the Rift


[JUDGED] Kill Your Darlings [Ru vs. Toulouse]

Ru Posts: 130
World's Edge Captain atk: 7.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 4.0
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.1h :: 3 [Tallsun] HP: 60.5 | Buff: Novice
Mar
#1

At last the sun had risen stronger, beaming, radiant in the heavens!
 
She stands with the cliffs behind her, ten meters that separate the feather-child and the air that billows from the ocean. The distant roar of waves crashing into the Edge sends a natural thrill inside her being. But it’s the air that steals her breath, inhaling the salty brine and crisp air with vigor.
 
She is alive, like the verdant green that now triumphs over the once-white meadows – clover and wild flowers beaming for the sun’s rays. It is high noon, the rain from that morning has ceased and a witness of clouds permits the sun to breach on his mighty perch. Allows the mists to roll over and dissipate with the ocean’s cool sighs.
 
The indomitable trunks of the trees are beyond the girl’s reach, obscuring who might approach on her call. One she has not yet thrown to the sky, for although there is life clearly unraveling all around her, humming silently in the background of thoughts and reality – she is nervous. She is young, and she feels compelled to recognize the strange desire that swells within her. It is a feral thing that Ru cannot quite place, a sweetness that adds to her scent – blind to its offerings, it does not shy from those who seek to explore the fertile perfume lifting with the air.
 
It rages, but with a mixed and contrite presence. The natural ebbing of adulthood has no place in the heroine’s being. Except for the purpose of conquering her foes, in the hard earned sweat of a warrior who has no time for mewling babes. Regardless, Ru paces with an eager, nearly stir-crazy pep to her stride. As if she hasn’t had enough time scouring the lands with patrols, or embraced the sky with hungry wings. Eyes continue to delve into the shadow, served by the canopies that lead deeper into the World’s Edge.
 
With a decisive stop to her limbs, she tosses her head to the air with her rough, strangely calloused cry puncturing out ahead.
 
She wanted to believe that it was the change of season that made her muscles twitch, caused her to shiver in anticipation of the spar. Nothing more than the hormones that silently polluted her veins, infected her flesh with more than an innocent girl’s desire to learn.


[0/3]
Word Count: 392



Image Credits


@Toulouse    - yay it's finally up! X'D
Spar thread! Anything goes! Feel free to take the first attack, or I don't mind taking it in the next thread if you so desire.
Setting: In the World's Edge, Birdsong Yr. 8, noon near the cliffs, with the forest not too far away. It rained in the morning.
Please Tag
Permision to use any violence/harm; nothing that would cause immediate death

Toulouse Posts: 146
Aurora Basin Impersonator atk: 8.0 | def: 11.0 | dam: 4.0
Gelding :: Equine :: 17hh :: Six HP: 74 | Buff: ENDURE
Boomslang :: Green Ratsnake :: Paralyze Neverrmind
#2
Toulouse
tinker tailor soldier sailor rich man poor man beggar man thief.


On the slab he lay fidgeting and furious at every noise and snap the forest spoke to him. Sunbathing was the sleuth’s favorite past time however, today he was almost completely restless. Today he felt stretched and thin, his muscles loose and gamey. Was it his lack of sport since the challenge with Raeden? Of course he had hunted though in these parts sinking your teeth into a grouse daily was not so physically challenging as wearing down a deer. Whatever the case, Toulouse refused to lay on that rock any longer.

It was with a great heave that the gelding pushed himself up onto his hocks, coat shaking off the dust and loose hair before he clambered down from the slab-like boulder that acted as a roof to his tiny, burrow-like outpost. It was his place in the Edge to specifically call home; his special spot on a southern hill where he could observe a vast area.  
Creeping down from said hill the serpent twisted his neck from side to side and hoped it might soothe the looseness in his vertebrae and rid his neck of the strange phantom feeling one got when you needed to crack a joint. The gelding’s next move to combat these natural yet annoying feelings was to stretch as low as possible. Similar to a dog Toulouse leaned back on his haunches and lowered his ribs as far as they could go to the earth below, forelegs outstretched and pinned firmly to the ground. It was as he craned his head upwards that a wide smile found its was to his usual less-than-pleased countenance, and finally the gentleman was half at peace.

This was when the cheer came. A spar! Sport! Just what he desired.
The gelding’s grin could only widen form here on as he trudged forwards, hooves striking the damp earth with confidence and urgency. Taking directions  purely from the resonance of her voice, Toulouse did not tarry one bit and was quick to arrive. He lingered not in the areas of the wood he might usually check for his allies or for gossip and instead wound his way straight to the area of the call.

A Pegasus, and a charming one at that. Cloaked in an unusual amount of feathers and magnificent wings; two pennons that he had no doubt she would use to her advantage. This mare was one who stood only a little shorter than he at a guess, and he could only imagine by her stance and build that she could be superior in strength or swiftness. It was however, a great assumption.

“I do love a bit of sport” Was his merry coo to the woman as he disrobed, removing his scarf - he really would hate for it to get damaged. Placing an eager fore-foot ahead of the others, Toulouse leaned backwards into his haunches as he thought about his first attack. A simple ramming approach might do the trick.
So it was with a great heave of his lungs and a snort of an exhale that the gelding leapt forwards off the power held within his hocks croup, bounding with a controlled and compact speed towards his opponent in an attempt to ram the pegasus with his great tendril of horns, his sights set upon a weak spot in her girth.

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1/3 - 550 words.
OH MY GOD FINALLY im so sorry i mucked about for so long getting to this thread but here i am ready to fight you ;) ps i love this film (kill your darlings)
summary; Toulou approaches and then attempts to ram Ru in a weak spot just behind the shoulder.




x
I AM THE KEY TO THE LOCK IN YOUR HOUSE—
DO NOT CRY OUT OR HIT THE ALARM
YOU KNOW WE'RE FRIEND TIL WE DIE—

EITHER WAY YOU TURN, I'LL BE THERE
OPEN UP YOUR SKULL, I'LL BE THERE
CLIMBING UP THE WALLS

SO LOCK THE KIDS UP SAFE TONIGHT
CLOSE THE EYES IN THE CUPBOARD

Ru Posts: 130
World's Edge Captain atk: 7.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 4.0
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.1h :: 3 [Tallsun] HP: 60.5 | Buff: Novice
Mar
#3
The girl doesn’t stand for long. She is back to pacing, to stretching out her wings and smelling the air for any shifts in a scent. She spots him first, before she hears his voice. A pale figure that erupts from the forest floor, glowing in the sunlight, doted with crème imperfections. The roll of his voice quiets the dun-mare, her limbs settling to a stand as his purr permeates the silence.
 
She settles with her head cocked to the side. Ears pressed forward with a nervous twitch. He goes about the process of disrobing; finding the use of purely aesthetic trappings strange and alien, the girl grunts with mild amusement. There is a finesse in his movements nonetheless, a particular delicacy that lends to his person. He is less muscular than Ru’s previous opponents, sleek and perhaps thinner than her husky bodice. Though it’s hard to tell how he might excel on the battlefield. Ru’s thoughts lend to the radiance that encapsulates within her eyes. And although his scent isn’t quite the musk she expects from another male, it sends a fleeting thrill through her.
 
Though she’s had her eye on the sleuth before, watching the madness unfold in the distance from his recent challenge. She wonders if he’ll pull anything sly on his end, snap out his wicked teeth for a deeper purchase.
 
A soft, rumbling noise exits her dark lips.
 
She would simply have to explore those possibilities.
 
And without further adieu, he exhales harshly into the open; they begin with his bounding body. Energy precedes him, but her humming heart exclaims with a delighted chirp to her lips – perhaps pain will cease this strange exuberance within me. The tendrils of his hair wave after him like a plume of smoke. Ru snaps into action, and she speeds towards him with nearly the same intent as he. Those horns, glimmering gold against the jealous sky leer after her in the closing distance.
 
Ru unfurls her wings as her heart races the closer they get. She wonders if she can surprise him with her impromptu tactic, and craves for such an expression to mar his pleasantly crafted features. She jumps up several strides before meeting him, grasping the air with her wings and elevating beyond the natural footings of an equine. She has never attempted such an attack, given that she carries wings beside her – it almost seems absurd that she hasn’t yet. Although, Ru hasn’t quite accounted for his height yet, even though it appears he charges with the weight of those horns plowing forwards.
 
The bull nicks her forelimbs, for which she’s bunched up as a means to protect her soft belly. She intends to fly above him, trusting her wings to pull her upwards just enough and across. Simultaneously she kicks out her hind limbs below – attempting to leave a solid mark on his neck or shoulders. Almost as if she was pushing off his form, in the process of taking flight. The girl doesn’t carry herself all the way up however. She intends to land with a few feet between them, turning sharply to her left to face Toulouse. Ru hopes he has not plowed through her form - lending to a longer distance between their bodies -  and intends to face her without the speed to match his brazen horns again.
 
A displeased hiss escapes her breath as she grasps the earth, now that her lower forelimbs ache and throb with a more noticeable bruising. She shifts with their dull throb, but for the time being they do not impeded her movement. It is enough to wrestle with the feral thrill inhabiting her body – on the surface at least.
 
But the mare’s mind wanders ahead of her, underneath the penetrating glare of the sun and the slick purchase of earth underneath their hooves. Was his skin as fragile as his sleek countenance? Was it soft like the silk he adorned, as warm as he was pale in the light?
 
Ru inhaled his scent, eyes searching for his expression, his body. Curious if he found their bit of sport amusing – or merely infuriating.

[1/3]
Words: 689/800

Image Credits

Summary: - runs at, then jumps up with wings spread to fly above. Toulouse’s rams hit her lower forelimbs in the process. She attempts to kick with her hind legs at his neck or shoulders as she jumps over (if she does). And lands a few feet behind, turning left to face.

OOC: this made my day! XDD Oh I'm glad you like it too! :3 (ze movie)
@Toulouse
Please Tag
Permision to use any violence/harm; nothing that would cause immediate death

Toulouse Posts: 146
Aurora Basin Impersonator atk: 8.0 | def: 11.0 | dam: 4.0
Gelding :: Equine :: 17hh :: Six HP: 74 | Buff: ENDURE
Boomslang :: Green Ratsnake :: Paralyze Neverrmind
#4
Toulouse
tinker tailor soldier sailor rich man poor man beggar man thief.


Eagle-like and orphic the pale one’s opponent sprang with sheer ferocity almost right over his charge, though not before those bone-breaking horns had the chance to pound upon her forlegs. It had not been a total miss, though not a failure in the slightest. He should have anticipated the pegasus would use the air to her advantage - if the wind was to be his nemesis it made sense rally the earth and ground to his side.

There was little time to think, though; virtually none at all, for the bronze one had sprung a mighty trap. His own attack had been a success somewhat, though it had been her escape that had been his downfall and immediately he regretted his initial approach. The impact was swift and cunning - so much so that it took up to a number of seconds to actually feel the damage.
Springing away from her brutal, puncturing hooves, Toulouses body had soon left the initial shock far behind and pain took over. Bloodflood, it stained his shoulder in a remarkable cascade of crimson and sanguine - a shade he loved more than any other. A gruelling grunt could not be withheld, not by every tooth in his mouth or all the bones in his cranium. The pain… it was most fearsome. The feathered one had done him a great blow and here he stood baffled at the muscle-deep wound she had left in his shoulder like a dint in metal.

Perhaps he wished to curse her or chant obscenities at her. Maybe he wished to cause her pain in return like she had done to him yet spend it twofold.
Toulouse turned to find the woman looking towards him and instead he found an element of playfulness to her prowl - the serpent had half expected to see a malicious, feasting hunger in her eyes after that dig she had taken at his shoulder. The pain was not becoming any more bearable, in fact, it was worse if anything. Still, the gelding searched for her gaze, wishing to communicate to her some way, somehow, what he felt and thought. In the hopes of finding eye contact Toulouse looked darkly towards the creator of his pain, breathing deeply into the back of his lungs.

It was when his mighty inhale left his body that he felt a strike of paint radiate from his temples and then trickle down his legs - it was crippling, causing him to stand rigid for a short moment before it left his body entirely.
Turning around on the spot the pale creature looked frantically for the source of such horrid witchcraft, but it was only a few seconds later that he realised that he was it’s origin.  It was a power he had felt before. A long time before his entry to helovia. Magic was something a natural as breathing to the T’detan however, it had been far too long since he had felt its power within him. As if drawing strength from the wound in his shoulder and the sorrow in his mind, the feeling grew as his eyes danced over his opponent. What would happen if they locked eyes? It remained to be seen.

The confidence this discovery had given him was truly remarkable; a smile finding his features, the gelding stared in the face of the pegasus and began to creep forwards to begin his attack - however, this time he had a vastly difference approach.

Eyes fixed upon his opponent without any intention of moving, Toulouse once again attempted to summon the power and dream from within the abyss within his own person. Pain. The word circled around his mind, wishing to push the feeling upon his opponent. How would it feel to her? Would it cripple her as it had him? If it worked, if he had succeeded in conjuring his new found magic, then he would proceed with trying a deep blow at her head in an attempt to injure her senses with his horns once more. A cutthroat, nasty move but perhaps a necessary comeback.

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2/3 - 657 words.
this is such a good spar eee!
summary; Toulouse takes her hit and rushes away from under her , her now has a nasty muscle-deep gash on his shoulder. He then sees her looking at him, and then by looking at her eyes his magic begins to awaken! He then approaches and attemts to use his magic on Ru, then attempts to whack her in the head with his horns!
@Ru  




x
I AM THE KEY TO THE LOCK IN YOUR HOUSE—
DO NOT CRY OUT OR HIT THE ALARM
YOU KNOW WE'RE FRIEND TIL WE DIE—

EITHER WAY YOU TURN, I'LL BE THERE
OPEN UP YOUR SKULL, I'LL BE THERE
CLIMBING UP THE WALLS

SO LOCK THE KIDS UP SAFE TONIGHT
CLOSE THE EYES IN THE CUPBOARD

Ru Posts: 130
World's Edge Captain atk: 7.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 4.0
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.1h :: 3 [Tallsun] HP: 60.5 | Buff: Novice
Mar
#5
How unfortunate.

As she makes to turn Toulouse is – once more – farther out beyond her grasp. Iron does not waft easily into the air, but her successful tactic strikes the stallion’s mint eyes instead. Eyes that swell with cooler shades of emerald return her wanting gaze, glinting dangerously in the high light.  

The mare holds back a lofty grin from her lips – the fight has just begun.

She will not jinx the lucky catch of flesh, which stains the pristine shoulders of her opponent. Adding, what she assumes, to be a healthy dose of colour to keep the sleuth up and on his toes.

He has yet to surprise her, but she is on guard.

Ru takes her cue to charge after him the moment they exchange glances. The beating of her heart throbs on the surfaces of her forelegs, cantering ahead to clash as beasts do. She is not one to idle. The feathered lark was curious after all, just how alike their bodies were, and how long they could sustain themselves amidst the soaked earth and ferocious blows. Bodies meant for greater distances, elevating their souls to carry them – ever onwards.

But does he not move?

The distant roar of crashing waves sends a cautionary warning. The moisture, the subtle winds that drift off from the cliff edge send a reverberating chill.

Ru eyes her target as the distance closes, her momentum steadying. She narrows her gaze as she realizes he has gone stiff, muscles rigid, as he stood petrified for a few precious seconds. Is he acting? She wonders, huffing through her nostrils.

Perhaps she expected no less from a sleuth.

The woman is nearly upon him when the stallion cracks a grin, her gaze – inevitably, follows with an increasing frown that etches against her face. The effect is immediate. Her world blurs for a second, as fine needles dig into her head. Sending a haphazard bolt of a nearly seizing, electrifying sensation through her neck and down to her hooves. Her mouth cried out in a ragged shrill.

Fuck!

She tears her eyes away from the vulture, shutting them close and halting her body with the use of her hindlegs. Sending the feathered mare a short distance, sliding across the loose threshold of the earth, and carelessly uprooting the virgin grasses. She grappled with the sensation that plagued her head that began to dull – though which had made it hard for the mare to see through the initial heat of torture. As if it seared through her ears emitting a horrid pitch too high, and exploded into a thousand points of white light.

Blind!

She gasps, and turns left, swinging her rump around to face the heathen in an attempt to protect herself. Imagining that he too, would not idle with his advantage.

Ru forces her eyes to open, her neck cranes back with a feral leer. It’s at this point that she can make out his form. Feel, the shallow skin tears that unravel like loose ribbon, as his head rams gilded horns along the back of her left hindquarters. Her ears flatten as she makes to buck at his chest or throat, hopefully – quick enough that it might land a severe hit.

When her hind hooves hit the ground, she continues to turn to her left to face him. Lifting her left wing to swing out with her simultaneously – attempting to strike out with the wrists of her feathered arms at his eyes.  

Regardless if the flurry of feathers had disorientated him or not – or even landed their target, the mare lunges towards his figure. Eager to inhale the fresh, pungent metal that infects the air. Snapping her teeth to purchase the left side of the smooth, arching muscles that lend to Toulouse’s proud head.

Perhaps her initial efforts were in vain; the pain – it becomes an aphrodisiac that appears to goad the mare. To press in, hungry for contact despite the circumstances. Disregarding the snake for his scales, in the hopes of enticing him instead.  

Where are these fangs you keep hidden in that pretty mouth?

[2/3]
Words: 683/800


Image Credits


Summary: - canters as soon as they make first eye contact. Closes the gap, but get hits with Toulouse's magic. Which sends pain from her head to her forelimbs. She stops suddenly in her pursuit - skidding across the ground. She turns left, facing her hindquarters towards him. Receives shallow gashes along her left hindquarters. Attempts to buck at his chest or neck, before continuing to turn left to face him. Attempting to punch out her left wing to his eyes as she does. Lunges forwards, teeth snapping for the left side of his neck.

OOC: Ru is kinda hyped up on spring, and being slightly strange. XD Please excuse her!
@Toulouse
Please Tag
Permision to use any violence/harm; nothing that would cause immediate death

Toulouse Posts: 146
Aurora Basin Impersonator atk: 8.0 | def: 11.0 | dam: 4.0
Gelding :: Equine :: 17hh :: Six HP: 74 | Buff: ENDURE
Boomslang :: Green Ratsnake :: Paralyze Neverrmind
#6
Toulouse
tinker tailor soldier sailor rich man poor man beggar man thief.


Impact.
It was a feeling both loved and hated - the crash of another body unto your own was commonly coldly received to say the least when it was from a stranger and so unwelcome. However when it was from the body of a friend, a loved one; a long embrace after time spent away, it was magic. A touch of skin-unto-skin and the feeling of a lovers bones beside yours was a feeling most indescribable.

How Ru received the slam from his quartet of horns was something he could only grunt at; it had not held his desired effect, not in the slightest, plus the kick he’d shy dodged on exit was less than welcome. The pearls and droplets of sanguine wine that fell from the gash inflicted upon her croup was satisfaction enough, however; Especially when the potent mixture of iron and ruby began to cascade from the lances that had struck her and, like raindrops, began to litter his face with gruesome smears of ichor. Next came a feral grin - the kind that remained unaccompanied by his eyes.
It was one not held upon his countenance for long. Within a matter of seconds, the woman was springing upon him once again with a jab from her fearsome pennon, one filled with strong whip-like feathers.

The flutter and WHOOSH of her wing’s approach gave the gelding ample time to react, his head ducking low with an urgent swoop of his own… right into the awaiting jaws of the raptor.
Her awaiting bite should have been anticipated - a strong, calculated shot on her part and it was with instant regret and a short-lived cry of pain that Toulouse wrenched away from the teeth of the bronze warrior. AGH!

Such a brutish bite! Any would think her teeth sharper than the fangs he himself possessed with such a fearsome grip. The incision left upon his neck was one Ru should be proud of and one that would most certainly scar. Bruised, sunken and haemorrhaging teeth marks now stamped the higher left side of his neck - another to add to his growing collection. By now the sleuth had sprung away, his gait taking him strides away from the woman and slinking tall, chest puffed and proud.

Crooning his concentrated gaze towards his opponent and spinning his dock to his side, the serpent gave a great, taunting jeer towards the pegasus which was accompanied by nothing other than a gigantic stomp. It hurt to move his shoulder now that it had collected quite a nasty wound and to say it dampened the spirit of his taunt was somewhat of an understatement - it hurt. Badly.

“COME ON!”

Did he use his words, his screams and wind-song as a remedy for that searing pain? A scream, a chant of pure nepenthe. Was it an attempt to whelve and shelve suffering? Past and present, just this moment he needed to emerge victorious. Already his best asset (that of cunning and stealth) had been used on his opponent - she would anticipate a trick; of this he had no doubts. She was not one who easily burst or discombobulated under the pressure of battle and perhaps he admired her focus incredibly, for he himself was quite the mess.

It was the anguish of the fighter’s last attack on his neck that drove him forwards. There was too much fight, spirit and energy left within him to simply stop because the pain built. The desert born blood within his veins allowed him the extra strength to continue, and with one great leap only an Akhal's legs might allow, Toulouse pounced.
Toulouse endeavoured to land beside the woman, trying to rule his spine parallel to her own as he landed from his vital leap. Not a moment after landing the brute attempted a step in front of the woman so he might collect her forelegs out from under should she try to escape, and thenceforth proceeding to try to latch his fangs onto the crest of her neck, trying with all his might to hold that vital muscle between his fangs and his lower jaw.

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3/3 - 690 words.
nooo i love her! <3
summary; Toulou dodges Ru's kick, smiles for like a second and then dodges the jab from her wing only to run right into her bite! Takes a nasty bruised, gnarly bite on his neck and rushes away, then taunts her with a shout and a taunt before he springs forward and attempts to land beside her, then tries to step in front of her in the hopes of tripping her - then attempts to clamp his teefs around the crest of her neck.
@Ru




x
I AM THE KEY TO THE LOCK IN YOUR HOUSE—
DO NOT CRY OUT OR HIT THE ALARM
YOU KNOW WE'RE FRIEND TIL WE DIE—

EITHER WAY YOU TURN, I'LL BE THERE
OPEN UP YOUR SKULL, I'LL BE THERE
CLIMBING UP THE WALLS

SO LOCK THE KIDS UP SAFE TONIGHT
CLOSE THE EYES IN THE CUPBOARD

Ru Posts: 130
World's Edge Captain atk: 7.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 4.0
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.1h :: 3 [Tallsun] HP: 60.5 | Buff: Novice
Mar
#7
It’s deep.

It plunders him with a short, ‘wanting’ cry that sends a gratifying pulse through Ru.

Is this the joie de vivre?

Embracing failure with success. The taste of him is mortal, of iron and velvet fur. He lacks hardy, acrid male musk, but it’s more enthralling than the overwhelming scent of stallion, and fertile.

His scent is flora, pliant.

The disturbing voice behind her eyes hums with a - I want more. And in the world that surrounds her mind, trapped by the heat of sparring, she forgets if it’s worth staking her honor on such desires.

Ru attempts to drive her chest into him, disregarding her futile attempt to kick him squarely in the neck – or shroud his eyes. As she presses against him, the specter escapes her grip and darts off with the ebbing breeze. Ru is rewarded at least, by the touch of thin, delicate skin.

Blood hangs upon her lips, as she spies her handiwork on Toulouse’s shoulders. Her gaze narrows, ignoring the pomp in his stride – the whistle in his hair, and the flag of his tail. The mare becomes more focused, more aware when the pain slowly ebbs free from her mind, and displaces across her rump with a splatter of coagulating blood.

Blood.

She imagines she’s tasted blood before. The memory is lost to her now though, and the taste that rests across her tongue is fresh, novel. Ru licks her lips, her eyes zero in on the serpent’s gaze. Not entirely aware of how he came about such power moments ago to invade her head.

Ru’s heart skips with the possibility that it might happen again.

What have we learned? The pain in her body reminds her.

The stallion is quicker than the girl expects – perhaps even stronger. That he moves effortlessly before her, having not unraveled from the strain of battle or succumbed to the uneasy ground. Indeed, he is almost like her; their souls wage an endless war, and they dance to strike at the most opportune of times. Endurance – that was supposed to be her thing.

So.

What does that make me? She is not a snake, she grumbles. But I do enjoy his taste. His taunt rolls forth, only to pass by her shoulders and disperse into the foreground. With a heavy, thirsty inhale she responds with a bulky rumble – a pushing of weight forwards, and a desire to end him.

Her strides find purchase on the ground, having to strain in the displacement of their weight. The ground is remarkably slippery in the wake of spring, the sea spray – lilting above the cliffs send a constant source of moisture.

She intends to change the course of her weight before they meet. Uncertain of where this change in direction might lead her, she braces for the unknown.

Before they meet, he takes a grand leap. And as he begins to thrust his body from the momentum he’s already charged with, she attempts to halt. Lending more weight to the hind leg closest to her opponent’s position. Sending her in a slight skid that hopefully angles her body towards them.

But he’s a step ahead. She takes his strike at her legs slightly dumbfounded by his proximity. Shifting her weight back, he only manages to knock off the one nearest to him. Her other foreleg takes the weight – along with her hindquarters. It leaves Ru in a very awkward, stretching state when her vulnerable fore leg folds; a sort of half bow. Her ears flatten back, the woman tries to back away – his looming body sends the feathers along her neck to unfurl and spike. Sensing danger, sensing imminent regret and –

- PAIN!.

The viper latches on. His teeth sink into her neck – past milky feathers, through flesh, unraveling muscle fibers from where they puncture her.

The dunskin holds back tears that gather at the edges of her eyes. Her cry pitches – for a moment she feels as if – she can hardly move from the grip that clutches the spine of her neck.

MOVE! The thought flashes with the injury, urging desperately through the fog of exhaustion – nearing, closing in. MOVE!! DAMN IT!!

Wings furiously open, beating heavy as she decided to push into Toulouse. The wind is her ally, it has never left her side. It surrounds her, it reminds her that she is just as enduring as the gales that killed her mother.

Ru yells her war cry in defiance. Stepping into him, and casting her body up with a powerful rear, aided by the furious drive of wings. She casts out her bruising forelegs, with the intention of striking the serpent down below her.

Hooves that beat, and claw, aiming for neck or chest.

Joie de vivre!

[3/3]
Words: 794



Image Credits

ooc: this was really fun! XD Thank-you so much for this spar! <3
Summary: [Attempts to drive into Toulouse, but he flees her before she can. Faces him and picks up speed. Halts just as he leaps, adding more pressure to her hindleg closest to where he intends to land - angling her more towards them (vs. being parallel). He knocks out her foreleg closest to him, making her half bow on that side. He lands the bite on her neck. Ru attempts to move into him, and rears - also beating her wings. Strikes out with her forelimbs attempting to hit his neck or chest.]

Toulouse Posts: 146
Aurora Basin Impersonator atk: 8.0 | def: 11.0 | dam: 4.0
Gelding :: Equine :: 17hh :: Six HP: 74 | Buff: ENDURE
Boomslang :: Green Ratsnake :: Paralyze Neverrmind
#8
Toulouse
tinker tailor soldier sailor rich man poor man beggar man thief.


Toulouse’s fanged blow struck unto the protectors feather-crested neck must have been a weight on her end of the scale - The battle had shifted perhaps to a verklempt flurry of limbs and blood flood it now seemed. The fact that the pair of them were both prime examples of eccedentesiasts would help with the severity of their blows and drastically in the cunning nature of their strategy; perhaps this was where the fight had turned? To a battle of wits and cunning.

WHOOSH!
The protector’s fierceness had returned to her; burrowed through the pain and emerged a victor, so her beating pennons should have come as no surprise to Toulouse. Why he did not anticipate such a defence was beyond him.
The whipping feathers of Ru’s wingtips were like places against the translucent skin of his freckled face, each feather powering against the serpent as he latched upon her neck. an impressive move, one that caused him once against to triple and curl inside with jealousy for her gift of flight.

Falling from his blade-tip balance against the brontide and hit of her wingbeats, the gelding felt his nearside hind hoof give out in the dew-dropped terrain which placed him in a crooked seat upon the earth, his crystalline eyes glaring upwards at his opponent. There was no way the man would submit to this kind of defeat. It was pathetic, weak. Ru had him keeled at her feet, at her mercy - it would be at her hoof’s strike that landed a keeling, final blow.
As if she of all creatures could ever make him kneel. The serpent would refuse to lay defenceless and he would not plead with even an inch of his body! A thief was he; not a beggar.

A great roar fell from his lips as the mare struck out with her forelegs landing a daring hit upon his skull.
THWACK!
The crack was one that would send birds scattering from the trees throughout the wood, the sound of bone bucking under impact.

However, lucky for Toulouse it was not his skull that took the blow, but his horns. The traumatic sound was but the clash of bone on bone, like metal on metal.
Their swords were crossed; match point.
With his head throbbing terribly, a bruise sure to emerge around the height of his skull the gelding slid his nearside hind underneath his muddied belly and pushed with great force - he was up, off of his feet once more. The specter was no longer at the mercy of the blessed pegasus.

The pain of the warrior’s last blow was something drawing almost all concentration from Toulouse’s mind, and so it was with the smallest of smiles that he plucked that shiny amulet from its braid in his neck. Soon the pain would be much less of an issue, for the healing powers held within this wonderful device was sure to take the edge off.
Tossing the jewelled piece to the ground Toulouse was quick to stamp his hoof upon it, smiling at the satisfying crack it made upon snapping. The blood spilt upwards in a gravity-defying mess, though a mesmerising one at that as it flooded his wounds.

With the sharp edge of his pain taken away, a proud smile now stained his lips. While he still did not know who stood victor, he was proud of himself for not giving in when he was at his most vulnerable. Perhaps he had learned something valuable about not only fighting but himself on this day. He had a strength of mind that would conquer that which resided in his muscles any day.
And that was a great thing to be proud of.

--------
closing defense! - 620 words.
Thankyou for the wonderful spar! It was so much fun!!
summary; Toulou is pushed over, slips into a sitting position and is struck in the horns by Ru's nasty kick! He then launches imself to his feet and snaps a KAOS AMULET to take the edge off his wounds. (and is then very proud of himself)
AMULET USED: KAOS AMULET.
@Ru  




x
I AM THE KEY TO THE LOCK IN YOUR HOUSE—
DO NOT CRY OUT OR HIT THE ALARM
YOU KNOW WE'RE FRIEND TIL WE DIE—

EITHER WAY YOU TURN, I'LL BE THERE
OPEN UP YOUR SKULL, I'LL BE THERE
CLIMBING UP THE WALLS

SO LOCK THE KIDS UP SAFE TONIGHT
CLOSE THE EYES IN THE CUPBOARD

Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#9
By my verdict: RU is the winner!

TOULOUSE
Realism [+1]
Your first post started off very strong with breed and surrounding mentions and a good realistic attack. However your second post did not seem to take sufficient damage for a critical hit, or at least you didn’t thoroughly explain your injuries. It also didn’t seem realistic you would hurt yourself with your magic, which requires eye contact, without having seen your reflection. In your third post similarly you do not take sufficient damage for a 4; you describe bleeding but your pain doesn’t seem to affect you and bites to the neck would only cause superficial damage. You then go to leap, showing no mention of your previously critically injured shoulder. Your defense post ends with proper damage. Overall provide more explanation to bring in more realism, especially with injuries.


Emotion [+1]
You displayed some emotion, especially in your first post - I thoroughly enjoyed him removing his scarf! Your second post seemed rather weak on emotion but it improved by your last post.


Prose [+1.5]
You have a good flow and vocabulary. This was strongest in your first post, but got very weak in your second post as you ended up unnecessarily repeating lots of words/intentions that really made reading the post choppy and confusing. You improved with your third post. I really loved the below line:

“Next came a feral grin - the kind that remained unaccompanied by his eyes. “


Readability [+2]
Overall you have a lot of simple typos or reading oddness that could have been solved with some better proofreading! But aside from your second post your posts were easy to follow and understand.

Post 1:
...favorite past time however… (pastime)
Of course he had hunted though in these parts sinking your teeth into a grouse daily was not so physically challenging as wearing down a deer. (this reads oddly. I think it’s the inclusion of the though and lack of commas).
...found its was to… (way)
...power held within his hocks croup… (what is hocks croup?)

Post 2:
...it made sense rally the earth… (to rally)
There was little time to think, though; virtually none at all… (either remove the though or remove the comma before the though and turn the semicolon into a comma)
...Toulouses body… (‘s)
Bloodflood, it stained his… (Bloodflow?)
...something a natural… (as)
...T’detan however,... (comma before the however not after)
...had a vastly difference approach. (different)
..his new found magic… (newfound)

“..the gelding stared in the face of the pegasus and began to creep forwards to begin his attack - however, this time he had a vastly difference approach.

Eyes fixed upon his opponent without any intention of moving…” (these are right beside each other and heavily contradict each other)

Post 3:
...he’d shy dodged on… (shyly?)
...was satisfaction enough, however; Especially when… (enough. Especially)


Finally tally: 44.5+(5.5*2) = 55.5 HP

*******************************************

RU
Realism [+1.5]
Your first post started off with a unique attack that I scratched my head about for a while deciding on its realism. In the end I went with her running and leaping over him, as a pegasus, was plausible, especially since she did take injury, insinuating that she barely made it - I would have liked to see more of a struggle written in though. Your second post really lacked injury description so it was hard to gauge if it was enough damage, though a 2 isn’t very high so given she took 2 injuries it seemed sufficient and your attack response was good. Your third post seemed more focused as you brought in good breed and surroundings mentions, used your rank magic, and had a good attack response, but again your injury description was barely there so you did not take enough damage for a roll of 6. Overall you should provide more explanation to bring in more realism, especially with injuries.


Emotion [+2]
I really felt a good connection with Ru during the fight, one that kept increasing with each post in her reactions to everything, great job!


Prose [+3]
You had great flow and imagery, especially your first post was beautiful. I really loved the below line:

“The disturbing voice behind her eyes hums with a - I want more. And in the world that surrounds her mind, trapped by the heat of sparring, she forgets if it’s worth staking her honor on such desires. “


Readability [+2.5]
Your posts were very easy to follow and read, but I’m not sure what happened with your second post because a lot more grammar issues and confusing wording came up.

Post 2:
Sending the feathered mare a short distance, sliding across the loose threshold of the earth, and carelessly uprooting the virgin grasses. (fragment)
She grappled with the sensation that plagued her head that began to dull – though which had made it hard for the mare to see through the initial heat of torture. (reads oddly)
As if it seared through her ears emitting a horrid pitch too high, and exploded into a thousand points of white light. (fragment)
Feel, the shallow skin tears that unravel like loose ribbon, as his head rams gilded horns along the back of her left hindquarters. (fragment)
Lifting her left wing to swing out with her simultaneously – attempting to strike out with the wrists of her feathered arms at his eyes. (several parts of this read oddly and are confusing)
Eager to inhale the fresh, pungent metal that infects the air. (fragment)
Snapping her teeth to purchase the left side of the smooth, arching muscles that lend to Toulouse’s proud head. (fragment)


Finally tally: 38+(9*2) = 56 HP


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