Kin-Kin was settled back on her haunches, waiting and ready to face her chosen opponent, although the confident glitter in her eye said who she knew... or hoped she knew... who it might be. She was grinning, her chest puffed and proud, her fur exuding a glow that was soft and unintrusive, but just enough to add a wonderfully impressive sheen to her already gilded fur. The crystal wrapped around her foreleg was empty today; her sword left back at her Polaris den.

She was going in bare today, for old times' sake; although obviously her cape, and the crystal wrapped around her right foreleg, remained.

Today would perhaps be her opportunity to claim a new and bolder title, although she was fond of the noble air the title of Magickal champion gave her... but somewhere along the line she'd told herself, that perhaps it was time for a change. And today, was another golden opportunity; her chance to feel young again, and relive the days that forged her unbreakable sense of pride.

She wondered, then, if Imperia would expect to be fighting her age-old 'nemesis' here today. She also wondered if today the caracal would finally be able to beat her into the dirt like they'd wanted since the day they'd met.

How times had changed.

Kin-Kin grinned, holding her chin high as she posed for the crowds she imagined would be watching with bated breath.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia knew who their opponent was. Or, at least, they assumed they knew who it was. They were preparing themselves for a battle with Kin-kin. So when they walked to the place they'd be fighting and saw the golden wolf, a feeling of relief coursed through their fur. They didn't really want to fight anyone else.

Of course, with that feeling of relief, they also tensed. This was Kin-kin, the only one who had repeatedly kicked their ass. They had to make sure that changed today, here and now. The days of Kin-kin winning were over. Magic was her strong suit. Fighting was Imperia's.

They sat for a moment, watching as Kin-kin posed, her head held high. It was comparable to their own posture, which was a bit of a slouch. They chuckled lightly at the sight before walking closer. "Fancy seeing you here," they grunted, though a slight, barely noticeable smile could be found if one cared to look hard enough. "Shall we get this started?"

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin's ears twitched, and she turned towards the caracal with grin growing ever wider. Kin-Kin slowly rose to her paws, and feigned a warming stretch, arching her back and extending her forelegs out in front of her. "Surprised? Gonna be a little outta my comfort zone without magic, I'll admit," she said with a wink, as though it was their first time tussling. "You'll go easy on me, won't you?"

Kin-Kin's voice though, was light with amusement; they both knew full well that there'd be no going easy in this battle.

Without waiting for a response, Kin-Kin lowered herself into a battle stance, paws placed squarely apart and tail raised. She paused for a while, considering her first move. It felt odd, without the blade clamped in her jaws, and she found herself running her tongue along pristine fangs. First time for everything, she supposed; and the same sentiment went for striking first.

Her paws began to move, carrying her in a slow circle around the caracal, looking for a gap in their defenses. But she knew better than anyone that the feline was more experienced than she was in the art of physical combat.

After a moment's consideration, knowing that Imperia could feel everything that was going on inside of her head, she lunged, aiming to use brute force to knock the feline down, and hoping that her preference for elegance and grace would give her the much-needed element of surprise.

Round 1/5
Attack: lunge to knock Imperia down.
Defense: none.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

As Kin-kin stretched, Imperia noted she didn't have her sword. As she spoke, they snorted. "I'll admit I am surprised, yes. Didn't think you'd be doing something like this where you can't use magic. But hey, it's all the more in my comfort zone." As she continued, Imperia chuckled but said nothing. They definitely wouldn't go easy - this was their chance to finally beat the golden wolf.

When she got into a fighting stance, they did the same. Eyes carefully trained on her, watching her every move, knowing how she felt. This connection the two had could make things easier. They'd know everything the wolf was feeling. Then again, she knew everything they were feeling. They prepared themselves for the attack they knew was to come. And when it did, they didn't stop it. Instead, they swiped their paws at Kin-kin's legs in an attempt to knock her down as they went down.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Swipe at her paws
Defense: none
Injuries: none

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

For a moment, it looked as though her surprise attack had been successful, with the two colliding in what she hoped was a blaze of glory. But the wolf was given a sharp reminder that the caracal could feel her every move, and probably already knew what she was going to do well ahead of time. Kin-Kin stumbled as she felt Imperia's paw strike at her ankles, but managed to stay upright, and hopefully, keep the upper hand. Hopefully, her retained balance would allow her to pin the caracal down...

Round 2/5
Attack: none.
Defense: stumble to stay upright.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia scowled as Kin-kin managed to stay upright. Great. That left them down, and her still standing. Which meant she still had the upper hand. They wished they could use magic, just as something that would surely hurt. Their options were limited. They could wait for Kin-kin's next move - a definite bad idea - or...maybe leap up and catch her off guard? Not that they could really do that anyway, what with them sharing their mind or...whatever it was. Just as they knew Kin-kin's every move, she knew theirs.

They just...had to wait for the right moment to strike...And when it came, they'd leap up after her and hopefully pin Kin-kin down before they can pin them down.

Round: 2/5
Attempt: leap up
Defense: -
Injuries: -

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin was indeed taken by surprise- less by the caracal's move itself, and more by the sheer force by which Imperia threw her off, and met her head on. The she-wolf had little choice but to try and meet Imperia mid-leap, knowing that the rules forbade drawing blood, and hope that Kin-Kin's training... even if she'd been slacking as of late... would be enough to overpower or equalize. She thrust her entire body weight against the force of Imperia's leap, knowing that if she failed, Imperia would have this.... but if she was successful, then it would move onto a match of endurance, each one trying to wrestle the other down.

Although Kin-Kin stumbled back from the initial blow, she managed not to go down, and rose up onto her hind paws to continued trying to force her back.

Round 3/5
Attack: None
Defense: meet imperia's attack head on.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia grunted as Kin-kin met their attack, rising up on her hind legs and trying to force them back. Alright. So that was how this would go. They could deal with this. A battle based on force and strength? This was exactly their kind of thing. This was all they'd trained for.

While Kin-kin dealt with magic, they dealt with strength. So they used all their might, hoping it just might be enough to pin the golden wolf.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: push her down!
Defense: -
Injuries: -

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: short oof sorry

Kin-Kin and Imperia were locked, each one's strength keeping the other upright, as each tried to wrestle the other onto their back. There would be no backing down without losing this tussle, and Kin-Kin put everything she had into the moment until her hind legs ached. Imperia failed to push her down, as Kin-Kin's training came through and she met with equal strength. She gritted her teeth and persisted, hoping that she could instead push them down and gain the upper hand.

But it would seem to be a stalemate.

Round 4/5
Attack: wrestle them down!
Defense: none
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

Imperia growled in frustration at their failure to pin Kin-kin down. They could feel her attempting to push them down, though it seemed she faltered and wasn't able to. With a grin, they attempted to double their efforts and push her down. The battle was approaching the end, and they absolutely had to win this battle. Kin-kin had won all of their previous battles, but now it was time for them to shine.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: keep trying to push her down
Defense: -
Injuries: -

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here