He really was only doing this so that he could release some steam and actually fight someone. Sure, it was 'wrestling' but it something at least. He scowled softly at the thought of not being able to 'damage' his opponent, wasn't that was a fight was supposed to do? But whatever, he'd listen for now at least.

As he walked into the area, he lifted his head up and snarled at the sky, shaking out his wings and puffing his body up. He was excited and ready, waiting for his opponent to show up. He paced the area with a grumble, hoping they showed up quickly or he'd have to find something else to fight.

ROUND 0/5

ATTEMPT: -
DEFENSE: -
INJURIES: -

@Shrike

Shrike came in bristling with eagerness. Had this been a few cycles ago, she'd have pretended demure. Been polite, even if only on the surface, crystalline and false.

Now?

Chaos surged through her veins. Oil leaked from her eyes. She wanted nothing more than conflict. If she'd had the option, she--like Moonsetter--would've loved nothing more than no holds barred. Her control was slipping, day by day. She trembled with excitement, thoughts of blood and impacts making her heart race with anticipation.

"Moonsetter?" she asked, head tipping to one side. "Shrike." Her gaze travelled over her opponent. Large. Similar in size and shape to herself--a suitable opponent, she thought. Likely someone had chosen to pair them deliberately--Tectus, perhaps. That was fine. That was good. She wanted a challenge; if she'd been given someone small and weak it would've been a deep disappointment.

Ironically Shrike cared nothing for the outcome: only for the battle.

She climbed into the arena, half wing-walking, and flexed and rolled to limber up. "We can take our fight to the air," she observed, and offered. She'd wondered if her opponent would be land-bound, if she could take off and pummel them from above. But this--this was good. They could have a battle for the ages, a fight mid-air, like two dragons clawing and biting-... Yes.

Her mandibles parted in a grin. "Let's do this." Her eagerness was betrayed by the tremor in her voice, her excitement too much to bear.

@Moonsetter (feel free to hit first!)

He lifted his head as the another one approached and a large grin showed on his features, his tail flicking behind him. Yes, someone his size, someone with wings, someone of equal standing. Now to see who actually would win.

He didn't say much, simply gave a grunt of acknowledgement before he seemed to lock in, lowering himself to the ground, his legs out for balance and his dense body keeping his center of gravity down to make it harder to knock him over. For a moment he would just stalk closer, eyes narrowed and head down, a low growl escaping him. His eyes flashed with excitement about the same time that he rushed forward, spreading out his wings and taking one beat in the air before rushing downwards towards Shrike.

His goal was to tackle from above, to pin the other creature under his large mass and get the upper hand. His claws remained outstretched, his tail whipping for balance and his wings streamline to give him the quickest movement he could get out of it. His jaws were open and his head tilted downwards, making it where any attempts to his upper neck at least would have to go around his teeth first.

@Shrike

ROUND 1/5

ATTEMPT: attempting to fly up and slam down onto Shrike's back
DEFENSE: claws out, tail for balance, head down protecting throat, teeth bared, wings against side
INJURIES: -

Shrike was too maddened by Chaos to even try to avoid the attack. Instead, she leapt up to meet it, trusting to her spines and serpentine shape to keep her from being truly pinned. The impact was still jarring, but she relished in it, ignoring the thud and the fact that her upward leap and flap of wings had been hit straight back down to earth. Moonsetter controlled their position. She didn't care. She aimed to pummel, to snap: nothing more than shallow scratches if her claws hit, but a punching of hind feet and battering of beak and wings barely restrained from real violence.

Already, this was cathartic.

ROUND 1/5

ATTEMPT: go for Moonsetter too
DEFENSE: spiky
INJURIES: n/a

@Moonsetter

Oof, that hit hurt, slamming into each other was enough to knock the air out of him, but ooohh he loved it so much. He growled low and dangerously, clearly enjoying the feeling and enjoying the way their attacks hit with a force that make him grunt, already feeling bruises flush to the surface and feeling his skin tear under their claws.

Yes! Yes! This was everything he wanted.

Both of them seemed to tip toe the line of what could be considered dangerous, but neither of them seemed to care, and he refused to step back from the attacks being delt to him. No, this creature was a jewel to him, a diamond in the dirt, the first that gave him the adrenaline rush he wanted.

He roared in pain and excitement before aiming to keep his top position to pin them on the floor and beginning his own assault, using his wings to try and slam against their sides, his front claws trying to slash at them from any way he could get through their own attacks. His back legs kept him settled down, trying to keep his balance on top of them while using his haunches to try and keep them pinned below him.

ROUND 2/5

ATTEMPT: complete assault
DEFENSE: trying to keep them pinned
INJURIES: scratched, bruised chest/sides

@Shrike

She could have stayed tangled and battering one another for a time, but Chaos demanded change. She wanted to test herself, to see if she could break free. Break free, then close again, to launch herself at her opponent as they'd done to her.

Could she?

She braced, wings curled against the ground, and arched her spine like a serpent's. Her hind legs kicked out, aiming to shove Moonsetter back, hard.

The pin was a powerful one, but she wanted out--out, so she could leap back in. She wanted command; she wanted the initiative. She wanted to control the fight--and to spill blood, but she couldn't have everything.

Even if the other's claws had torn streaks down her own flesh.

ROUND 2/5

ATTEMPT: kick Moonsetter away
DEFENSE: spiky
INJURIES: n/a

@Moonsetter

Claws hit his stomach and he grunted softly, using his wings to pull himself back and away, flying upwards slightly taking a moment to breath before flying downwards, aiming his outstretched back claws towards them.

He wanted to rip, tear, pull, anything he could get his claws on. They were both such ferocious fighters, both enjoyed the fight and the bloodshed, and he was more than happy to give them everything he had.

ROUND 3/5

ATTEMPT: dive attack with his claws
DEFENSE: claws out, tail for balance, head down protecting throat, teeth bared
INJURIES: scratched, bruised chest/sides

@Shrike

Shrike wanted nothing more than to fling herself back into it. But she also wasn't stupid. The dive that Moonsetter had folded himself into was perfect; if that hit, the impact would-

No time to think. She couldn't sit around predicting what would or might happen--she had to move!

She raised a wing, twisting to try and let the attack buffet only the non-essential body parts. But she wasn't trained enough for this. The impact instead slammed her.

She wasn't sure what had happened, in the second or two after the hit. It wasn't that it had been too fast to follow; it's that Moonsetter had hit her so hard that she'd almost been knocked out. Her body had been flung backward, skidding through the dust and leaving an impact crater. But all Shrike knew was that she was blinking, head spinning, as she started to drag herself upright; that the delayed pain of severe bruising was going to hit a moment later, and she could feel that even if the pain hadn't hit yet; and that there was no air in her lungs whatsoever. The hit had knocked the wind from her. Beak and mandibles parted, so that even the Chaos-fuelled laugh she tried to emit was little more than a wheeze.

ROUND 3/5

ATTEMPT: block the worst of it
DEFENSE: spiky
INJURIES: n/a

I'd have it break bones but I don't wanna DQ Moonsetter- @Moonsetter

His hit was perfect, though he had held himself back as to not break anything. He didn't do it for them, or even for the event itself. No, he just didn't want to not be allowed to fight anymore.

He turned to look at them, growling excitedly as he rushed downward again, aiming to try and take advantage of their scrambling to try and pin them to the ground once more.

This was amazing, he loved this so much, and he found himself speaking up even as they fought. Fight later, go all out. He offered, basically asking that they meet up after the event, whenever, and fought no holds barred, because they were the first one he found that he could do that with, and he wanted to fight them without the stupid rules.

ROUND 4/5

ATTEMPT: attempting to body slam and pin
DEFENSE: claws out, tail for balance, head down protecting throat, teeth bared
INJURIES: scratched, bruised chest/sides

@Shrike

She was catching her breath when Moonsetter spoke, gathering herself; thankfully the next attack simply missed, and she had time to try and turn the tables. The offer took her by some surprise, and where previous coldly-logical-Shrike would've found some excuse, the Chaos running through her veins boiled and surged at the offer. "Yes!" she agreed, even as she leapt skyward.

It was not unlike Moonsetter's previous attack: a high jump, a flap of wings and then a dive, aiming to plow into her opponent with all her weight behind it.

ROUND 4/5

ATTEMPT: body slam
DEFENSE: spiky
INJURIES: battered!

@Moonsetter