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 Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:32 pm
 (I'll think of a super-awesome name for the duel later~) Roho couldn't settle, even with the sky darkening and the temperature dropping to more comfortable levels. It wasn't surprising, really, though. The day's events still flooded through her, tangling her thoughts into wild, complicated knots that had her growing more and more frustrated. Knots that could not be undone until justice had been wrought.
Her biggest frustration - or let-down, she supposed - was that the arrival of Hongshan had brought only fear and anger and panic. After all the months of hoping desperately that some of the other Hongshan were still okay, the joy of reunion had been utterly tainted. The Nergui had a lot to answer for and when they finally showed themselves, they would face the wrath of those who had survived.
She would make them regret the day they had trod upon the lands of the red mountain.
So, pacing somewhat erratically, her eyes leaped up to find someone who might be willing to duel with her. She hadn't had many duels of late, not since she had first joined up with the Firekin. Perhaps she needed to jump back into it; ensure she was in top shape for when those monsters did show their ugly faces.
Roho, looking determined, moved amongst the dens, eyes flicking about for anyone who might be interested. "Is there someone here who is up for a duel?" Her voice was hard and focussed.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:03 pm
He was dragging his feet and grumbling to himself as he headed away from the central pride lands to go back to the Hongshan dens. He didn't have much else to say to them yet, still growling about some of their disputes, but he hoped witnessing some happier reunions when the other Hongshan returned to the dens would cheer him up. And then he heard a familiar, angry voice.
"Causing more trouble, Roho?" he asked, coming around the corner and spotting her searching around the dens, "I'll duel you."
He almost was smiling. Nawvlee could certainly use a chance to vent, he was going to discuss everything with Roho anyway. This was a better way to do it, he decided.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:08 pm
Her head snapped up, an ear twisting in the direction of Nawvlee's voice. And then her head followed, her bright eyes honing in on him as he approached. He looked...happier than what she had expected. Or perhaps he was just relieved it was all over with now? That they could finally put a close on this awful day and move on with their lives; focus on the good and not the bad.
She turned fully to face him and dipped her head in a show of respect. It was a habit that would likely never be broken. "I would be honoured, sir." And she could not keep the amusement out of her voice at his question. She did seem to have a knack for finding trouble -- or did it find her? Well, never matter, he was here now and she needn't harass anyone else now that he had accepted.
"I take it your meeting went...well?" She ventured somewhat hesitantly on that last word, her head tilting questioningly. And then she smoothed the sand before her with a sweep of her paw and settled into a squared stance.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:18 pm
Nawvlee nodded in return and moved away from the dens to make sure they had enough clear space and, hopefully, they would not be overheard so easily if he managed to have a conversation. It was not out of the question but already he felt better putting some of his frustration towards something other than just feel angry.
"Well enough," he said, mirroring her motion to smooth the sand and setting himself up, "The others are being allowed to stay, with some restriction. Must like when we arrived." It was the best they could have hoped for, all things considered. In a perfect world, the existing good reputation of the Hongshan living here might have made it easier on them.. but the attack made sure that couldn't happen.
"When you're ready," he said.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:26 pm
Move 1/5 - miss
"I suppose we expected that much. I'm sure they'll be glad to hear of that, though." Perhaps they'd come to see that the Firekin had a strength that must surely rival that of the Nergui. That, despite the panic and the shake up, they would be able to rise to face the threat when it came lurking around the borders. At least that little attack would ensure that no Firekin would ever let his guard down.
She gave him a swift nod and, with a steady breath, moved to instigate their duel.
Her first attempt an attack was made swiftly in an attempt to catch him off-guard; a quick dash to close the gap between them and a drawn back paw ready to strike out at him.
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Ecavi generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:30 pm
Move 1: Hit!
Nawvlee nodded. That was one good thing about the day, the Firekin had been exactly as expected, even when everybody else had been a surprise in their own way. His mind began to trail off, particularly to his almost-argument with Ukuba, but he snapped back to attention as Roho moved in on him very suddenly. He ducked down and pushed himself out of her direct path just in time, and he kept moving to avoid missing his chance. He pushed himself right back up and his front legs lifted off the ground, aiming to push Roho off course and open a chance for another attack at the least.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:44 pm
Move: 2/5 - miss
Roho's miss was followed up by a neat counter-attack that certainly hit its mark. With his weight behind him and her balance precarious due to her failed attack, his shove sent her reeling across the ground. A little winded from the impact, she whipped back up to her paws and threw herself around to face him again; her eyes intent on finding a weakness in his defence.
There was none that she could see, which was no surprise.
Moving back into the offensive, she closed the gap between them swiftly and feinted a sharp jab to the left - hoping to distract him from her true intent - and then pushing up onto her hind legs, swung out with her right: paw aimed straight for his face.
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Ecavi generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:48 pm
Move 2: Miss!
He was pleased to have successfully thrown Roho off course but she was too quick to react for him to get in another speedy move- and he was glad for that, too. You would not win a fight if you couldn't keep moving. It was for that reason along that he managed to avoid Roho's next attempt to get him, even with the fake to the left he was already moving when she reared up to attack and he managed to get out of the way.
Unfortunately, his only attempt to fight back immediately was a clumsy swipe at her hind legs on his way back and away from her attack.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:06 pm
Move 3/5 - miss
She was quicker that time; dancing out of reach before that less-accurate attack could find its target. Setting her paws deep into the sand, she twisted back around sharply, sending out a great billow of sand that clouded the air behind her.
This time she had a small smile on her face. Yes, Nawvlee might have had the upper hand so far but she was not about to give up just yet.
Exhaling sharply, she circled back in for the attack, moving quickly again in case he got any other ideas about trying to pounce as she neared. She had to use her speed to her advantage since she lacked the physical strength that he had.
"Still as sharp as ever, sir!" She complimented as she moved, seeking a good purchase on the sand as she laid out her next attack. It came a moment later when she charged back towards the large red-pelted lion, sliding down onto her front so that she could aim a strike for his forelegs and maybe knock them out from underneath him.
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Ecavi generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:15 pm
Move 3: Miss!
As Roho kicked up some sand and reoriented herself to continue on, Nawvlee picked himself up and began to move- not aiming an immediate attack at her but trying to get himself out of the same little spot he seemed to be staying in, waiting for her to move.
"Not bad," he agreed with some hesitation, not particularly pleased with his performance but they were doing well to continue avoiding each other. Finally he stopped and stood firmly where he was, watching Roho to determine what happened next. She charged but her choice of attack surprised him and only luck spared him. As she charged he reared up to meet her only for her to slide, so he continued his movement, leaping over her and landing clumsily.
"Interesting choice," he commented, turning himself around and pacing, "So, what do you make of what happened with the Hongshan?" They hadn't gotten to talk yet as he had to go to meet with the regents, he hadn't forgotten he wanted to talk to her, now seemed appropriate enough.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:19 pm
Move 4/5: Bide
She evaded and span, grinning a little as he landed clumsily and turned himself back to face her. He was a fine opponent. One of the best. "Interesting but not successful." Roho braced against the sand - expecting some other attack - when he spoke to her about the latest developments with the Hongshan. Her whiskers flinched, her eyes never leaving him. "Honestly? I don't know. They had to rely on an outsider to attack. They never even questioned him...not even after they were away safely."
She frowned. "If it was me, I would have gone along with his plan for as long as I needed to be sure I could get away by myself. But they let him come all the way here with them. How could they trust him like that, Nawvlee?" She sighed, shaking her head. "And some still speak for him; defending him as if he were one of their own. It's not right." She gave a low growl, her tail thrashing. "But even if they have made a mistake, they are our kin; our brothers and sisters. If we do not defend them, then who will? I just hope the Regents will see the sense in us staying here to bolster their numbers. We could at least attempt to identify lions on the borders or...or something." She felt irritated that they didn't have more information out of them.
"I wish their coming had been under better circumstances. This is not how I would have wanted to be reunited with my kin."
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Ecavi generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:28 pm
Move 4: Hit!
Nawvlee began to move, what catharsis the duel was providing for him slipping away slowly as they began to discuss what happened- but truly, it was something he needed to vocalize. His full opinion was not made as clear as it could have been to the Regents, there was no way to fully describe his loyalty to the Firekin to them. It wasn't the same, telling them they could trust him, as it was telling Roho how he had changed.
"They were trapped far longer than us," he commented, pacing in the sand, "Desperation can make you do foolish things but I agree that once they were safe, it would have been smart to question him, perhaps even to leave him."
He was sure he would not have trusted Miah, but if he had he would have had a better plan than what happened here. Some Hongshan did not trust him, some defended him.. if he had allowed the stranger to stay, he would have been damn sure to know what he thought and how he intended to handle this exact situation. Right?
"This is not how I wanted this, either," he agreed, still pacing, having finished a full circle and now back to where he started their conversation, "I will stand for them, defend them, just as I said. But I will stand for and defend the Firekin, too, just as you said."
And finally, he had reached what he really wanted to discuss with Roho, his new certainties about his loyalties to their new home. Even if they were evicted, he wouldn't just let what happened to the Hongshan happen to the Firekin. And then he was back to the game. He shifted his weight and lunged at Roho.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:50 pm
Move 5/5: ??
She nodded. "I am glad to hear you say that, sir. We will need to be the link between our peoples - both new and old. We have to make the others see that we are not the enemy, that we want only to help them claim victory over those lions. Because if the Nergui conquer the desert, what is stopping them from laying ruin to every other pride they come across?" She paused and then, when she looked up, she realised the duel was commencing again.
She reared up automatically as he lunged - perhaps hoping he would fall short and she could slam down on him with her weight. Unfortunately for Roho, she was just not quick enough to get her bulk into the air and contact was made.
And, where she had been standing on the sand one moment, she was now being pinned to it the next. Her ghost-blue eyes looked up at him defiantly, even though she knew he had lost no matter what move he made next. She snorted and tossed her head. "You fought a good fight."
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Ecavi generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:55 pm
Move 5: Miss!
Once Roho was pinned, he moved like he might continue an attack but his back paws slid in the sand and ultimately he took as a sign this fight was over now. He nodded when Roho spoke to finish it.
"You too," he said, pushing himself away from her and standing still to give himself a moment to recover while the conversation continued, "The Nergui cannot be allowed to succeed, the Firekin have a fair chance, even through this drought. We must support them and we must make sure the others see it, too."
He knew it would take time for the new Hongshan to adjust, but they had to.
"We should keep an eye on Ukuba, he was quick to argue and he had mistrust in his eyes," he said, vocalizing one particularly painful observation from the interrogation of the Hongshan, "His attitude could be a danger to all of us, I will be more at ease when we have regained his trust."
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:22 pm
Roho got up and shook the sand from her fur, giving Nawvlee a grave nod. "I agree. Ukuba did not leave a good impression on me. He almost seemed to want a fight when there was no fight to be had." She'd even gone in there with full intention of behaving herself.
She looked somewhat miffed, looking away in the direction of their dens. "We shouldn't have to, Nawvlee. We shouldn't have to." Her tail thrashed and then she looked back at him and pulled herself up straight. "In any case, I am grateful you accepted my duel. It has made me feel a lot better - even if I didn't land a hit!" She smiled. "We should make a habit of duelling. I could use the practise and I think we will be needing our skills soon enough."
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