Eythan hunkered down as soon as he found a grip, clinging as tightly as possible --- without choking out his opponent, of course. The dragon spun through the air, impressively not losing height despite the dizzying sensation. His grip seemed to be tried and true, and a brief pause in the movements of his momentary steed gave him the opportunity to, perhaps, lurch forwards and smash his head into the side of Asimona's neck.

To what ends, he wasn't quite sure yet.

ROUND 3/5
Attempt: Head-smash into the side of Asimona's neck!
Defenses: N/A
Injuries: N/A

@Asimona

Asimona heard the sound of wingbeats, besides those of her and Eythan, and looked over just in time to see Wyvern taking a place in the crowd. She frowned. She was going to lose this fight and her daughter had come to see her fail. Well, she wasn't going to go down easily. Might as well give her a show while she was here.

Eythan slammed into the side of her neck and she let out a snarl as her head was knocked back. One of her claws came forward and made to grab at Eythan. Not to sink them into his body, but merely to close around him and rip him away from her.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: rip him off
Defense: none
Injuries: none

@Eythan

Just as quickly as he had slammed his head into Asimona's neck (and given himself a headache) Eythan felt a claw come up and snatch him by the paw. A sharp yelp slipped out from his beak, wholly involuntary as the dragon flung him away --- totally with help from his flailing limbs and wings.

His world spun for a moment as he struggled to discern up from down. With a flick of his tail and billowing wings, Eythan managed to steady himself enough to look up at his foe. He was lower, now, and figured being under a bigger opponent doesn't matter if you're in the fuckin' air. Probably. With that in mind, he began to ascend with a swell of vulture-esque wings. It wasn't a very quick climb, mind you, but he hoped it'd be quick enough to provide a shock when he maybe collided headfirst with Asimona's chest from underneath.

ROUND 4/5
Attempt: Smashing headfirst into Asimona's chest from underneath.
Defenses: N/A
Injuries: Slight headache

@Asimona

Finally, Eythan was spinning away in the air and Asimona was free from his grip. Not that it mattered too much, he was significantly smaller then her. As he came barelling towards her again, she reared herself forward and waited for him to come.

She watched his movements carefully. He was going towards her chest. Just as he got close, she lunged forward with her front claws, looking to smash them into Eythan's shoulders to send him spinning towards the ground.

Round: 5/5
Attempt: push him to the ground
Defense: none
Injuries: none

@Eythan

Well, impact did come: in the form of a shove that sent him spinning entirely off-kilter again. Eythan twisted his head to and fro, testing the air with sloppy wingbeats until he was upright again.

So, scratch that type of approach.

Nice thing about this fight is the lack of stakes and not gettin' hurt, he thought, bright eyes searching around the place. Swooping to the side, getting a little distance from Asimona, the gryphon watched. After a moment, going at a rather even pace, he made his approach. Eythan flattened his ears back, furrowing his brow for a moment in an attempt to get rid of his head-smashing headache.

Eyes opened back up, he figured he could go for one last hurrah. He climbed quickly. As soon as it seemed he'd make contact with the dragon, Eythan spun in the air and flew perpendicular, hoping to deliver a clawless kick to her armored throat with his hind legs.

ROUND 5/5
Attempt: Kicking at Asimona's throat with his hind legs.
Defenses: N/A
Injuries: Slight headache

@Asimona

Character: Asimona Age: +15 (15th Cycle) Magic Level: +5 (Master) ROUND 1 Attempt: +5 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +5 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +3 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +12 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - Total: 55

Character: Eythan Age: +37 (37th Cycle) Magic Level: +3 (Brawler) ROUND 1 Attempt: +5 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +4 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +16 Penalties: - Total: 92

WINNER: Eythan

@Asimona @Eythan

Now this was interesting.

This contest's two winged competitors had wound up in the same bracket, the same match. Azizos, somehow, had not expected them to take to the air as quickly as they had. The resulting battle was a little difficult to keep track of, but the outcome seemed rather conclusive.

The lion-stag whispered to Glory, noting that Asimona had seemed primarily on strong defense, landing little to no offensive attacks on Eythan. The latter had used his agility to his advantage, striking quickly and somewhar accurately. Both were clearly skilled combatants, but the verdict was in.

Azizos stepped forth dutifully with a sway of his tail and roared. "Rest your wings! That match was quite a spectacle, but it must come to an end. Eythan will proceed in the contest, and Asimona shall fight on among the others. That was a very clean, interesting fight, you two."

@Asimona

Asimona reeled back as Eythan's feet collided with her throat. Thankfully, the plates on her neck stopped any damage or injury from befalling or, or even from her feeling it at all, but the force went her head back and she gave a few strong wingbeats to distance herself. She heard the sound of the judge's voice announcing the contest over.

She descended back to the ground and shook herself out, a little ashamed at her performance, but she had not thought she would win anyways. Not against Eythan. He was far too skilled. And far too old. "That was a good fight. I'm happy that I got to see you again, Eythan." She glanced back at the crowd and saw Wyvern's gentle gaze shifting between her and Eythan. "And I'm sure that my daughter is as well."

@Eythan

Wyvern watched the fight with passive interest, sitting calmly and collectively as Eythan and Asimona tossled in the air. It was nice that they were just having fun and not trying to hurt each other.

She sighed as the winners were announced. She had predicted as such. Asimona was not a fighter. She was a flier and she breathed ice. And she was a protector and a mother. Not a fighter. Eythan's roughness made him the superior fighter.

Her tail swished, sending a number of the watchers to tumble back as she started forward, clawing her way towards the edge of the arena. "Mother," she called in a soft, singing voice, stopping just at the edge as she looked between the two of them. She wanted to say hi to Eythan as well, but she found herself nervous.

Eythan slalomed some distance away from the dragon at his impact, ears pricked toward the call that had ended the match. Like Asimona, he descended. His wings tilted just so that he would move in a clockwise spiral. Talons clicked softly against the floor as he landed. With a shake of his head and shifting of feather-quills, Eythan clicked his beak. "Ah, me too, homes! Least there's no golems around to knock either one of us into a coma," he chirped, chuckling softly to show that he was, indeed, joking nervously about that.

Smoothing out his feathers further, bright eyes flickered over to the large hybrid approaching. Eythan moved back a few paces, tail swaying as he took a moment to process who this was. Sure, Asimona had mentioned a daughter, but who--- "oh, jeez, kiddo! Look how much you've grown!" The downy, ugly little chick he had seen upon reemerging was a mere shadow compared to this dazzling wyvern. That rose quartz-bound horn reminded him, distantly, of Carni.

Eythan's smile faltered almost imperceptibly.

"Wow, you really have grown," he stated, again, distracting himself before he got too deep into that spiral of bad thoughts. The gryphon began to trot over into the crowd, waving a wing to follow. "C'mon, let's get outta the way and catch up."

;exit eythan
@Asimona