Fleur, caught up in her own emotions teetering somewhere between indignant, resigned and amused, stilled at Nemesis' words, staring at the rhino with confused red eyes. Did she just... defend me? For someone who had generally not known kindness for ninety-nine percent of her life, this kind of thing was about as jarring as a punch to the temple, and the skunk's fur fluffed up, damaged pride warring with a contentment that bit at her tear ducts. The tank grinned down at the rhino, gaze wide and shimmering, tossing her a good-luck salute and settling in to watch the fight. Her only reaction to the calf's words were a roll of her eyes and a bored "I believe. The. Word. You're. Looking for. Is. Consciousness. Dearie."

Her lips closed into a smirk, eyes falling half-lidded, only twitching at the change in the air. After all, Fang had taught her to swim by essentially throwing her in the nearby pond; the shock of sudden oxygen loss had worn off after the fifth time. Really, she just wanted to see Nemesis beat the tar out of the brat - and then, of course, the punk who'd dared talk back to Diamondfang had to show up. Shooting Louie an unimpressed glance, she turned her attention to the fight, intentionally replying in a slow, rough tone. "Little fish. Swam. Into. Big pond. Gadanai," she added, lazily pointing a clear claw to the elephant. "I wouldn't. Worry. Nemesis is. Strong. Smart. She won't. Fall. To a. Child."

The telltale stirs of disease in her stomach made her sniff, twitch in place a bit - perhaps it was her own intense dislike of the fox (purely based on a long-dead loyalty, really) that made the virus react so violently, but either way, it was attacking and attacking now. Considering she didn't want to infect anyone else...

She swallowed it.

Her front paws began to twitch.

The light of Monoceros became bright, flashing.

Her chest constricted.

Oh dear.

©sanctuare-2k15

@Nemesis

Like a wind had been blown on a candle, the mutated rhino's flames sputtered out. The air flushed away from her, she felt the tell tale swish of the wind... But nothing came in to replace it. She didn't feel a need to breathe immediately, but she was acutely aware of the lack of oxygen... She knew what it was like to be in a storm, where the wind was hard to breath in. This was different, but similar, and quietly Nemesis was glad she spent so much time practicing in the twister.

However, fire wasn't the only thing Nemesis had to fight with. In fact, the giant brute of a mom only claimed the smoldering ash as an intimidation technique, and nothing more. She was not like the other users of flame in the cave, who used its brute strength to mask their own weakness-- fire was simply a side effect of being around her. Her actual power was in her mass, her muscle, her relentless will.

As Nemesis lowered her head and rushed at the babe, she didn't care too much if she ran one or three of her horns into the child. Yes, she would go easy on Gadanai, but clearly the kid needed to learn just what she was getting herself into. A few scars would smarten her up. She could be gentle after respect was "taken".

... But there was not a child there. Her horns slammed into a rock wall, and she hissed as she spun, an aching pain in her skull as her blue eyes searched for Gadanai... Next time, she would not be so lucky.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
NEMESIS V. GADANAI
I OF III

{ ATTEMPT }

~ ram into the babe

{ DEFENSES }

~ horns first, how ya gonna get at any other part of me?

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• nothing major

~ current injuries;;

• minor burns from smolderstep
  
• minor concussion from headsmash

@Gadanai

It was something new to see someone not react to the direct attack of Scale. Everyone else had went into some form of panic, unable to handle the stress of no air to bring into their lungs. This one was clearly affected, but not panicked. She rumbled in her throat. Fleur was successfully ignored, as was Louie. Something she managed to learn with her brawling was to focus on the target at hand. Suddenly, Nemesis charged. Her weight rattled the ground as she rushed forward, which was cue enough for the younger elephant to get the hell out of the way. The impact of the tri-horn with the rock wall echoed sickeningly. It brought a very pleased look to Gadanai's face before she charged at Nemesis, head slightly elevated with her tusks aimed for the thick grey flesh of the other mammal. Flesh tore. Nothing important, just the thick hide of her back, clear of her spine and vital organs. Blood stained Gadanai's growing tusks, the warmth reaching the skin that covered the base of the ivory. She reared back and created a gap between them again, ears flared out as she gave a roar. It was not a victory trumpet, but rather a "good, I got you" acknowledgement. Her red eyes switched from the fresh wound to Nemesis face, trunk playfully tossing at her. "Brawling is my favorite game," she stated. "Perhaps we can brawl regularly, if we both walk away from this, today. A sinister smirk and a sadist's glint in her bright red eyes. She was here only for one thing - an excuse to kill. Not them, exactly. But, if she did join this group of beasts, she would certainly utilize it's "purpose" for her own gains. --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words Round: 2 of 3 Attack: Charge back Defense: Add space between the two Injuries: None @Louie | @Fleur | @Nemesis

Dazed, the trinoceros was too busy clearing her head to defend herself against Gadanai's own charge. Her skull rang through her ears, a blinding sound that turned her vision white as she started to turn, only to find a tusk slamming into her flank. A roar broke through her body, fury burning through her body as she twisted her head around to see a pair-- or was it three-- tiny baby elephants trumpeting at her. The aftertaste of smog filled her mouth, copper mixing into the taste. Had she bit her own tongue? Maybe. She ignored the dribble of blood down her nose.

She didn't have time to turn and start a new charge, so instead she backpedaled, tossing her hips and her tail at the baby, intending to shove her away. Anything to buy Nemesis time. Whether it worked or not, she had to turn around. The massive, truck of a gembound, slowly worked her footsteps around, shifting her position around until her bloody flank was against the wall. Cornered, one might think.

But as it was, she had a face full of horns. It was the deadliest part of her, and if the elephant wanted to try tusk to horn, she certainly was welcome to. Nemesis held her head low, blue eyes burning, as she replied with cold, icy venom.

"I've been nearly swallowed whole, burned into a mass of ash, by a dragon hundreds of times larger than you, whelp. You're tough, but you're no Raheerah." The mother warned, her voice bordering on affectionate. She knew what it was like to feel invincible. She had once charged in foolishly-- often, she still did-- when the odds were impossible. It would only lead to heartbreak. Nemesis knew there was no changing the child's mind.

Kids like her just had to learn life lessons the hard way.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
NEMESIS V. GADANAI
II OF III

{ ATTEMPT }

~ knock gadanai away with her big thick tail

{ DEFENSES }

~ guarding her body with the wall, using her horns to deter the child

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• nothing major

~ current injuries;;

• minor burns from smolderstep
  
• minor concussion from headsmash
  
• gash in side

ooc;; you probably shouldn't say where attacks connect, especially since i could technically use a roll to attempt to dodge your success this turn (not that nemesis is going to do that, basically ever) but just in general... even with a success, you should probably ask permission before you say how badly an attack hit, as a common courtesy.

@Gadanai

Gadanai watched as a large rump swung her way, getting nailed by a rather rough tail and caught by those massive hindquarters as well. She backpedaled away and gave a deep, growling rumble. A disgruntled look was plastered to her face as she watched the wound get pressed into hiding while these damned horns pointed outward. With no amount of subtlety, she bobbed and weaved side to side, trying to figure out her next move. Her eyes narrowed while Nemesis spoke, then rolled her eyes dramatically. "Am I suppose to be impressed or care? Because you've not succeeded at either." She gave a little toss of her head, ears displaying outward to make herself look larger. There was no other method for her madness, so a charge it would have to be. One more display of power before the attack. She spewed dirt into the air via trunk, then swayed her head so her tusks could really be seen. She considered where to hit, hoping to land on the elder female's face, neck, or shoulder. She lunged forth, trunk coiling up into safety under her chin and near her chest, legs moving swiftly for her size. As she neared Nemesis, she threw her head up and sideways, aiming to leave another nasty, bloody gash. ---- "Speech" Thoughts Round: 3 of 3 Attack: Charge and strike Defense: wut Injuries: Only to her ego. OOC: srry Tag: @Nemesis

Gadanai was not easily impressed. She was a spunky, violent child and boy, Nemesis could feel the motherly feelings crawl through her gut. She wanted to snuggle and nuzzle the baby and tell her "aww yea you're so tough my lil' baby girl awwww" but... Realistically, Nemesis knew she would have hated having someone do that to her too.

So treating her like an equal would have to do. Gadanai charged, tusks first, right at Nemesis' big, dangerous dome piece. She braced for the strike, hardly wincing as the babe's tusk rammed down her snout, towards her cheek. Still, she was letting the child get a hit in.

Technically, this was the most dangerous spot for anyone to be. So close to her horn. The pain was minor, whether because of adrenaline or the fact she was just so used to pain it didn't exactly matter. The wound was more gruesome than she could have known, blood tracing down her lips. She pressed off of the wall and strode forward in a lackadaisical charge, shoving her horn towards the child. She didn't really want to hurt the child-- well, not permanently. She mostly just wanted to shove her away, but she was larger than the baby elephant and her strength wasn't exactly... Used to being withheld.

If she ended up goring the child, it was Gadanai's fault, really.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
NEMESIS V. GADANAI
III OF III

{ ATTEMPT }

~ YOU FOOL! FACE MY HORN ATTACK!

{ DEFENSES }

~ guarding her body with the wall, using her horns to deter the child

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• nothing major

~ current injuries;;

• minor burns from smolderstep
  
• minor concussion from headsmash
  
• gash in side
  
• large gash along side of face

no worries <3 <3 <3

@Gadanai

Success glimmered in the blood on Nemesis' face. It was no contrast to the sparkling red eyes of the blood-lusting calf, glee dancing upon her face for that brief moment. The moment before Nemesis jolted forward, that is, thrusting that horn right into the monstrous baby's shoulder. It didn't do incredible damage, necessarily, but it definitely drew a share of blood and pain. The force placed in the momentum sent Gadanai backwards, landing very heavily on her butt, signaling the obvious end to the fight. Pain throbbed in sync with her pulse, the warmth of the bodily fluid dragging her attention away from the potential rage such an injury could have inflicted. Her trunk investigated, pulling away to be inspected. The red met red and her blood lust found a new direction. Before anything could even be registered in any mind, she began playing in her own blood, spreading it over her shoulder, down her leg, across her face, around her tusks, and into her mouth. The feeling and taste was exactly what she wanted, although how it came to be was less than desired. As the opening of the wound clotted and began to dry, the fun of it faded and she looked back toward her opponent, squinting. "Next time, someone will have to die." It was sinister in tone, ringing in her own ears as a deafening truth. She had the same thought for that dingo that had made a reach with teeth, only to be brutalized by the calf and sent screeching into Eridanus's trees. Next time, someone must absolutely perish. ---- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: Tag: @Nemesis

Character: Ganadai Age: +2 (2 Cycles) Magic Level: +3 (Brawler) ROUND 1 Attempt: +20 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +16 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +14 Penalties: -0 Total: 55

Character: Nemesis Age: +10 (10 Cycles) Magic Level: +3 (Brawler) ROUND 1 Attempt: +1 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +19 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +6 Penalties: -0 Total: 39

WINNER: Gadanai

---

Those jarring words spoken by Fleur did little to comfort him as he just looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Forced to listen through her odd manner of speech, his attention was caught by the name he'd never heard before. Most assuredly, it was the name of the young girl who thought to challenge the monolith of the Merry Men. It was a short battle, it appeared that Nemesis had come worse off, but he knew that the dragon scarred woman was holding back. Louie had seen the fully grown rhino gore many creatures before the elephant. It was slightly sickening watching the child play and dance in her own blood. Booker's own time spent in blood hadn't been enjoyable, he saw no joy in blood.

Both were panting, he didn't catch the last words of Gadanai but he moved closer towards the edge as he peered down at the pair. "Short fight. Continuing isn't worth it though," Maybe he was just slightly concerned for another person's wellbeing. Only slightly. "Gadanai I believe is your name. Why did you come here to challenge us? Should you be considered our enemy?" Gaze hardening, he lashed his tail behind himself.

Nemesis snorted, tucking away the child's words into her memory. Either she was a complete, absolute idiot; or swayed into a dark path that she would never escape from. One worse than the likes of her kin in the Merrymen. The rhino was considering each equally likely at this point, but regardless the child was foolish enough to more or less hand her permission to kill with those words. Should Gadanai attack her ever again, Nemesis would know the intent. She would have zero reason to hold back.

It was such a shame, too, because the motherly figure quite liked the spunk of the raucous child. "If you insist," she murmured softly, the sting of her wound catching up with her. "You'll have to let me know if you change your mind and wise up sometime between our next bout, child." Her tail swayed behind her as she summoned heat to her face. Flames licked out across her cheek, stinging, but she focused them.

Along her flank, the fires danced; along her cheek they hissed. She didn't flinch at their touch, even as the pain grew sharp and hard to focus through. Louie was speaking to the child as she stopped the bleeding, ignoring the stench of burnt skin. The blood would stop, and she could recover. The scars would be permanent-- but Nemesis wasn't one to care for the marks that lined her rugged skin. They were memories.

Gadanai's threats would not be forgotten. The trinoceros closed her eyes, inhaling softly as the flames flicked out and left her with only black, darkened wounds. She drew away from the child and the fox, instead reaching her snout down towards the pristine, white skunk. A smile twitched up on to her features, an unspoken look that relayed a simple message. Fleur was a Merrymen, and Nemesis would always have her back.

@Gadanai
@Fleur