What Lies Beneath
RP where Cloy and a Kimeti buck fight to exhaustion under the obelisk's influence
[What Lies Beneath: Owlsomniac]
Following the wasp-mare to the mountains had hardly been much of a choice, in the end. The opportunity to test his strength and challenge himself had been like a siren's song, and though the journey had been challenging, even for him, he's not as winded as many of the others who'd arrived and immediately slumped down into the snow to rest had been.
Weak, he thinks, a contemptuous curl to his lips as he wanders closer to the obelisk.
It gives off such a strange energy, one that calls to the ever-present hunger that lurks within him and pulls it forth. He doesn't bother resisting. It feels good, natural even, to give in to the lust for blood that shivers through him and sings along his nerves like a familiar touch. He stretches his well used muscles, enjoying the burn of it before he settles back into a more relaxed state, his eyes scanning the other nearby kin.
Already, some fights have broken out, and Lies realizes that this is what he wants, as well. A strong opponent to challenge, to sink sharp teeth into, to taste copper and test the limits of his own prowess with another.
He locks eyes with a kiokote doe and he grins - his sharp teeth a flash in the night.
Cloy had begrudgingly made her way back to the camp, her hare hunt having been a catastrophic failure. It was supposed to soothe her nerves, but it really only kicked the hornets' nest. She hadn't even bothered to bring the remnants of the thing back with her - her mind was too clouded by the wrath in the air. The only evidence of her catch was a small rabbit skull held in her jaws, explaining the blood around her mouth. She wasn't sure why she'd brought it with her, but she couldn't quite bring herself to let it go yet
As she neared the obelisk, she felt strange, as if she was being looked at. She swept her dark eyes around the area, locating the buck after just a moment. Standing stock still, she stared at him, the air tense around her. Her hackles bristled, but her ears remained upright and alert. She thought she might like to rip that grin off his face. Just because. It felt like the right thing to do
[Rolled a 9 for initiative]
[Rolled a 4 for initiative]
As their eyes meet, Lies allows his grin to fade, but it's still there. Smaller, yet still as confident as before - a quiet challenge that seems to say: Well? What are you waiting for?
He didn't move. For a few seconds, she warred with herself on what she was feeling. She took a few steps to the left and then to the right before seeming to come to a decision. She then picked up on a trot to close the distance, as if she was approaching for the average casual conversation. She slowed as she got nearer, trying to glare a hole through his head before rearing up enough to raise her left hoof high into the air and aiming to bring it down hard right on his smug nose with no more announcement
Health: 40/40
Damage: 8
Things finally start to get interesting when the Kiokote approaches, and attacks with a hoof. Lies is a big, buff, buck himself, and he absorbs the damage with a grunt that sounds almost appreciative as she manages to scratch his face, drawing a bit of blood.
"That's more like it - now it's my turn," he says, and lunges forward to bite at her flank.
Her fur is a little thicker than expected, but his teeth are sharp and sink down through it, drawing blood. With a growl of triumph, Lies chomps down harder as a surge of savage pleasure courses through him. He feels alive as the taste and scent of blood fills the air. Any thoughts of pretending to be decent disappear in the glare of the Obelisk's light, and Lies has fully succumbed to its sway.
Health: 32/40
Damage: 8
She made a nondescript sound around the skull still in her jaws in response, hopping a little with her hind legs in a slight attempt to dislodge him. She didn't quite mind it yet, though. It was what the obelisk wanted. She twisted around awkwardly, not used to combat, to slam her front hooves against his nearest side and shove him away
Despite the strange angle, she managed. Her hooves landed sure, thunking against his side. In hindsight, it might not have been the best advance. She hissed a little as she felt her own attack though his bite. The tug of pain didn't come soon enough to lessen the blow, though
Health: 32/40
Damage: 9
The kiokote is strong, he'll give her that. It would be a mistake to underestimate her. Yet, despite his new lumps and bruises, Lies is having the most fun he's had in a very long time. He feels free in the eerie light of the Obelisk in a way he never has in the swamp.
"That was good," he says, flashing her a sharp-toothed grin.
He circles her, then, looking for the best angle to attack from.
Despite his size, the large buck is surprisingly quick on his feet. Lies lunges forward and sinks his teeth into her front leg, hoping the pain will be enough to give him an advantage on his next opening.
Health: 23/40
Damage: 7
She let a puff of air out her nose in response to the buck. She wasn't sure she could talk back if she wanted to. Everything was a blur amidst the glow in the night. Instead, she watched him circle, squinting when his silhouette crept in front of the crystal
She reared when bitten again, attempting to heave her front legs into the air, but it was difficult to do. He was full grown, and therefore heavy...
Regardless, she had strong legs, being a runner and all. She stood up tall, raising her body over him, but leaving her legs loose so that he didn't come up with her much. Then, she angled her chin inwards and brought her head crashing down on his, her hooves clacking to the ground as she dropped. Without the usual horns a Kio would have, it was perhaps a little less effective than it could have been, but a headbutt no less
Health: 25
Damage: 8
Oof! Lies hadn't expected the doe to use such a move, and as she uses her weight and momentum to crash down atop his head, he feels his teeth clack together with a sharp clicking sound and grunts a little as he bears the full brunt of the attack. His horns offer some moderate protection, however, and manage to scrape into the kiokote's chin as she smashes down atop his head.
Even so, it's a blow that forces him to take a few steps back as he shakes his head back and forth to refocus. He's starting to feel the effects of the fight, now - and he'll have to be a little more cunning if he hopes to win.
For once, he says nothing as he eyes up his opponent.
Health: 15/40
Damage: 2
Trying not to be too confident in herself -pride before the fall, after all- Cloy did a couple prance-hops backwards to give herself enough space to plan her next move. She shook her head a little, as if she could dislodge the scrape she'd gained there. It wasn't her worst injury and it sort of put the others into perspective. Already, her leg was fairly upset with her for making it bear weight again so soon...
After she thought she'd caught enough breath, she made to close in on Lies again. She thought she might charge into his side, so she lowered her head slightly and geared up to run. Her wounds however, had other ideas. She scarcely took two steps before her front limbs crumpled in response to the pain, making her gasp and stumble to the ground. She awkwardly skidded to a halt woefully within range of the buck's next move
Health: 23/40
Damage: Miss
As the kiokote stumbles and falls, skidding across the slick snow and ice covered ground, the buck's eyes gleam as he steps closer and lets out a laugh at her predicament. Only, the moment he moves to deliver a swift bite to her exposed side his hoof catches on a bit of ice and he stumbles and is forced to regain his footing - missing his chance at his attack.
"Crap...!" He growls, only barely managing not to fall on his face alongside the prone kiokote, and his eyes seem to blaze all the brighter for his heightened ire.
Health: 15/40
Damage: Miss
She couldn't believe her luck. Maybe all this snow wasn't so bad after all. Taking note of where the ground was most unstable based on his slip, she braced herself against the rock. With a quick shift of her hips, she raised her nearest hind hoof, drew it back, and aimed for an unforgiving kick when he stumbled near. It was only fair, she thought. He had been trying to do the same general thing to her
Health: 23/40
Damage: 11
The kick is enough to send him sprawling, especially considering he hasn't quite yet managed to get his feet under him properly.
With a rather undignified yelp, he tumbles into the slush, bleeding where the sharp edge of her hoof had cut into his hide. It smarts, and the bruise that's already forming over his ribs protests as he finally manages to stand. He's winded, though, and the doe looks to be in far better shape than he.
With a growl, he rushes forward - determined not to go down without fighting to the last.
His blow lands true - a vicious bite to doe's hind leg that gouges into the tendons and leaves bloody imprints of his teeth through the fur. Lies growls, the sound fierce despite his near exhaustion.
Health: 4/40
Damage: 12
While the buck reeled from her attack, she was able to spend the time to rise to her feet. It may not have been the best move. He came in quick before she could orient herself with a bite that took her breath away. She bit down hard on the skull in her mouth, trying not to cry out, and it let out an audible crack in return. As before, she bucked, kicking her legs and spattering the rock with drops of blood. She whirled quickly though, black eyes glaring daggers
She reared, hoping to land one final kick that would keep him from biting back. Her legs protested though, and she was unable to get up as high as she liked. It was clear she wasn't going to get enough altitude for a strike, but she tried anyway, lunging forward awkwardly. She was askew and missed completely. Seeing her mistake, she tried to prance out of range before those teeth came back again
Health: 11/40
Damage: Miss
They're both having a hard time in the slush churned up underfoot, and Lies does his best to take advantage of it. As Cloy's hooves come down, missing him by a few inches, the buck snaps his teeth closed - but only manages to graze her before she darts out of reach again. Still, he can tell she is growing more tired, and he wonders if perhaps he might have a chance after all.
Health: 4/40
Damage: 2
Cloy skidded, trying to whirl suddenly to surprise him, but the unstable ground had other ideas. Catching a patch of ice with only two of her legs, she had to spend precious time making sure she didn't topple over. All she could do to keep from being thrown to the ground was preform an exceptionally awkward hop to the side, kicking once unsuccessfully before managing to escape. She retracted what she'd thought about the environment being helpful earlier. This was getting ridiculous... The stunt left her uncomfortably close to the buck, but she had to bend her head in an attempt to regain her wasted breath before she could make a move again
Health: 9/40
Damage: 3 (but I thought it was a miss)
At this point, everything he can do to wear the other kin down is a victory. Lies feels on the verge of collapse - he's honestly not sure what else is keeping him going other than sheer will, at this point. It's all he can do to stomp over to her and deliver a raking swing of his horns against her side. It's only marginally better than his last attempt, but it will have to do.
Swaying on his feet, his expression set into a mixture of exhaustion, pain, and fierce determination, he struggles to keep his feet - and his pride.
Health: 1/40
Damage: 5
As holding it was beginning to impede her progress, Cloy finally spat out the tiny skull she'd been carrying, which clicked away on the stone. Unsure if she could flicker away in time, she braced for impact when the buck neared. As soon as he was close enough, she swung her head to bite at his neck with her sharp little teeth. It brought her sliding along with his swing and her hooves clattered loudly while she tried to keep her balance. In the end, it didn't work. She slipped on a mix of snowmelt and blood, falling harshly on her side and releasing her grip on Lies in the process
No part of her wanted to get up, but she forced her battered legs to prepare to do so, warily looking upwards for his next move
Health: 4/40
Damage: 4
Just like that, it's all over.
Lies has no more energy left to give, and he grunts in pain and weariness as he allows himself to sink to the cold ground - which actually feels kind of nice pressed to his various bruises. The worst wound of all, however, has been dealt to his pride.
"Good fight," he admits, his voice gruff and, perhaps surprisingly - he offers the kiokote doe a smile, an appraising look in his eyes. "You're stronger than you look."
For now, he thinks, he'll simply lie in the numbing snow for a little bit longer before making his way over to a cleaner patch of snow to eat and rest properly.
When the buck flopped to the ground, she let out a sigh of relief. But, just in case he decided she was still close enough to snap at, she forced herself up with great effort. From there, she wavered, struggling to keep weight off the leg that hurt the most (which one that was, she wasn't sure...). She blinked down at him when he spoke, aggression gone from her expression. She was too busy trying to process what had happened through the haze of the adrenaline for that
"Thank you." She ended up murmuring, sounding more hoarse than she had expected "Though, I apologize. It is not what I would normally do"
She then hobbled away to where the ground was drier and gingerly laid down to rest. She wasn't far off from collapsing herself, so it wasn't a graceful motion. She'd clean up later, she thought to herself, before dropping her head gently to the ground