Teodora had a desire and she would see it fulfilled, or she would fail. Failure, generally, was not an option - and often proved she was not ready if it did happen to be the result. Fate was a cruel mistress, but the ruby red ghoul had no qualms about fighting it - tooth and nail. Entering a more hardened section of the Oasis where the sand did not melt beneath your feet and you could obtain a good footing, her jaws part and she ushers for a call for a challenger. The Savante was the most seasoned warrior in the family, aside from her nephews who had also fought in the war - but she had no interest in political positions like them, no. Teodora wanted something specific to her keen, primed interests. Limbs spread, her head raising as her good eye scans the horizon for whatever opponent would come her way.

Teodora vs ???
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
0 1 2 3

Florentina was discovering that her family members were keen on making their prowess known to those of Andal. She on the other hand was more than content to be a lowly lioness of the pride; it would be much easier to obtain information by seeming to be "useless" when in actuality she was not. Florentina had a method to her madness, one of which was observation. However, she was quite ecstatic to hear the voice that called belonging to @Teodora. It would be a pleasure to see how she fared for whatever rank she yearned for. The bronze piebald would make her way towards the mighty warrior and once close enough would dip her head respectfully towards her elder. "Türelam agba kontsalamaval. Harcolj jól Veriemä." She says with a grin before moving to take her spot atop a large, flattened boulder. It was the perfect spot to watch and sunbathe all the while. Naturally Tina would route for her grandmother, though she was curious to see who would answer her call.

---

*Patience is the warrior's true weapon. Fight well Blood Mother.

[beatnik exp]
+5 - Slack off or shirk one's responsibilities
+5 - Sunbathe
+5 - Gossip with another character

art © yumpy

+5 Observe a fight

+5 Relax with someone else
(+10 Win a bet against someone else)?

He might have been tempted to take her up on the fight had he not still been recovering, or if she hadn't been, well, Teo. He didn't fight members of the Savante, as a general rule, and particularly not her. So instead he moved to join Florentina, tipping his head all the way to the side so it was parallel to the ground to bonk the top of his skull against her shoulder, unless she raised some objection to his approach.

"Bet no one even comes to fight," he said to her, words stilted from keeping his mouth and jaw as still as possible. He could tell it was healing well, but he'd probably always have some weird speech patterns from now on, and it made him somewhat sad to have his face fucked up. If he couldn't be pretty, then what else was there for him.

He is going to get his ass kicked. Not just by Teodora in the fight, but probably afterwards too by her and every other healer that has poured their heart and soul into putting the Savante barbarian back together. Much time had passed - too much, if you asked him - on bedrest, and being careful. No longer. Dragos does not limp as he walks on that ruined paw, even if bone is still bare, flesh and skin growing back in a patchwork of scars and growth. The bones in his toes have healed, the muscles still work (with pain, but no matter), and so if this is as good as he is going to get, he needs to learn to adapt.

What better way to start learning than against his aunty?

"You bet wrong," Dragos murmurs as he passes @Angelo and @Florentina, catching the lion’s gruff words. The Savante doesn’t look in their direction, however. His gaze is set evenly on the lioness that had called for the rank, and he makes his way to her. Physically, their sizes could not be much different, but Dragos has always felt small in his aunt’s presence in a way he can never explain.

"Don’t deny me," he asks her, ears folding back into the thick of his mane - unbraided, thanks to a certain bird sulking somewhere he cannot follow. "I need this."

Surely, out of all the Savante, she would understand.

Dragos vs @Teodora
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
0 / III

art © drifty | code © hinter

She is silent as the others approach, making no comment - simply listening. Her niece, @Florentina speaks up, a blessing set upon her causes her fur to stand on end and a small smile to crease her dark lips. Teodora had no idea if an opponent would show up, or who they would be if they did. @Angelo, Alexander's lover arrives next, though she makes no move toward him - given his more laid back nature, the Matriarch did not expect the other to be her opponent, especially not for such an active role.

As Dragos arrives, there is little reaction on her features outside of a subtle raise of her brows. Ears sweep forward, the sound of his voice beckoning to her with a plea, one that tugged deep on her heart and caused the muscles within her form to grow taut. How could the ghoul refuse him now? Instinctively she wanted to hold back, but she knew doing such a thing would wound his already fragile pride.

No.

She could not wound him in such a way. Without responding, the small vampiress darts toward the boy, hoping to close the distance and immediately take advantage of his weakened paw - as any enemy would. A paw attempts to slam atop the wounded limb, but not so hard that it would cause further damage - no, Teodora simply wanted to disarm him to distract from her next attack.

Teeth flash, muzzle swinging toward Dragos' jaw, whatever side she could reach, attempting to snap at the lower, more meaty section given their size difference. Body was on edge, unknowing of what to expect from her great-nephew. Perhaps he would surprise her and come out the victor of this match. Mother, she surely hoped so.

Teodora vs. @Dragos
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 15 + 12 + 3 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 7d20: 20 + 5 + 11 + 6 + 9 + 16 + 17

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 8 + 1 + 7 + 5

5years, no bonus.

Another challenge would come forth, beckoning a challenger to fight. Ronin would make his way, curious to see who and what was being fought over. He would come upon the group, @Teodora standing in a challenging posture, though she did so while also seeming calm and relaxed- waiting. @Dragos would be the one to meet her, as the King arrived, the one-eyed woman would launch herself at the injured boy. His brow rose as he skirted the fight to sit with his pride mates. This wasn’t a fair fight to bet on, so he would remain silent, watching the two combatants curiously.

Teodora did not appear to hold back, he could respect that of her, though there was slight concern that this would prolong Dragos’ healing. He was sure the Savante healers would not be pleased by this fight, but oh well.

She says nothing. Dragos watches her, watches the way her muscles coil under her red fur. And then, his aunt darts toward him. It’s no warning at all - and for that, he is thankful. They both know he won’t win, in no possible way, but he has to try. Even as she comes for his paw, going for his weakness he is thankful. He expects it - perhaps not from anyone else, save his uncles, but from Teodora especially.

Dragos moves his paw, attempting to draw it backward and protect it. He can no longer afford to sacrifice the limb. Her claws only graze the tops of his toes, and even that small wound is like a stab of fire through the raw, unprotected nerves and muscles. He groans, hissing in pain, and her teeth snap around his meaty cheek. Putting weight on his injured paw is out of the question, but he has no choice; Dragos’s healthy paw lifts and attempts to bash into the side of his aunt’s face, lifting sand with it in an attempt to force her eyes to shut and protect themself.

Already, he can feel his lack of ability. His moves are sloppy, slow, and his focus is too much on protecting his paw. This is not a fight at his best - it's worse than his worst.

Dragos vs @Teodora
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
I / III
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 2 + 9 + 14 + 15 + 13 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 17 + 13

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 17 + 20 + 13 + 2

art © drifty | code © hinter

Where there was a battle, however serious, Valerian was likely to be. The cry of his great aunt summoned him, though not to fight himself. To observe. It is his brother, Valerian is pleased to see the responder to this particular challenge. With the battle already underway though, Valerian doesn't offer any distracting call outs and instead plods his way up to dear @Florentina and @Angelo who are already present and in a sunny spot.

There was enough room up on that rock for Valerian too right? He doesn't hesitate to join the pile of Savante, squishing himself up to flop down next to the pair. "Hey." he rumbled and dropped his chin comfortably to the flat rock to rest. His green eyes did not close though, watching the fight unfold between Dragos and Teodora.

art © drifty

She is alert, keen - aware of movements and the impact of his attacks. He is powerful, even if it wasn't fully unlocked. There is no room for weakness within this family, and while she did not think her great-nephew to be weak, she would never hold back for fear of hurting him.

Flesh would heal, even if it took time - it would heal and he would be stronger for it. Like a scar, tougher, harder to tear.

Teeth meet meaty skin and Teodora finds herself full of bliss, eager to continue on with the fight and give Dragos the satisfaction he desired. Before she can do anything to increase the pressure of her bite against that cheek, the heavy smash of his paw meets the side of her head.

This causes her smaller form to stagger to the side, a snarl ripping from her lips. It was one of the weaknesses she possessed - a missing eye. Abruptly does angry teeth fly toward the offending paw, but those jaws adjust their trajectory. In this split second she mentally is aware that weakening his other paw would severely hinder him.

Ivories flash and attempt to snap toward his nose this time, wanting to clip the tender flesh there. All the while a paw lifts, talons swiping forward to try and create lacerations on the front of his chest, if she could get paws his thick mane, that is.

Teodora vs. @Dragos
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 7 + 17 + 16 + 2

Dodges:

Rolling 7d20: 4 + 14 + 6 + 20 + 12 + 7 + 11

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 6 + 8 + 9 + 4

Teodora is barely staggered, and even then, she isn’t put off - Dragos expects nothing less. But what takes him by surprise is the way she hesitates in an attack that should have been followed through. She should have gone for the offending paw, and she does not.

As if she thinks him too weak to take it.

"Don’t hold back," Dragos snaps a second before her teeth latch come for his nose; he leans down to attempt to meet those teeth with his own and tries to clash them together. He snarls, and that paw she should have subdued attempts to smack down into Teodora’s cheek again - hard, and this time perhaps more brutal than he should have for a simple rank match against family. Her claws drag down his chest, catching in his mane and scraping the skin underneath.

Dragos vs @Teodora
For Andal Oasis Lead Fighter
II / III
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 7 + 13 + 18 + 9 + 20 + 14

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 13 + 15

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 13 + 5 + 3 + 4

art © drifty | code © hinter