The chicken wasn't even moving or making to attack, and she was beating Glaive down. "I don't hate anyone! Not her," she tossed her head in the direction of her cub-friend, "not him! Not you!" Words hurt more than any of those claws and spurs could've, and the spinosaurus took a half-step to leave then and there.

But...

Kaimana...

... she was counting on her!

One could practically hear the sound of an anime protagonist powering up and unlocking their deeply sequestered potential as Glaive straightened up and charged for her opponent. Her hind legs ate up the ground in massive strides, arms clutched to her chest.

At the last moment, she dropped down onto all fours, skidding to a halt to smash the side of her snout into Kalama's flank and toss that chicken as hard as she could.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: Toss Kalama with the side of her snout
Defense: Anime Plot Armor
Injuries: hurt feelies

@Kalama

Kalama snorted. "You need to toughen up. I don't even know who 'she'," she said, flicking her head to the cat, "is!" Though Kalama did know Vargas. She hoped Vargas thought she was cool. And did NOT need any help. Ever. Her opponent--Glaive...she seemed soft. Or young? It was kinda hard to tell with someone that big. Was Glaive really her opponent? This round'd been kinda lame. I mean--her opponent was already leaving! Kalama thought'd it be harder. Her head turned to the judge. "Does this mean I win?"

Kalama heard the thundering of footsteps. Glaive, probably. But she assumed they were going the other way. The spinosaur had finally given up. Imagine her surprise when they were getting louder. She turned back to the spinosaur, eyes wide. She managed to cluck in alarm, before she was sent flying. She flapped her wings, desperate to come to a safe landing. But the cards weren't in her favor.

She careened to the ground, wings working wildly all the while. She landed with a plume of dust, and the chicken tasted dirt, and the impact told her she'd be aching later. She coughed. Again. It morphed, possessed by the spirit of the anime rival, Kalama let out a self confident guffaw.

"Finally!" She said, beginning to stand, shaking dirt from her feathers. "Now the fight can begin!"

think "speak"

Round: 3/5
Attempt: land on glaive?
Defense: N/A
Injuries: still got that headache, bad landing
@Glaive ((like 2 weeks late but we're still rolling B))

Toughen up... ? No, no, she didn't need to do that! Glaive shook her head, grumbling, "that's Kaimana! She's my best friend! I love her very much." It was that love that gave her strength, and she was going to utilize it. All she had to do was be strategic about it, make sure that the chicken didn't get too riled up so that she could accept her gift...

So, when Kalama got back up, the spinosaurus moved for her again, head kept down low for another sweep. Except, this time, she was just trying to knock the chicken down onto the ground... for a SNUGGLE ATTACK!

But, not yet. One step at a time! Glaive wasn't even sure she'd make contact.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: Knock Kalama over
Defense: anime!!!
Injuries: hurt feelings

@Kalama

Kalama's brow furrowed. Best friend? "Best friend?" Kalama spat. "That-thats gross. Who needs best friends!"

The spinosaurus came at her again. Kalama, still struggling to rise to full height, made a half step out of the way, but the spinosaurus' snout knocked her over again. She hated that. Kalama growled. She had to admire Glaive's guts, though. Her strength to keep pressing forward, despite the odds...but there was one thing she was wrong about.

"Who needs friends at all!? You could have power! Strength! I have all that and more--and I'm only growing stronger!" She said. Kalama brought her legs in, and attempted a swift kick at Glaive's jaws.


think "speak"

Round: 4/5
Attempt: kick snout!
Defense: lol idk
Injuries: still got that headache, bad landing
@Glaive

"Gross?" Glaive sounded genuinely dumbstruck by that. Absolutely baffled. What'd happened to Kalama to make her think that? The spinosaurus then sounded purely concerned, almost... sad, when she said, "have you never had one before?" She could try to fix that!

Such was step two.

... once her snout stopped hurting.

The yelp she released on being kicked was surprisingly dog-like, and she immediately tipped her chin down in a failed attempt to rub at it. Spinosaurs might be blessed with longer arms than other famous theropods, but they were not meant for soothing bruises. Neither were they meant for cuddles, but nature was meant to be broken.

Glaive tried her darnedest to gently lay down on the chicken and bring her in for a nice, friendly, wholesome hug. Being an oversized water dachshund, that was no easy feat.

Round: 5/5
Attempt: Snuggle! aka trying to pin Kalama
Defense: LOVE
Injuries: hurt feelings, hurt snoutie

@Kalama

Kalama's beak curved into a grin. She'd kicked that lizard right in its face. Glaive recovered, following a yelp, and Kalama was squashed. Then, scooped closer. Realization dawned on her. She was getting hugged. Hugged.

"No!" She cried out, mortified. "What are you doing!? Get off of me!" How could this be? Kalama brought down, to her knees. Not even that, held in a gentle, loving embrace. By some childish gembound. She felt like vomiting. Kalama began to struggle, wriggling and kicking her limbs when able. She wanted Glaive off of her. "You shitty lizard! I don't need a best friend! How am I losing to you!? You don't even understand the power I posses! I've survived trials, fought dragons in one on one combat! I'm better in every way than you!"

think "speak"

Round: 5/5
Attempt: SNUGGLE STRUGGLE
Defense: A
Injuries:still got that headache, bad landing, HUGGED :(

Character: Glaive Age: +5 (5 Cycles) Magic Level: +3 (Pupil) ROUND 1 Attempt: +2 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +3 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +9 Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +9 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: +14 Penalties: -0 Total: 45

Character: Kalama Age: +5 (19 Cycles) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +19 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +8 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +6 Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +17 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: +13 Penalties: -0 Total: 69 (nice)

WINNER: Kalama

@Kalama @Glaive

As the fight continued, it seemed as though a little... story had formed in the midst of the battle. Suddenly, this duel wasn't just about winning or proving potential anymore. It was about... friendship?

"I don't even know who 'she' is! Didn't that make sense? Kaimana had no idea who Kalama was eithe--

"That's Kaimana! She's my best friend! I love her very much." Oh-- oh...

Kaimana's smile slowly became larger and brighter than a gosh darn star. Her eyes twinkled and her heart suddenly felt ten, maybe twenty times warmer and fuzzier. Ready for cuddles. And pets! Ready for... a returned and committed promise, a requited phrase. Kaimana elected to wait until the fight was over -- Glaive's strength seemed to be renewed! Kaimana didn't want to distract or detract from that.

Hearing Kalama's continued insults made Kaimana feel more and more of... something, she wasn't sure what. It wasn't good. The negativity coming off the chicken, even when Glaive was trying her bestest to be kind and caring and teach the lesson... maybe it made Kaimana a little angry.

And by the end, Kalama won. And maybe that's what tipped Kaimana just a tad further then it should've.

"You survived and fought all that, all on your own, and now you're here, yelling at someone who is trying to help you! You get to the top by climbing on everyone you have pushed to the ground. You have won nothing but loneliness. Congratulations, Kalama."

Kaimana's attention turned immediately to Glaive, not caring for any response the chicken could give. "You did amazing, Glaive! I love you too." The words slipped out, her mood entirely shifting as the sound waves carried across. Suddenly there was no room for anger in the jaguar anymore. Only love. And cuddles. And maybe pets.

@Kaimana

imagine writing your own judging character doing their job lmfaoooo

As soon as sickle claws were scraping her chest and Kalama was writhing in her grip, the spinosaurus let go. A miserable little whine escaped her—though it was more like a croaking rumble with her big ol' throat. Shitty lizard... ? Glaive didn't know what that first word meant, but the way she was saying it... it made her heart ache. Her eyes burned. Every word, no matter how hard she tried to shrug them off, stung like salt in a wound. They... hurt, really bad.

When the judges called end and pronounced the chicken a winner, that stung further. Glaive was tempted to roar and cry, "YOU'RE NO WINNER!" But, she didn't. It wasn't in her nature to fight like this. Playing was different. She didn't belong here, if they weren't playing.

Yet, she had to say something when Kaimana (bless her heart, absolutely most treasured friend of hers...) did, "I hope you find a little niceness soon." Turquoise eyes burned as she blinked, though no tears were shed. She wasn't going to let this bully get the best of her! Not when she had her best friend here to cheer her on and up.

Glaive didn't spare the chicken another moment of eye contact; she turned tail and marched right towards the jaguar with an eager squint in her eye and a half-grin. "I tried! Those judges don't know what's up," she cooed teasingly, head tilting slightly to the side, "I'm ready to go home." An arm stretched up real high to offer a scratch, and she whinged, "I bet I love you more."

Her reach came short, but they could fix that in just a moment—on the walk back to Fornax.

exit to give kaimana a good pet
@Kalama

Kalama scrabbled, sratching, desperate and--she was...free? She hit the ground, and quickly stood up. Trying to shake the first and dust from her feathers. She felt...vile. embarrassed. And some small, tiny part of her felt guilty. She made a disgusted noise even thinking of it. How she'd love to squash that emotion beneath her talons.

"Loneliness? Loneliness!? I have power! Fans! I don't need anyone's help or pity, I don't need niceness! I have myself!" She watched as the pair left, sneering. They were so...open with each other. It was kind of disgusting. "Good! Leave then!" She called after them. " We know who the true winner is!"

Though, right now, Kalama didn't have any adoring fans chasing after her. It didn't mean that stupid cat was right, though! She snorted, kicking up the ground. And with that, Kalama puffed herself as a turkey might, strutting across the arena. To her own exit.

;Chicken go bye