it was fine that they had a witness. Kiun would win, in the end. She launched herself forward again, throwing her weight into her movement, which would slow her reaction time if her opponent shifted, but would land a harsh blow if it hit.

Again, she realised too late she was again off course.

Fire be damned! she cursed inwardly, knowing her blow would land only on air.
 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

Trying? The words made her balk at the female before she watched the female leap at her again, this time she didn't take the opportunity to hit, just weakly bumping her side in almost a mock hit that'd do barely enough damage as she turned and watched her again. Yes she knew this would open her up to attack, but at this point she was mostly just watching this one's fighting style.

"Good to see I'm at least impressing you slightly." She commented sharply as she turned.

Waiting for openings and watching how she moved and what moves she'd make. It helped, strategically....unless there was no method or rhythm in that case she'd might as well have been watching a puddle dry.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Kiun had been trained since practically the day she was born to be a fighter. She should have been better than this, she scolded herself. She had no excuse, but it didn't stop the growl from working its way out of her throat, as she moved.

Her moves were slow and deliberate now, calculated. This stranger was a good fighter, she would give her that, but Kiun had been raised on these lands. She would not go down without a fight.

"Slightly," she insisted to the female, throwing a smirk. "We'll see how well you finish." She aimed another blow.
 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

Finish? Frowning again she watched as the other struck out, but this time, she threw herself against it. Muscles tense and kicking off from her back legs as she bided the blow with all her endurance, ears pinned to her skull as she felt the sting yet again but still stood strong. Paws held firm to the ground and tail lashing the ground and almost throwing up some sand as she held herself strong.
She came here to prove herself....and although waiting to see if this one would lay a final blow was a bit risky. She wanted to show she was endurable as well as tactical in the way she fought.

"I intend to finish strong, madame." Kivuli stated firmly yet again as she stood her ground against her combatant, who she admitted, was a very capable fighter and she respected it immensely. Waiting for the last attack, if any.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

Huh. This female was good. By holding her ground, she didn't risk a foolish last attack or opening herself up to a further attack. Clever. Kiun smirked and moved quickly, dodging towards the female and only narrowly missing the female's figure. She didn't care though, she knew that she had already lost. The female had made better choices in her attacks, Kiun had been foolish in her aim.

"You'll fit in well," she said, calmly, holding her ground and seemingly unconcerned that her last attack had completely missed the female.

"Welcome."  

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

There was a wash of relief that Kivuli couldn't help but feel herself loosen at, her muscles relaxing as she watched the other and managed to look much more...at ease to say the least. Paws shifting partly in the sand as she offered her a genuine nod of her head in respect to the female, she'd put up a good fight and tested her fairly...if anything she felt more deserving now.

"Thank you..." She started, having never really socialised outside of her mother and Woki, who had now made himself more obvious as he rested himself cheerfully back on her like she were a walking perch, much to her chagrin, she didn't know what else to say upon the matter apart from the obvious. "I'm Kivuli'Kaa...and this noisy ball of feathers is Woki."

"Excuse you, I prefer the words 'charmingly talkative' as opposed to 'noisy'."

Is that what you call it? The lioness thought to herself with an amused smirk pulling at her muzzle, if only momentarily ofcourse before she returned to look at the other female curiously. Waiting to see if she'd offer her name.  

[Velveteen Angel]

Lightning Shadow X

"No need to thank me," Kiun insisted, but her voice was a lot calmer than it had been in battle. Battle riled her up, but outside of it, she was usually quite reserved, with a few exceptions to that rule. "Your actions spoke of your dedication to our cause, and so there is no gratitude necessary. You earnt it."

It pained her to lose, but what point was there to learn to fight if there wasn't those who could challenge her in the pride.

"My name is Kiunguza," she introduced herself, barely sparing the bird a glance. She wasn't one for familiars, they seemed...unnecessary. She supposed they made appropriate companions but that too seemed unnecessary.

"If you have any questions about the pride, you may ask me now or find me later," she offered, though it was more of a pleasantry than anything. She doubted the female would find it easy to seek her out later, with all the other members in the pride.
 

[Lightning Shadow X]

Velveteen Angel

Nodding slowly towards the other lioness she cast another brief glance out at the desert, it was lengthy enough without pooling in her own memories before her bird friend gave the back of her neck the smallest of pecks. She had a home now. Somewhere where her mother had started...and somewhere Kivuli intended to end as she turned her attention back to the Firekin lands laid out before her.

"I think it'd be best I find out later...after that fight and the travelling I've done...I'm going to need some rest."

With that stated, she offered another thankful nod, despite Kiunguza's insistance that it wasn't needed as of now...she felt it was partly. It was a good learning instance and it allowed her into her new home with a feeling of earning her place rather than being given it.
Taking a few light steps into the territory's sand, she couldn't help but smile lightly at Woki's words as he whispered into her ear.

"Welcome home 'Firekin'."

((Fin?))