Gadanai could only watch as the tiny twerp managed to get out of her way unscathed. She threw on the breaks, her large feet digging trenches into the ground as she tried to halt herself too quickly. The other thing about being large with lots of momentum? No stopping power. So, just as she teetered to a full stop, Brutus did his thing, nailing two painful nubs right into her ass end. She practically yelped, her lack of balance and the startling pain making her clumsily lunge forward. She tripped and hit the ground with a loud thump, but shot to her feet with all the grace an elephant could muster.

With a loud roar, she prepared for her last round in this rumble. She kicked dirt with her front feet, reared and slammed her feet to the ground as hard as she could, then put her newest spell to the test on something alive. With more whim than focus, she reached deep into herself for Scale, planning to thin the air so much that little Brutus would near-suffocate.

Round 5/5
Attacks Thin the air!
Defense Yeah she botched that up bad
Injuries Some singed hairs and a weird tingle; bruise on right cheek; bruise on rear; dignity: 0
@Brutus @Hasira

He was almost surprised at his own success that time around, but Brutus bounced back a second time and watched the elephant stumble forward with a burning pride in his chest. He took a few adventitious steps back, clicking his hooves on the ground with an excited, adrenaline filled dance, and as she faced him he dipped his front half and swung his head threateningly. "Hah! Beat that! Can't catch me, stupid!" Brutus stuck out his tongue and blew it at her, but he wasn't going to let his guard down yet, not completely. His legs remained stiff, his nerves alive and ready to bolt again, maybe lead her into a wall or off a cliff - but she only reared up on her hind legs and stamped the earth, causing Brutus to straighten up and snort.

But he felt the air change. It wasn't... that much of a change. It was hardly a change at all. Still, he felt it change - and he realized that whatever it was, it was her doing. And he experienced... well, it wasn't fear. Brutus was far too stupid himself to know fear. It was... uncertainty. It was... suspicion. And most of all, it was an arrogant fury antagonizing him, pushing him to prove that he was better no matter what, that her scare tactics were nothing against him and no matter what she did, he would win. He sought her gaze, juvenile lime meeting bloody red. The boy reared back on his hind hooves, snorted, and brought them crashing back down again, intending to deliver his final serious blow.

He was in charge.

Round 5/5
Attacks: Shock her!
Defense: Highly alert
Injuries: Headache, facial bruising

@Gadanai

[Origin Cave]

Character: Gadanai Age: +1 (1Cycle) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +19 Penalties: -# ROUND 2 Attempt: + 16 Penalties: -# ROUND 3 Attempt: +3 Penalties: -# ROUND 4 Attempt: +5 Penalties: -# ROUND 5 Attempt: +2 Penalties: -# Total: 47

Character: Brutus Age: +2 (2 Cycle) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +8 Penalties: -# ROUND 2 Attempt: +3 Penalties: -# ROUND 3 Attempt: +13 Penalties: -# ROUND 4 Attempt: +18 Penalties: -# ROUND 5 Attempt: +3 Penalties: -# Total: 48

WINNER: Brutus

Secretly the stag had been nearby for he was never away from his beloved throne for long. He'd come in on the midpoint of the fight and found a place behind one of the crumbling buildings to hide while he watched the two youth fight it out. He was impressed with Brutus' skills as well as the elephant's but she could use some humbling... or perhaps she hadn't met a Lord before and that was how she dealt with those her age. In any case it was time he revealed himself.

The stag with his great set of antlers limped out of hiding, his cool eyes landing on first Brutus and the Gadanai. His wounds were slowly healing but they still ailed him and his voice was rather hoarse with whatever disease the Plague God had given him but he was getting better ever so slowly. Finally he stopped before the pair and gave a smile as he addressed them. "Very well done, both of you. I am proud you defended my honor, Brutus, you fought well. As did you, Gadanai. Perhaps with a bit of training we could make a warrior out of you." His voice was kind, measured, as he addressed both creatures. He wondered how this arrogant young female would react.

@Gadanai @Brutus

There was another electrical tingle. At this point, it was like a burst of energy. Yet, here she was, defeated... by a twerp! She didn't feel it though. All she felt was the urge to keep going, ears flared out and tail flailing angrily, a front foot pawing the ground. That's when the sound of hooves on ground and a husky voice came from behind her. She flung herself around and backed up several steps so Brutus was within her range of sight, standing with one on either side.

Ears still flared, tail still furious, and trunk pulled up toward the air before she trumpeted out, the sound echoing off the walls of Orion. It ended in a snort and a deep, barely comprehensible roar bellowed in her throat, creating a deep vibration only others of her kind would hear. As he spoke, she slowly relaxed, ears starting to tip back toward her head and tail slowing to a flicker as her trunk fondled her growing tusks.

The compliments were something else. She'd never felt such flattery and it made her suspicious of the buck. Then he suggested she wasn't already a warrior and she tossed her head at him. "You know my name? I am Warrior. You know my name, but not that?" she snorted again, dust blowing up from the ground near her feet. She shot a glare at Brutus, making sure he wasn't plotting a sneak attack, then darted her bright, sadistic eyes back at Hasira.

He was covered in battle scars. His antlers extended beyond her youthful reach, but barely. She approached him, cautiously. The reds searched him for signed of trickery. With several feet between them, she reached her trunk out, stretching it, sniffing him to be sure he wasn't a threat. He was older than all the others she had encountered so far. More experienced. And he had all those spikes on his head. "I don't trust you," she hissed at him, then took a step back.

@Brutus | @Hasira

The sheep flared his nostrils and snorted with pride, scuffing his hoof. His head ached with pain, oh it throbbed and screamed, but the satisfaction of having showed her a thing or two about how he rumbled was so much better than whatever relief he might have felt if he'd given up. He was so strong - so fast! He would kick all those carnivore butts, especially hers if she wanted to rumble again! The boy shook his head threateningly at her, about to part his lips and shout another challenge at the elephant before someone had stepped onto the scene.

Not just anyone. It was Papa! The boy gasped with delight and raises his head, his hooves clattering on the ground as he danced towards the stag. "Thank you Papa!" Brutus beamed, hopping around the stag only to turn and scowl at the elephant. A look of confusion crossed his face as the stag invited the elephant to train. "Wha?! That dirt bag is a carnivore! Look at her pointy teeth!!" The ram bleated, narrowing his eyes in a glare.

@Hasira