[Wrestling] Mkimbi and Mwezi (Meep/Neon)

[Meepfur]

Mkimbiaji-a-Ghaibu wasn't entirely certain what had possessed her when she'd decided to participate in the mud-wrestling games. Her mate had encouraged her, reminding her that the Queen was family, and surely she'd like to see one of her cousins getting involved. Maybe it was because he was estranged from his family, but Badi had really embraced hers, in addition to finding the fact that she was from a royal line quite novel. She hadn't originally told him, actually, and he hadn't found out until he'd come home with her; she hadn't thought it was important. It wasn't like it was a close relation! She was a great-granddaughter, nowhere near the line of succession.

The spotted lioness sighed and shook off her thoughts. This mud-wrestling was a terrible idea, but she hadn't wanted to enter the race. It wouldn't have been fair to everyone else! She was as good a runner as you could hope to find, with a deep chest, lean build, and long legs, and almost obsessive practice. Not really built for wrestling, that was for sure, so she was relieved to find that she'd been paired with an adolescent. Maybe it would even out her chances a little.

Mkimbi waded in, waited for the signal to begin, and leapt at her paler opponent.  

[Neon Fly]

An almost incredulous look flicked towards the adult she was due to face in a match that was possibly, just short of exploitative. Mwezi wondered why her opponent had not yet stepped into the mud pit she was already standing almost hock deep in. The moist dirt caking further up her pale legs with every step she took. Pacing strides sending her otter-like frame in slinking lines on her side of the little make-shift arena. A long, slender body and legs that weren't exactly stubby, but definitely gave the girl a slightly more squat stature. Of course, that also meant better stability.

It certainly didn't hurt that she'd been swimming and treading mud since she was little. If there was one thing Mwezi knew well, it was how to move quickly, despite the weight of the dense soil that clung to her. Hopefully, her experience would prove fruitful in this game, considering she'd certainly made a laughing stock of herself thus far in her attempt to chase some bug-eyed croakers. Pouncing frogs, easy as it sounded, was proving to be a challenge for her--hopefully not one that would extend so far as to the reptilian cousins that Mwezi sought after though.

Watching her opponent slid into the murky pit, she smiled to herself. Despite living in the swamps, most didn't seem to embrace the life style the way she did. Even this adult, with her pretty black spots and brown fur that made the albinistic lioness envious seemed out of place.

When the match began, a curious gaze watched the overzealous pounce that was made towards her, carefully weaving to one side. From her vantage point she waited for the perfect moment to strike, reaching out to catch the other around the middle and--hopefully drag her down into the mud where they both belonged!
 

[Meepfur]

Her hopes of better odds against an adolescent were short-lived. Not only did she miss her pounce, the other lioness got hold of her and pulled her down. She spluttered, countering with what amounted to a clumsy flail that failed utterly. Her opponent might have thought it was unfair to be paired with a full-grown lioness, but Mki's ineptitude was quickly becoming obvious.

She had done her share of playing around in the mud, sure, and she could run through it at least as fast as anyone else, if not faster, but wrestling in it? Not since she was a cub! As far as she was concerned, she really just wanted to get this over with and minimize potential embarrassment by doing so quickly. How had she let Badi talk her into this? She was beginning to suspect that it was just because he wanted to watch, knowing it would be pricelessly funny.

...she really hoped her son wasn't watching.  

[Neon Fly]

The thought had crossed Mwezi's mind, briefly to wonder why she had been pitted against a full grown adult but upon having pinned the long-legged stranger with such ease barely moments into the match that question had practically answered itself. Feeling rather confident as she allowed her competitor to roll out form beneath her as she stepped away, giving her elder time to get back on her feet so that they could go a second round and see who could pin the other first.

You've lived in the swamps your whole life, haven't you? Would think you'd be better at this. Mwezi stated innocently in a way that, though it may have seemed antagonizing, was purely observational.

Running in a half circle around the adult to face her head on as she charged forward, paws raised. Ready to tumble the other backwards by her shoulders, if all went according to plan!
 

[Meepfur]

"Can't be good at everything," the lioness answered as she righted herself, flipping her long lock of hair out of her eyes. Fortunately, Mkimbi wasn't easily offended - maybe if she'd been a little younger, such a comment would have bothered her, but she was well-settled in her life, enough so that she could accept that she wasn't good at everything. Well, it might have niggled her swampie pride!! just a little, but only just.

When Mwezi charged, the spotted lioness did go tumbling, but not for long. She could hear her mate off to the side, laughing, and it spurred her to try to flip her smaller opponent.  

[Neon Fly]

Well.. that was a strange thing to say.

Was really the only thing Mwezi could think to herself, because it was the sort of thing that always came off as intending to imply that the person speaking was good at everything else. It made her wonder if her competition really thought that. It made Mwezi wonder a lot of things because the young lioness tended to think too much.

Surprised out of her reverie by how easy it had been to tackle the brunette a second time, Mwezi was admittedly distracted by the laughter. Gaze sliding to the crowd that watched. To the male who stood there, chuckling to himself. Who was he? It seemed safe to assume he knew her since Mwezi couldn't recognize him from a glance. Then again, being an outsider in these lands there were very view she could recognize in a glance.

He seemed to be enjoying the show to say the least. More so than most. Perhaps they were close? Distracted by her train of thought Mwezi didn't even consider the idea that her momentum might be wielded against her.

The pair becoming a wheel of fur as, without warning, it was she who was pinned. Back down. In the mud.

Soft voice musing dryly. Well that's a bit better.
 

[Meepfur]

Haha, it worked! Mkimbi was thrilled that she'd actually managed to do something other than fail - probably a little too thrilled. She stood and basked in it for a moment, just long enough to look over to the sidelines and stick her tongue out at the teasing bay male. See? She could do this!

Unfortunately, her brief gloating was likely still enough of a window for Mwezi to take advantage of.  

[Neon Fly]

Still somewhat bewildered by the surprise attack Mwezi blinked up at the canopy over head. She'd let that happen. If she'd been more careful about her attack that wouldn't have turned out so sloppily or at least, that was the excuse the mud soaked lioness had chosen to use. It was a learning experience for certain. Something Mwezi would try to take into account for use in future encounters.

Of course, level-headed as she was, that didn't mean she didn't want some form of revenge. Arching a brow as she craned her neck to watch the brown female sticking out her tongue at the male she'd noticed on the sidelines earlier. Apparently they did know each other. Well.. he can watch you eat mud then.

Tittering to herself under her breath as she kicked her hind legs out in an attempt to catch the other off guard while she was distracted. Aiming for her opponent's front legs in hopes of sweeping them out from under her to send the lioness face first into the pit. Now things were getting really fun!
 

[Meepfur]

Her moment of glory didn't last nearly long enough. One moment, she was sticking her tongue out at Badi, and the next, she was face down in the mud - worse still, her mouth had still been open, so she got a great big mouthful of mud. It was horrible. She didn't mind mud when it was on her, but in her mouth?! Uuuugh, so gross! Mkimbi coughed and spat it out as best she could, but she'd be stuck with a gritty mouth until this was over and she could get a proper drink of water.

It was almost over, at least...in some ways, it already was. She'd bitten it three times now, so she was going to lose no matter what. But there was nothing that said she couldn't go down swinging!

Slinging a pawful of mud at her opponent's face as she rose, the lioness followed up with a tackle.  

[Neon Fly]

Divine retribution? Mwezi liked to think so as she climbed back onto her paws with a fair amount of ease despite how her paws and fur were slick from the coat of wet mud she now wore.

She could hardly contain an amused giggle as she watched the lioness spit and sputter the mouthful of earth. A rather uncharacteristic expression for the usually sober and just-a-little-too-mature acting adolescent. This was fun and she definitely approved of the game choice made by the new Queen, not that Mwezi had much preference from this one to the last. The whispers of a recently resolved murder--faint though they were--were from a time before she had joined those of the swamplands. Obviously, not too much before her time though, considering word of it still lingered.

That's a good look on you. A coy observation was offered in jest, startled to receive a face full of mud in repayment. Momentarily blinded, the youth gave her head a furious shake, temporarily caught off guard when she was tackled to the ground. The pair of them skidding across the pool in a tangle of limbs.
 

[Meepfur]

With that final round, the match was called, and Mkimbi released her young opponent. "Well, can't say I wasn't expecting that," she mused, agreeable despite the loss, and spat out a little more grit. "You're good, though. I think you'd've won even if I were good at this."

But now that it was all over with, she needed to go wash her mouth out...and share some of this mud-coating with the one responsible for getting her into this mess to begin with. Emerging from the pit, she wasted no time in rubbing oh-so affectionately against her mate.

Once she was satisfied with the result, she sloshed off in search of cleaner water.  

[Neon Fly]

Climbing back to her paws for the last time, Mwezi gave her slinky frame a shake, dislodging the loose globs of mud that caked her fur in a spray of sticky, brown projectiles. Tilting her head gingerly towards her opponent with a wry sort of smile at the compliment. After that last tackle she wasn't entirely sure she deserved it, but on some level Mwezi felt like she might have made a new friend. Awkward a thought as that was, but then Mwezi had never really done things the normal way.

Maybe.. maybe not. Stating somewhat modestly, her shoulders lifted in a mild expression before wading towards the edge of the wallow reluctantly. Adding after a moment, just before they parted ways. Was fun though. Maybe we'll see each other again soon.