Reunited with his mother, he'd yet to see any other kin. Heartstrings tug toward the peaks, longing to see his family again. Adulthood, or the cusp thereof, beckoned forth the will of independence. Once he'd trained with his father many moons ago, now he would train alone, against a stranger.

Shield brandished forth, claws grating against thick soil and rock, as he squared himself against a wall, facing outward. Rust locks pooled around the deep purple face, mismatched eyes bright against the eggplant mask, trademark of the Hodari bloodline. Raised by ancestors, brought to light by his father's prestigious career, there felt pressure within his chest to become something more than what he was.

Kind-hearted, soft, he wasn't the gallant protector he wished to be. A great knight capable of shielding his mother and siblings from any harm. Now the opportunity to hone those skills arose out of independent pursuance, guided by the strength of his ancestors.

Bakarea v. ???
Dominance
Round 0 / 3

The red woman made her way to the pit, seeking to hone a few skills and perhaps.. learn a thing or two. When she spotted @Bkarea the giant tilted her head to get a better look before approaching and coming to a stop a few lengths away. "If you seek an opponent, I will gladly stand in for one." She waited for his answer, bicolored gaze passing over the other with curiosity and interest.

Kireena wouldn't expect the other to accept, or was he perhaps waiting for someone else? If that was the case the battle scarred druid wouldn't mind patching them up afterwards either. Whatever the outcome of this meeting, she wondered where it would lead.

Kireena vs Bakarea
For Dominance
Round 0 of 3

Most certainly he was looking for an opponent, though he hadn't expected a lady to come upon him. Surely, women were capable fighters as well as any man, but he just didn't feel right trying to beat anyone up. What he wanted to learn was how to protect someone in order to better protect his family. Masked face dropped as his eyes looked shyly up at the larger woman, a surprise in itself as he considered himself a rather large man. I would accept on one condition, a short pause makes it clear he's not about to attack first, this is so I can learn to protect those I love, and I won't try to hurt you purposely. That meant he wasn't going to be biting down hard or trying to claw her throat out. Nor did he actually know what he was doing.

What he did have going for him was once seeing his father fight and getting a lesson from the older man. He could never be as great a fighter as that. At least, that's what he considered as he raised his jaw just enough to properly look at his opponent.

Someone who remained unnamed and unknown. He appreciated that for now.

Bakarea v. @Kireena ♞
Dominance
Round 0 / 3

A nod would be given to the younger lion as Kireena shifted, giving herself a good shake and finding a balanced stance. He was smaller than she - but that didn't mean much when it came right down to it. "Accepted. I will keep to the same.". She sheathed her claws, toes spreading against the dirt beneath her feet.

Head would tilt towards @Bakarea with a fang filled grin upon her lips. "Since you were here first.. take the first move.". She was unaware how untrained the youth was, but as it was merely for fun she would refrain from drawing blood to the best of her abilities.

Kireena vs Bakarea
For Dominance
Round 0 of 3

They danced a strange dance around one another. Forced to make the first move he nods to the dark brown woman, comforted in knowing they wouldn't openly try to shed blood from one another. Instead he did his best to square up against the more experienced lion, his two different colored eyes watching for any quick movements. He'd never fought before, but he'd seen his father fight, and he thought that might be enough to come out victorious.

Limbs bent, springing him forward with a powerful push forward, back legs pushing him to reach out toward his opponent. Claws remained sheathed, for he didn't wish to hurt her. Rather he sought to grapple the woman on both sides of the neck, seeking to find a sort of head lock upon the other lion, perhaps forcing her into a position that would cause issue with movements. Should his forelimbs not find a hold around the woman's neck, then he'd simply be "punching" at her in an awkward manner.

Such a movement left his own throat prone despite the youthful mane that ringed his neck. Eyes remained wide open without fear of claws coming near his face. Behind, his tail whipped like a rudder in the wind, his back toes splaying heavily against the rock ground as he sought balance on two legs. He was, essentially, quite inexperienced and obviously so.

Bakarea v. @Kireena ♞
Dominance
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 17 + 7 + 19 + 1

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 11 + 1 + 4

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 5 + 20 + 9 + 16

One never knew what they'd find at the pit. Today was no different. Before, Hero has found his brother Tai fighting the Ecrosia boy. Today, as the ebony lion created the walls of the pit, he found a different brother within the arena. Baka? Instantly, the Hodari was entranced. @Bakarea was fighting some stranger, presumably just for the experience. He didn't know of any prides his brother would be a part of these days, if this was something for a rank or simple dominance. Hero could probably stand to get roughed up a bit himself, just for the experience. For now, though, he'd just watch, finding a quiet spot along the terraces of the pit to settle into.

tb | stk | dv

It became obvious in the first few seconds that the boy - for he really was - was inexperienced. The druid refrained from chuckling, but did adjust her intentions on the fly. As Bakarea launched at her, she allowed the bearhug 'round her nape, jaws parting as she snarled - though it lacked malice. "Don't bearhug unless you're ready to expose your belly.."

She would attempt to reach out with her front right paw - attempting to give the younger lion a solid, but not painful thwack to his ribs. Claws of course, remained sheathed as she did so. She had her head lowered, her balance on the remaining three legs before she would attempt to shove her body weight forward with the motion of her 'attack' on his underside.

Though they didn't differ much in size, Kireena knew that sometimes even twenty pounds of difference would be enough to force someone off balance. And now that she knew he was green..she had switched to teaching rather than beating. Much like she eventually would with her own children.



Kireena -vs- @Bakarea
-for-
Dominance
Round -1- of -3-

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 2 + 7 + 12 + 6 + 14 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 1 + 19 + 14 + 15

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 17 + 10 + 9 + 12

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS

Thankfully the partner which had found him wasn't someone that would take advantage of the situation and leave him mangled in a heap. That would likely be way too easy for any experienced fighter at this point. "Don't bearhug unless you're ready to expose your belly.." The more experienced fighter advised him, giving way to a painful jab to his ribs that made him instantly regret his attempt to out-maneuver the woman. It would be the first light bruise he'd received from something other than any of his own clumsiness or playful wrestling with his siblings.

Already the lesson unfolded with greater consequences than he'd thought out as the woman's weight surged forward, and his already precarious balance rolled him into a backwards tumble. Awkward turning of his body caused muscles to strain as he sought to keep himself from falling onto his back, finding all paws splayed against the rock once more. How do I gain advantage then? Frustration wrinkled the mask that surrounded his eyes, yet young and foolish in his haste to learn how to fight.

Something flitted at the edge of his vision, so that he turned to see his brother along the edges of the arena. Embarrassment at his inability to appropriately protect himself grew at the sight of @Hero, hoping that his brother wasn't judging his poor skills too harshly. Half forgetting his current match against Kireena he swung his head back towards the woman, having given her ample time to react with the lull of his distraction.

A thought occurred, the deep purple body ducking down as he reach a paw out, keeping his claws sheathed, while seeking to make a powerful swiping movement that might take the lioness's front legs out from under her. This kept his head lowered, though he still did nothing to protect his sight or ears, but at least he wasn't given the woman the full advantage.

Bakarea v. @Kireena ♞
Dominance
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 3 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 6 + 11 + 3

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 2 + 19 + 16 + 12

Had it been a true fight, that distraction that the young lion had would likely have ended in disaster. As it were, Kireena not only let him teeter off balance, but waited until he had regained his footing and lunged at her - trying to sweep her paws out from under her. The red giant would wait, then attempt to tilt her skull and headbutt the youths sweeping limb.. Rather than what she normally would - and snap at it.

"Use your strengths.. to your opponents weaknesses.. As a large lion - you will be bigger, stronger than most of your opponents so knocking them around is the tactic.." Kireena had noted @Hero standing on the ledge, but returned her focus to the boy before her. "Against a larger opponent your strength isn't as important.. but your agility will be. You will be able to outmaneuver someone like me..And fighting? Make it dirty."

The woman would attempt to scoop a paw full of dirt, sand and rock towards the lions face, intending to try and follow up with a boop to wherever she might land - if it landed. "If you're fighting to defend.. or fighting to take. Fight dirty and win."



Kireena -vs- @Bakarea
-for-
Dominance
Round -2- of -3-

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 15 + 5 + 11 + 3 + 1 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 20 + 14 + 2 + 11

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 6 + 20 + 15 + 19

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS

Hero would get himself settled along the edges of the pit, just curious to watch his brother fight. It wasn't as if the ebony brother had much experience either, so who was he to judge when @Bakarea got knocked over by @Kireena ♞. If anything, Hero just hoped he wasn't too much of a distraction to his brother. Surprisingly, thanks to the amphitheater structure of the pit and the lack of the normal chaos when it was a real challenge to watch, the Hodari could actually hear some of what was being said between the two combatants. Being of similar size and experience level to his brother, the charcoal feline took a few mental notes of his own from what the maroon woman was explaining. To be encouraged to fight dirty, however, went against everything he'd been taught as a Hodari. Still.... perhaps when it was truly necessary.... Hero just hoped he'd never find himself in such a situation.

He could way that moral question later, however, content to simply sit and watch how this spar played out. Silently rooting for his brother, Hero did his best to not be a distraction any further.

tb | stk | dv