...He had to admit, he liked this one.
It was hard to outright encourage it, of course--because he also liked the Labradorite, and honestly, he didn't want the Labradorite to die. But he liked the bird's attitude, its fire and fearlessness, its utter ruthlessness.
But he cast a wary glance, too, Draconua's way.
Advice from the stands wasn't against the rules. Even when it came from the judges.
However much it would be worth.
"Oooohohoho, you're a poor shot, Vee!" It knew that. But somehow having the bird repeat the thought back at it was worse. Made it more tangible, more
Because it was losing. To a bird. To a creature who it should so easily be able to crush, to feel the ribs break in its-
Because the fight was going on long. Way too long. And the audience was getting restless and angrier still. This needed to end. It needed to end
"Seems we're not a fan favorite, are we, Vee? Tell you what, I'll help you out. I'll take a little trip down there... and, if you can catch me, you'll have been made the victor!"
It watched the bird land- a good distance away, at that. A
In the water, this would have been no trial- it was swift and agile underwater, practically
Still, it would try.
And it would fail.
A foot slipped in a puddle of it's own oil, and down it went.
This time, the chatter of the audience flew right over it's head. All it could focus on was the
The bird floated over to it's head, and red, watery eyes (watery from the pain,
"This ought to be a good lesson." A talon way too close to it's eye. It jerked back in instinctual, primal
That was all it had needed. One single, good, solid bite. Bones
| Character: Pratap Age: +5 (11 Cycles - Capped) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling ROUND 1 Attempt: +16 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +19 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +8 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: - Penalties: - Total: 59 | Character: V-Labradorite-One Age: +5 (12 Cycles - Capped) Magic Level: +3 (Brawler) ROUND 1 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: - Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: - Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +19 Penalties: - Total: 51 |
Would thrive.
This one was proving capable, indeed!
The shriek almost wasn't as bad as the way it got cut off abruptly, leaving only the ravenous roar of the crowd to fill the space. And there were the (quite literal) fireworks, the applause, the praise. It
It bite down harshly, letting everything from the stone 'collar' up plop onto the dusty arena floor. It swallowed the broken, bloodied mass remaining in it's mouth. It then bent down, carefully detaching the stone from the neck stump of the bird and storing it in it's cheek. It left the head were it sat, to decay into oil. Maybe Nemean would want the skull that's left over? She seemed like the kind to have a glittery, rhinestone-encrusted skull throne to set her lacy cushion on top of.
It made it's way through the fighter's pit, back up to the stands. It didn't know what it was doing. It needed to get it's eyes looked at, before it was it's turn to fight again. But it wasn't in the fighter's pit, looking for Maximus or one of the other healers. But it wasn't. It was sitting on a bench, hiding amidst the crowd, staring at the Golden Pallasite it'd spat into the palm of one of it's claws. There was no more remaining blood on the stone, it was now just a spiky chunk of ruddy rock. Insignificant if you didn't know what it'd come from.
This was