It was early winter and the the snow floated lightly down from a pale gray sky and quickly melting when hit the queens road, a wide stone pathway leading threw the city and up to the tall stone castle standing on a hill towering up into the slowly darkening sky spires dispersing into the flurry of falling snow and brightly colored flags whipping around playfully in the wind. Cold bare trees lined the road which in spring would be covered in pink and white flowers which would loose there tiny petals to the wind to rain on those below, coating the ground in a carpet of pink for which the queen and king to place their royal feet. Yet the King and Queen had died not three years ago leaving there second daughter Bella Adrain the throne.
A cloaked figure stood in the middle of the road looking up at the brightly lit windows of the castle as a feast went on inside and a hatred and contempt filled the onlookers heart. A paw touched a hilt and a silent promise was made as it had been many times before. Then It started purposefully towards the Castle.
Queen Bella was in the middle of eating her dinner, a pheasant, when she got word that someone was approaching the castle. She sighed, and stood up. The dining room was big, with floor length tapestries, a tiled floor with tiles of marble, the table was big and grand, the works. Bella half wondered if this person was coming to give news of her sister, but dismissed the idea. It was snowing ouside, but it was quite warm in the castle. Servants came and fussed, making sure the cat waspresentable.
OOC: Sorry I don't mean to be picky but could you at least make your first post a tad more detailed. Its way more fun that way. Just describe the setting from your point of view mainly. That way when the battle starts we already have the playing filed set up. I don't mean to be bossy or anything.
Out of characyer. Is that better? I was runn I n short oftime....
OOC: Yup thanks. That's better. ;D
A young guard stood on the wall top watching the figure approach when a flurry of snow flew in his face temporarily blinding him when he looked up the figure was gone. He thoroughly scanned the landscape but could see no one threw the falling snow. Suddenly he was startled by a banging at the gate below and when he looked down he saw to his alarmed surprises the figure sanding there below a cloak concealing it's fetchers.
The Guard called down to it asking for identification but it said nothing instead taking its paw out from beneath its cloak and holding up a paw ring with the symbol of the secret service of the late king and queen. Most of which had gone missing. He looked at it in shock but gave the order for the gates to be opened and the stranger to be let in.
The figure passed threw the gate and started up the path to the double doors of the dining hall. The doors banged open and a gust of wind sent a flurry of snowflakes in threw the doorway and made the candles dance and flicker. The figure strode in and threw down the Paw ring which skidded across the floor and stopped at the feet of the queen.
Bela was, to say the least, shocked. She bent over and up he ring. 'Kedria?" She asked, looking at it, her v I certainly trembling.
Out of character. So, I was thinking, the duel could end with the two on good terms with each other.
OOC: Well see Bella would have to be pretty convincing to win her over. That's seven years of hatred.
BIC:
The figure pushed back the hood of the cloak and undid the clasp in one swift motion, letting it fall to the floor, There stood a tall sturdy female cat. With eyes of gold and slim oval pupils that watched the queen with purpose. Her face and figure was hardened with hardship but beneath it all was a some what neglected beauty. She was dressed in a simple yet finely made tunic of deep crimson and gold fabric. Strapped to her back was a broadsword and at her side was a beautiful jewel encrusted dirk, made with black pearls and rubies, as well as a well polished dark gray mettle blade and a hilt adorned with silver. She drew this now and said coldly "I go by Agrena now,"
OOC PMs?
Bic Bella was startled. "Agrena, then. But, Agrena, why draw your sword?"
"Don't you remember the law. Kill on sight yet sight you have and I am still alive. It has been seven years, seven long hard years and now I have finally returned to take back what is rightfully mine." She said advancing smoothly The only sine of anger was her paw clenched tightly around the hilt of her dirk.
"You want the throne? Take it! I never wanted it." Bella said truthfully, moving to stay by the table, casually. In truth, her weapons were hidden on the bottom of the table.
Agrena was slightly startled but did not let it show. However she did not believe her either. "You think you can fool me," She said stopping her advance when she was with in several paces of Bella. "For the past three years, ever since you ascended the throne, you have been sending your goons after me chasing me down, You where not content with me living my life in exile,"
Bella had her paws under the table, groping g or her we a pons. "I sent them to try and find you to bring you back, Agrena." She said calmly, her paw closing around hand's of the mace.
"Yes so you could Kill me, You feared I was a threat and it seems you where right," She said. By now the servant's and one or two guarded had come and where starting towards Agrena to protect the queen. She spun around and pointed her dirk at them all "Say away any one who comes near me dies!" She was dead serious and they could tell she could and would keep her word.
"What? No! That's not the way it was at all." Bella saod, hurt.
"You would say that wouldn't you, lies, lies all," And with that Agrena dove at her in an attempt to stab her with the Dirk keeping the weapon closer to her sisters left side then the right for in her other paw she held a dagger to use when Bella dodged. "This will be settled here!"
Bella jumped back, and swung her mace, grabbed her axe as she did so. Then she waited.
Agrena had not expected for her to produce a weapon much less one as heavy at a mace and her dagger stuck in the table knocking over some dishes but her years in exile had not been for nothing. She had learned much in the ways of fighting and now she dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way jumping back to her feet. "You have learned something while I was gone," She said in a tone between approval and mockery in a sly way.
"I had to, sadly." Bella said, staying on the defense
"Ha! You where Jealous, did you think that I didn't notice," She drew her sword and took to circling. She lunged with a slash at her sister and a quick retreat to her former position.
Bella deflected the slash, and started circling also, waiting for Agrena's next attack.
She lunged for her middle. Again only trying to find her weakness. in site her to recklessness so that she would leave herself open then she would finish her off.
Bella tried to dodge, but the dirk sliced her side, drawing blood. The cat gasped, and covered it, but growled.
"I see That I am still the better fighter," Agrena said pleased. "Have you grown slow in my absence?" With this stinging remark she slashed out twice more with her sword once at her chest and then her legs.
Bella blocked the blows with her mace and axe. "Oh, I have plenty tricks up my sleeve." She hissed.
"No doubt, you do but I have more," She said in a dry even tone. "You would too if you had lived a life in exile," She then let out a series of blow with her sword that where intended to drive her sister back if not wound her.
Bella sighed, retreating, gaining a wound on her shoulder. "Agrena, please. Can't we talk through thois like sensible beasts?" She pleaded.
"Defend yourself! Prove your worthy of the title you bear! Protect your Kingdom and your throne like a true queen!" Agrena spat. "and perhaps I won't kill you in the end. Use your Ax the way it was meant to be used!" Then with on swipe of her sword arm she cleared a portion of the table plats cups silverware a fruit skidded across the table and onto the floor with a clatter.
"Why should I protect my throne, title, and kingdom?!? It's not even mine! I didn't want it in the first place!" Bella screamed, near breaking point.
"Then defend your life! prove you worth as a Forcentry! Prove our parents name!" Agreena said forcibly yet not raising her voice. "Hold up your ax, don't let it sag," She said showing her how to hold the weapon with her own blade.
Bella laughed, and held her ax the way she was shown. "Like old times, isn't it?" She said, smiling, but on her guard still.
"Never again!" Agreena said her face quickly turning to a snarl and slashed at her middle.
Bella blocked with her mace and said, "Agrena, you know that if you stop attacking me then I'd give you what's rightfully yours, right?"
"Aye, because you know I will beat you! You would wish to run and then return when you are at the advantage. A dead beast can not return!" She said Shutting her out again and slipping back into her anger and past.
"Why would I want to do that? Ask anybody you want - I suck at rul;ing people." Bella said, backing upl. She could see that her sister was in a dangerous mood. "Why would I want all this to myself, when I could share it - With you, sister dear?"
"Lies all lies!" She shouted with another swipe of her sword. So many years of hate where hard to let go of in a moment and she was not going to give up her clouded beliefs without a fight.
Bella growled, dodging the swipe and coming back. She swung her mace, then slashed with her axe. The mace went at head height, the axe at stomach height.
A triumphant grin spread across Agrena's face as she jumped back. "That's more like it, I was beginning to think you had grown soft! Afraid of your own weapon!" She said goading her on.
Bella merely snarled, and slashed an X with her axe, stepping forwards.
Agrena jumped back again and swung her sword in a z from shoulder to middle.
It was Bella's turn to jump back, but she didn't do it fast enough - The sword caught her shoulder. "Now, this really isn't fair!" Bella whined, still angry.