Kalama couldn't hear the rushing of water through the pounding in her own ears, and the sound of tearing wing-flesh. But she felt the trickle at her feet. She turned around, almost dreamily, definitely not fully there, and stared at the ensuing flood. It took her a while to react, but she did.

Kalama scrambled for the nearest high ground she could see-- the flank of Charon. She scraped the dregs of her energy, claws scrabbling at Charon's scales and simultaneously resisting the chrysalis that continued threatening to form on her. But she still made it. Upon reaching the wyvern's back it was all she could do to collapse. She panted, barely conscious, her eyes going unfocused.

think "speak"

@Charon

DEATHMATCH

As Charon was swept beneath the onslaught of waves, the arena was filled with Nemean's tittering laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA, AND THE DEMON OF CANIS OR WHATEVER CAN'T EVEN FLY!" She zipped over to Bedlam, absolutely beaming as she cupped the catwhale's slimy, slimy cheeks. "That was fucking AWESOME! You'd better stick around after that!" Was that a threat? Or a genuine request? Dealer's choice as to what she meant by that, because she was already off and into the sky.

When the arena drained at long last, Nemean clapped her little paws eagerly. "WOO! THAT WAS A BLOODY AND GOOD MATCH!" Diaphonous wings buzzed her up into the air, and fireworks screeched into the sky, launched from an extended pointer finger. "AAAAND THAT LEAVES KALAMA AS OUR VICTOR! Nice boat strategy! More of you should use your enemies to your own advantage." Because that was smart and Nemean wanted to see more than just running away from the danger! BoooooooRING!

"Anyways—" she clapped twice more, "clear out! Chrysalize, die, whatever—just get off the stag—outta the arena! There is more DEATHMATCH! to be had!"

Bright red arrows started to bounce above all of the possible exits to the backroom.

_____________

DEATHMATCH WINNER: KALAMA

Character: Charon Age: +5 (12 Cycles - Capped) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: - Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 6 Attempt: +19 Penalties: - Total: 81

Character: Kalama Age: +5 (29 Cycles - Capped) Magic Level: +3 (Brawler) ROUND 1 Attempt: +13 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +15 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: - Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: - Penalties: - ROUND 6 Attempt: +13 Penalties: - Total: 66

WINNER: Charon

@Charon @Kalama @Bedlam (for vis)

strong language

CHARON
The very mountains whisper your name...

Charon breached the waves, inhaling sharply before promptly bursting into a coughing fit. He gasped for air and slapped his wings across the top of the water, instinctively trying his best to get out.

He shoved off the bottom and rose into the air shakily, flapping hard to keep himself aloft, water dragging him down. If Kalama was still clinging to him he didn't notice, the wounds just pain on top of pain at this point.

”What... what do you mean it won?”, he said, staring in absolute disbelief, every breath burning, ”I-I WON! I ripped its wing off, I gave you blood and guts and violence! How...?”

Anger flared and he went to roar, only for his breath to catch and send him coughing again, water spilling from his lips. He wobbled mid-air, his tail touching the water below and making him snatch it back, lifting his feet. He hated water. He hated it.

Charon shakily flew towards the bright red signs, barely able to keep himself aloft at this point, the adrenaline having faded and his injuries screaming out as every wingbeat pulled on them. At least the water had washed the blood away, allowing him to see again.

”THIS IS BULLSHIT! I WON! I'M THE WINNER!!”, he snarled, so angry he was shaking.

He won.

As he crashed to the ground just inside one of the exits, he curled up, bitter and hateful. He didn't care, he was going to somehow make it to the next rounds even if he had to crash someone else's fight.

... Right after he took a nap.

Exit

Bedlam cheered wildly over the roar of crashing waves. Holy SHIT, whole-limb mutilation! It loved all the blood being spilled! The worm-dragon did seem a bit salty about losing, which it also laughed at. If he couldn't avoid choking on its spell when the chicken, missing AN ENTIRE LIMB, had somehow managed to avoid drowning or being battered to death by debris, it didn't have much sympathy for it.

(Never mind the fact that it'd had a near-drowning experience itself a few cycles back. That was irrelevant, and also it was a child so it had an excuse.)

It grinned at Nemean's approval, a green blush rising to its decidedly NOT slimy OR ugly cheeks. "Of course," it promised sweetly. "As long as Draconua lets me have my fair share of fun!"

- exit

As Charon took off, A blot of black known as Kalama fell from his back, hitting the soaked sand with barely a noise. As limp as a ragdoll. Kalama knew she fell, the water slowly trickling around her form. She stared at it with hazy eyes.

Keeping them open was a task. Continuing to breathe, with her shattered ribcage, even moreso. Most of all was staying conscious. Forcing her chrysalis to keep from forming.

She was rapidly forgetting why she went through all that effort in the first place. And then she heard it. Muffled at first, but even as Kalama was teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, Nemean's shrill voice refused to go unheard. Kalama... had won. She had WON!

"Hhg." She whine, feeling her ribcage protest when she spoke. "Hhh...HaA--"she cut off, coughing and spluttering blood, which only caused her more pain. "hah." She settled on.

Her legs twitched uselessly for a moment, then kicked, then cartwheeled, until she found the strength to put them under her. And then, to stand. With the fight finished, Kalama could feel, in great detail, every square inch of her body screaming in agony. Especially after she'd forced herself to move.

She put a foot in front of her, and felt the entire world twist. A moment. Another foot. Her blurred vision couldnt find Charon, but she could see splotches of red. "I...killed a...a DRAGON!" That hurt. But she had to continue gloating. She needed it "HHh, HAH!"

She limped out of the arena, a teeth bared in a distant grin. Or, more likely, a grimace. As soon as she stepped an inch outside the forum's arena center, Kalama collapsed headfirst in the sand. Hopefully soon to be attended to by the medics.

think "speak"