The wind blew cold around the starlit mare, bringing in the fall season with a crisp bite. The midday sun soothed the chill with its warm light, and though she wanted to shake any warmth and contentment from her midnight form, still she basked despite her brooding. She dug a cloven hoof into the earth, the dying grass crushed beneath an onyx heel. Much had happened, despite nothing really happening at all after her abrupt unceremonious arrival. Still, the acute changes and harsh reality of separation weighed heavy upon her shoulders and her heart, so the woman had regressed back to the only state she knew to provide comfort.
So, Ki'irha donned her warrior facade and made her way to the Steppe, where she heard battle-ready opponents lingered in hopes of competitive conflict. She knew the adrenaline would swell in her heart, plugging the holes that had sprung leaks, and fill the cavities where heartache had worn her thin. That's how she had always dealt with her feelings. That's why she had been a decorated warrior, adorned with high ranking titles and respect back where she hailed from. She belonged to those mountains. They were her sanctuary, and those who slept beneath Time's watchful eye could sleep soundly knowing their home was being protected by devoted sentinels and wolves cloaked in unicorn skin. She would work for that here, too. She would fight and train and learn. Even if she failed today, even if another reigned victorious, she knew that unleashing her contained force today would be enough to at least begin the process.
She tipped her sculpted face skyward, silver eyes closing, and her nostrils flared. She drank in the scent of the dying leaves, the decaying world, and for a moment, wondered of Helovia, wondered if autumn even existed there anymore...
She snorted, tossing her head, and as her eyes snapped open she let loose a whistle. The sound carried easily across the open landscape, with no flora around to mute the sound. It was a call, harsh and sharp, to any who may be listening. Should one come to answer it, they would find themselves a fierce opponent, standing resolute upon an open battlefield, with nothing to contain her. So with the wind upon her back and violence in her heart she waited, knowing her call would not go unanswered, and she prayed that perhaps today would be the day that she could begin to heal.
Summary: Ki'irha finds herself on the Bellum Steppe, midday, with pleasant seasonal weather (chilly air, with some warmth provided by the sun). She whistles, calling out in hopes an opponent will arrive. Otherwise, she just stands and waits.
It was a whistle that caught her attention, a sound sharp and high among the breeze. Rhiannon paused in her prowl, a wraith among pale, uprooted earth, bristling in agitation with the interruption to her macabre reverie. Giving a lazy roll of the shoulder she twisted her head to narrow a two-toned gaze towards where the unsavory sound had come from. The sun sat proudly overhead, the warmth of the mid-day light warding off the worst of the chill from the fresh autumn breeze. It was unfortunate, really, for Rhiannon thrived in the cold.
What a shitty fucking situation that she found her new home in a desert, then.
Molten-gold and frozen-silver eyes peered across the landscape, the Bellum Steppe, narrowed with disdain and vehement loathing. Frustration, rage, and sorrow had laid coiled beneath her brindled breast since her arrival to this land, to this Novus, fermenting and roosting, building and growing... And the whistle had been the ignition, the light to her already so short of fuse.
Who, the fuck, was whistling?
The Steppe was known for its battles. Rhiannon knew this. She had heard of it, a land where warriors and cowards alike ventured to test their mettle and prowess against whoever was unlucky enough to cross their path. Maybe she had wandered to such a place simply out of desire to re-live past memories, as a soldier to the frozen, snow-capped mountains she had once called home. Maybe, should she find a challenger worthy of her time and effort, she would begin to feel more like herself...
... Or maybe she was just fucking lazy and hot and wanted to take a stroll as far away from the desert as she could possibly find. Who knew? Not her.
A figure stood amidst deformed, upturned earth, stationary, poised, elegant. The brindled devil's eyes narrowed, cold, calculating, teeth gnashing within her maw, and slowly she began her approach. Muscles bunched and stretched, the sashaying stride of her steps languid and lazy, clearly over confident. It was a sensual sort of advance, like a predator stalking its prey, and the closer she grew to the circle where the ghosts of previous soldiers had fought, the easier it was to assess the maiden who awaited in the center.
Beautiful. She was everything that Rhiannon looked for in a woman. Eccentric. Unique. Delicious. Immediately her ire was forgotten, replaced instead by hot, coiling lust. The awaiting vixen stood shorter than the she-devil, her coat a beckoning constellation. Rhiannon could get lost in her, eyes roaming the speckled stars upon dainty, stunning shoulders, down a strong, capable back, and a curvaceous rump that she, quite honestly, wouldn't mind nibbling on. The stranger - but was she? She looked so familiar, so much like home, like mountains, frozen tundras, ice and wind, and hate - was lean and lithe, muscled in all of the right areas. She was limber, capable, and Rhiannon found herself admiring the sleek muscle of her leonine tail and the proud horn that rested upon her brow.
"... You called?" Rhiannon's voice was dipped low, sultry, not even bothering to hide the desire that coated every syllable. Dual-toned eyes flashed dangerously as she finally halted her approach, standing at the opposite end of the war-trodden earth. If it was a battle that the star-crossed maiden wished for, a good scrap in the dirt, then who was Rhiannon to argue?
Slowly a smile, coy and cunning, pulled at dark lips, and the brindled devil slowly lowered her head, the twisted spires of her horns pointed askew. She was larger than the delectable maiden before her, broader in build and muscle, but the stranger was lean with agility on her side. Together they could create quite the dance, full of power and beauty and desire, and Rhiannon found herself eager for what might unfold. Saliva pooled in her mouth, the desire to taste growing, but for now, she would focus on the battle. But why should she? Could she not have both?
Giving a mighty snort and a shake of her head, the unkempt curls of her mane tossing into the wind amidst braids and feathers, Rhiannon pushed off of the earth. Her pace was measured, set at an almost lazy lope the second she moved into motion. The ground was far too dangerous to break out into a full-blown charge, riddled with holes from rodents and uneven surfaces from previous scuffles as it was. Breaking a leg would be a rather moot point.
Head tucked close to her breast, the she-devil crossed the trecherous earth with powerful strides, teeth gnashing as the thrill of the chase filled her lungs, stealing her breath, the desire to just reach out and taste overruling every other action. Showing no signs of slowing, fully intending to make her attack and charge right on by her adversary, Rhiannon lifted her head and snapped her head forward, neck stretching, aiming to bite at the swell of the maiden's left shoulder for her first attack.
Summary: Rhiannon charges at a leisurely lope, cautious of the ground beneath her hooves. As she hopes to pass by Ki'irha's left side, she aims a bite for the curve of Ki'irha's left shoulder.
The ways of this world were still foreign to her. With each passing moment, she believed that her call would go unanswered, that perhaps she was an abomination here that no one wanted to be near, much less join with tooth and hoof in close combat. So, with a delicate step forward, she began to leave, until a voice called out.
’You called?’
A single blue ear twisted, cupping the air and capturing the retort she thought would never come. Her head turned first, casting her silver gaze over her shoulder, and the rest of her body followed in a smooth fluid motion. The she-wolf who approached moved with a certain saunter, giving the first impression of someone who was not foreign to battle, someone who was approaching believing they would capture another win. There was something alluring about the woman who approached, and Ki’irha couldn’t place it. Certainly it wasn’t the allure of something comfortable, something safe, something contained within snow-capped mountains beneath a frozen sky; how could it be? Home wasn’t here. No one had followed her through. As she tipped her head upwards, light glittered against the facets of diamond nestled within what was once broken. Perhaps when her memories had been restored, some fragile fleeting interactions had been lost forever. Though, to be honest, Ki’irha had no time to ponder the past, nor did she have enough time to consider that she had, in fact, met the woman before in a past life, in a past world. Instead, she examined the woman as she moved closer. She stood taller than the midnight mare, with a stockier build. Ki’irha, with a lithe warmblood frame, would be just a bit quicker, and that would be her advantage. But her opponent, should she be allowed to get close enough, would deal more devastating blows with her heavier muscle. And those horns, beautiful crowns, would be perfect for goring, should the blue expose her soft underbelly.
She moved forward quickly to meet the black unicorn, not quite leaping into the fray, as to avoid the treacherous terrain the winding tunnels had created. Yet, despite how she attempted to dodge, she didn’t react quickly enough to avoid the first attack. Ki’irha tried to avoid the gnashing pearls, but was unsuccessful. A sharp pain sprung upon her shoulder, and she exhaled sharply as pain blossomed beneath her pelt. Pulling free from those teeth, small red beads rose to the surface of her skin, resting like jewels upon her shoulder. As she moved, she leaned to her left, hoping the mare hadn’t already pulled away, with the goal of forcing her opponent to side step and lose her balance, or at least her momentum.
Even though the bruise stung painfully, it was the first time she had been touched since arriving here. The keen sting cracked deep crevices within her melancholy. Something sparked within her chest, something brilliant and bold, and it created fire. Suddenly, something existed within her that wasn’t regret, wasn’t pain, wasn’t longing mixed with sadness and anger. It coursed through her veins, and she tossed her head, lashing out with her heels, and though she wished to feel muscle beneath her cloven hooves, she also did it to release the sudden buildup of passion that burned like electricity through every nerve. The pain reminded her of who she was, who she was always meant to be. She was a warrior. She was alive.
Wheeling around only a few lengths away, she turned to face the brindled woman, and a smile illuminated her features, and her silver eyes sparkled. “I did call,” she finally answered, coy as ever, “I was looking for a good fight. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction?” The smile upon her face and the laughter tinting the words allowed them to play as they were - a light jest, meant to be taken easily. With that, she leapt forwards, eyes keenly set, ready to meet whatever the other woman had in store for her.
Summary: Ki’irha moves at a steady yet quick pace towards Rhiannon, and receives a bite on her left shoulder, resulting in severe bruising and superficial broken skin. She leans to the left as she moves past Rhiannon, hoping to push her off balance. Then, she kicks out as she attempts to move past Rhiannon, hoping to kick her. Finally she turns around to face Rhiannon and moves back towards her.
Due to not replying by the deadline, @Rhiannon forfeits the fight and Ki'irha (@Noella) wins!
This thread will be locked and moved to the Ruris Archives shortly.
All damage taken in the thread is still applicable and cannot be retconned.
This thread cannot be claimed as a "completed thread" for signos redemption.
KI'IRHA
Participate in a Battle or Challenge: +1 EXP
Win a Battle: +1 additional EXP TOTAL: +2 EXP
RHIANNON TOTAL: +0 EXP
Ki'irha's official experience has been updated to reflect these changes (along with the +25 signos for winning the battle), so there's no need to post in the Experience Updates or Signos Redemption threads!
