artwork • coding

The sun blazed overhead as Dominic stood at the edge of The Pit once more, the heat pressing down on him like a physical weight. The arena was stark and unforgiving under the midday sun, the limestone paths leading downward almost blinding in their brightness.

Sweat beaded on his brow as he gazed down into the familiar depths, where the ground had baked hard under the relentless sun. The heat added an extra layer of challenge, but it only fueled Dominic's determination to improve. He took a steadying breath, feeling the burn of the sun on his back as he descended into the arena, his heavy paws kicking up dust in his wake. A low chuff escapes as he calls for an opponent.

Dominic vs. —
For Dominance
0 1 2 3

She felt unsteady in her heart. Combat had never been something she was taught. To understand how to direct the battlefield, perhaps, but never been had she stood there herself as a capable opponent. But therein lay the problem. No longer did she have royal guards and no longer would she remain a bystander while the world around her was torn apart.

She would practice.

She would learn.

It did not happen to matter that the opponent she approached was far larger than her. The tremor of unease in her belly was ignored. In the heat of battle, she could not expect that someone of his size would not come for her.

Perhaps he had something to teach her?

I will face you, she declared, in spite of her churning gut.

Without another word she charged for him, hoping to close the distance between them for pushing off of her hind legs and leaping in an attempt to pounce upon him as she would prey.

Anya vs. @Dominic
For Dominance
I / III
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 8 + 20 + 18 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 17 + 14 + 6 + 11 + 19 + 18

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 20 + 2 + 13 + 14

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artwork • coding

She wasn't as small as Magdalena or Melusina, but she was still smaller. Not that it was at all a negative thing. Personally, Dominic had seen those of a smaller stature win consistently against one of a much larger size. Perhaps it was their speed that benefited them? His mind did it's best to think on the fighting tactics one of her size might use against him. It didn't take her long to proclaim herself as his opponent.

Despite himself, he smiles, impressed by her gumption and bravery despite his size. She kicks off, her speed nothing to scoff at - the distance between them is closed easily. Suddenly she's jumping on him, pouncing on him like prey. If he weren't so worried about his well being, he would laugh at the audacity. He grunts and attempts to toss his weight to one side in an effort to try and throw her off, making sure his actions were rough and jerky, to further increase the chance of her falling.

Dominic vs. @Anya ♔
For Dominance
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 3 + 12 + 20 + 2

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 15 + 12 + 10

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 16 + 19 + 1 + 10

Her behavior was... a calculated risk. Much like when hunting prey, there were many things that could have gone wrong in her attempt as well. He could have met her with his fangs. He could have tried to crush her beneath his massive paws. But there was so such brutality. Was he going easy on her? For as she landed upon him, he began to throw his weight around, causing her to lose her balance. If she had sought to hurt him, she would have used her claws to strengthen her grip.

But he had been gentle with her and so she would return the favor. Falling off, Anya half stumbled as she landed back on the ground. But she could not relent. Thinking to use her speed once more, she attempted to slam her body into his limbs, hoping for... well, she did not know. This was far more difficult when one did not seek to draw blood.

Anya vs. @Dominic
For Dominance
II / III
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 15 + 13 + 5 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 7 + 6 + 11 + 19 + 8 + 5

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 3 + 12 + 17 + 19 + 20

_{BG — ART — CODE}

artwork • coding

Perhaps she had mistaken his actions as gentle, because Dominic hadn't intended for it to come off as such. He'd simply been too focused on getting her off to lash out in any other way. The male knew better than to underestimate an opponent, regardless of their size - and as such, he wouldn't go easy on her. Of course, that didn't mean he was going to go all out and brutally maul her. This was for training, nothing more.

As she attempts to slam her body into his limbs, Dominic feels them buckle just a bit, the muscles there throbbing in pain from the impact. They would no doubt bruise later. A paw raises in retaliation, attempting to swipe toward the side of her neck, talons extended just a bit - enough to draw blood, but not to do too much damage. Sometimes it felt good to hurt, to remember that you could bleed - to feel the pain of living.

Dominic vs. @Anya ♔
For Dominance
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 7 + 14 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 18 + 10 + 20 + 16

It appeared she miscalculated—

For as she was reeling from colliding with him, he responded with a swipe at the side of her unprotected neck. It was there she felt the prick of talons and the burn of pierced flesh.

— to a degree. He had not hurt her, truly. At least, not as badly as he could have were he meaning to. But the invitation was one she would accept, unsheathing her own claws and attempting to rake them along the inner flesh of his foreleg, hoping to catch him before she could pull away.

She did not try to rip, however, only scratch. It would not do her well to repay her teacher with wounds more serious than what he already had.

Anya vs. @Dominic
For Dominance
III / III
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 5 + 15 + 18 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 3 + 12 + 7 + 20 + 19 + 11

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 20 + 6 + 9 + 17

_{BG — ART — CODE}

artwork • coding

Almost immediately Dominic felt bad about using his claws against her. Though, this at least seemed to prompt some sort of reaction out of her. A smirk, small and fleeting, touches his lips before he felt a stinging pain erupt along his foreleg. Brows furrow and he scoffs as her talons had cut along the tender flesh there.

Dominic's teeth snapped very slightly for the side of her cheek, attempting to clip the flesh there in hopes of leaving a little cut, but nothing serious. He would push forward as well, attempting to use his weight against her somewhat roughly to try and end the fight if he could. It wasn't that he was tired, but you didn't learn by going endlessly.

You had to stop and reflect on the actions made as well.

Dominic vs. @Anya ♔
For Dominance
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 18 + 20 + 14 + 10

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 15 + 8 + 10

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 17 + 8 + 9 + 6

@Dominic VS. @Anya ♔ FOR Dominance
— RESULTS —

Dominic Hits: 3+2+3+7 luck
Dominic Dodges: 2+2+1

Anya Hits: 3+3+3+7 luck
Anya Dodges: 5+2+4

Dominic Successful Hits: 4
Anya Successful Hits: 11

Anya HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Dominance!

The results of this fight cannot be acknowledged ICly until either both challengers have responded or 3 days have gone by — whichever comes first. Any posts breaking this rule will be removed.

When he pushed, she did not resist, understanding that he must have wanted to end the their bout. She pulled away, making space between them. For a moment, she lay there, taking a few seconds to catch her breath.

He had not done any true damage to her, but already, she felt stronger. She could only imagine what she might do if she put her all into it.

Perhaps a test for another day.

After catching her breath, she lifted her head and offered @Dominic a smile. Anya, she introduced, offering him a slight bow of her head. And you are?

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