Hunter wasn't... really... ready for his next match. The hybrid hydrated, drinking water rather than the assortment of fizzy or off-smelling refreshments, and let the medics patch up his wounds... but he was exhausted from the adrenaline burnout and terror that was only just leaving his veins.

It would've been nice if he had a minute to catch his father before the next match. Or... any, of his family. But there was so much going on that he just hunkered down to rest, and after a second of closing his eyes, he could hear the screaming Nemean.

Ears laying back against his skull, he squinted as a wash of magic swept through him, forcing his skin to stitch together in a gnarled mess of scar tissue along his shoulder, back, and across his snout. He raised a hand to scratch at the tingling sensation along his muzzle, feeling the strange short stubble of fur that was just starting to grow back.

Weird...

He felt better, too, though still... shaken, for sure. Another what seemed like seconds and his turn was up, and he scampered to his feet, taking his spear with him. He was terrified of what he might face: another massive amalgamation of limbs and teeth? Something twenty times his size? A huge serpent that could swallow him whole? His head ached with the worry, and none of the excitement came as he stepped back into the ring that had been turned inside out by Draconua.

Hunter didn't want to see what she would do if she had to interfere with his matches again. He clutched his spear tighter as he walked across sand and blood, raising his head high and searching the crowd for his family. He wouldn't let them down... but the feeling was a grim determination where light had once shone.

@Kalama

DEATHMATCH

posting to eliminate Kalama by player's request!

Nemean hadn't really been paying attention when Hunter walked into the arena. Hence the total lack of fanfare or announcement. No: her eyes were fixed on her fingernails (well, claws really), a deep frown carved across her tiny face.

...One was chipped.

"Are you fucking kidding me," she muttered. Not that anyone would appreciate her frustration, but did they know how hard it was to get nail polish in these caves?!

It was only then that she noticed Hunter stepping in, and she swore under her breath again. All at once she was scrambling for her clipboard (what was that one's name, again?! the grand TITLE, she needed to find it on the list-) and grabbing wildly for the nearest bag of actual confetti at hand. Yeah, she could make fake confetti, but the real stuff got stuck everywhere--for weeks!--and that was hilarious.

She flung it, without looking, and it sailed toward the doorway--but Hunter was already stepping into the arena, and here was Kalama...

Too late did Nemean realize her mistake. The confetti wasn't the normal kind. The confetti was-

-solidifying into a cartooninshly large black metal anvil, crashing down for Kalama's head. "Oh, shit," Nemean said aloud, staring with pop-eyed horror. It landed. Feathers fluttered outward. ...Well, she'd just crushed one of the contestants before the Deathmatch had even started.

Nemean busted out laughing. There was no fanfare or real announcement, just a bellowed "WHOOPS-! GUESS YOU WON-" (a clipboard consultation between stifled peals of laughter) "-HUNTER OF WILD BEASTS!" A pause, and then Nemean shouted: "MY BAD, GUYS! MY BAD!"

_____________

DEATHMATCH WINNER: HUNTER

Kalama has forfeited the match.

@Hunter @Kalama

Hunter stared with bewildered confusion as Nemean's glitter began to change shape, and then-- splat! His eyes widened further with horror as he flinched back, half scrambling through the dirt away from the explosion of feathers.

What? His brain provided an appropriate response as he looked up at Nemean above, her voice ringing out but the words took several seconds to process.

"... Are-- are they... okay?" He managed to ask, fur prickling on end as he stared across at the comical anvil. And then, he seemed to think better of his mercy-round, and that it would take very little effort for Nemean to "accidentally" make another anvil, for the hilarious amusement of the crowd.

He scanned the crowd once more for his father, then gave a grim nod, before retreating back into the back room so the next round could take place.

hunter exit!