In a land far away from Mossflower, a group of vermin led by a warrior-chief had a favorite game to play during their highest feasts. Two creatures were brought into a ring on the noon of the day to fight each other to the death. Sometimes it was two vermin against each other; other times it was a vermin against a woodlander. But on this occasion, a certain squirrel had been captured, all his possessions taken away, and forced into a cage to await the inevitable fight. He had heard rumors that he had to fight another squirrel, and he hoped they were not true.
Garthhick struggled against his captors as he was dragged toward an iron door that opened into the fight ring. They threw him forward onto the ground, shutting another door behind him, poking him with spears through the gaps. The squirrel was forced forward, and the gate in front of him opened so he could walk through. Once on the dirt ring, the gate shut, and he picked up an axe that lay in front of him. Looking toward the other door, he prayed silently for his life, as well as who he had to fight while he waited.
"What the-? Leggo of me, you addle-headed, beetlebrains! Is this anyway you treat a lady?!?!?" Arya shrieked as she was pushed, prodded, and poked to a door. Then the door opened, and spears ringed around. "Oh, no, I am NOT going in there, you baggy bums!" She said, then gave a yell of indignation as they picked her up and threw her bodily into the arena. She jumped up, her paw grabbed her sword that was lying in the dirt. She also picked up her dagger, and slipped it into the boot, noticing that they had confiscated her arrows as well as her armor. Then, she observed the squirrel at the other end. "Oh, come on! You can't be serious?" She shrieked at the vermin surrounding the arena. Then she twirled her sword, stuck it into the scabbard, and ran and leaped for the arena wall, grabbed on, and started going up it, using a tactic she;d learned from a bear in her travels. She got about half way up before they knocked her off balance using spear butts. She landed tails over ears, and used the momentum to roll upright. "Alright, then, sir. I do apologize; I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you, or you kill me." She called to the other squirrel. Then she drew her blade and charged.
OOC: I left out the bow and arrows because I thought it would be more fair.
OOC: Okay
BIC: Garthhick also charged, but as he neared Arya, he dropped to the ground in a roll, attempting to trip his opponent.
Arya jumped tp the side, and brought her sword down, attempting to slash his back.
Garth didn't know how close he had been to a serious wound. Bouncing up, he swung his axe at Arya's side.
Arya blocked the blow, setting her paws tingling. Muttering an oath, she started slashing in a figure-eight pattern, her sword going faster and faster unbtil it was ablir, stepping closer to Garth.
Garth backed up, not sure as to what kind of move he should make until he reached the wall. Suddenly getting an idea, he ran and jumped up the wall to land behind Arya.
Arya whirled around, bringing her sword up to protect her face, while using her dagger for the first time and thrust it forward.
Garth used the butt of his axe to block the dagger, whacking at her paw with it.
Arya grimaced, as the axe hit her paw, but took the moment to swing at Garth's head, since he was distracted.
The squirrel twisted his head to the side as quickly as he could, but not as quickly as he should have. Tip of his ear was even shorter now. He kicked at Arya's legs.
OOC: Exceeded PM limit. Again. Sorry.
BIC: Took a step back, but not fast enough, and went down hard on her tail. She popped back up, and took a ready stance.
OOC: Ah.
BIC: Garth circled Arya, trying to find a weak spot. "I'm sorry we have to fight," he said.
"So am I.....But I'd really like to get home to my mother. She hasn't long left in this world." Arya said regretfully, turning with Garth. "Oh, by the way, my name's Arya. Arya Brushtail." She said.
"Garth," he said. "You're not getting home to your mother any quicker, I'm afraid." He charged at her, using his axe as a ram.
Atrya side-stepped, and slashed downwards. "True enough." She said, then flicked her sword sideways at his back.
Garthhick felt a stinging pain in his back, and felt something warm and sticky running down his back. Blood. He backed up, still sixing up the situation. Her sword caused problems, as she could hurt him from farther away. If he got in close, he might have a better chance. Coming closer cautiously, he jabbed quickly with his axe.
Arya gasped as the axe thudded into her thigh, and she threw her dagger. That probably wasn't the best thing to do under the circumstances, but she was good with her sword, which was currently moving to slice HIS thigh.
Garth had to slow down as soon as Arya's sword bit deep into his leg. He stumbled and fell, quickly getting back up again. Cheers, jeers, and cries for blood were heard from the seats around the ring.
OOC: What about the dagger? She threw it at him.
BIC: Arya, like she was taught, waited for Garth to get up on his feet. Just then, a really vulgar suggestion came from a rat who was sitting above her. She gave a shriek of rage, and propelled herself up the wall, swung her sword, and lopped off his paw and ear, then jumped back down, turning back to Garth.
Garth rubbed his shoulder. He had not realized the other squirrel's dagger had just shaved by him. Watching Arya punish the vulgar rat, he smiled grimly. "It is sad; I would like to have known you better. But. . ." he raised held his axe firmly "We must continue." He walked sideways, searching for the right moment to attack.
"What if we escape?" Arya said, lowly, so the rats above couldn't hear. She acted like she was still fighting, but when she slashed, she made sure it missed him.
"Not unless they open up one of the gates," he still blocked the swing, not sure how much the squirrel was still willing to fight. "We're pretty well trapped."
"Not if we climb." She said, feinting, but making sure she still missed her opponent.
"Haven't you seen? There's guards every fifteen feet."
He hopped back, his mind racing. He ran and vaulted over Arya with his axe, trying to climb up the wall. A guard quickly whacked him down with his spear, Garth fell heavily.
"That guy stole my bow, and arrows. If I can get that back, we're set." Arya said, motioning towards one of the guards. "Shall we try it?"
Garth hesitated, then pounced upon Arya.
Arya gasped, then swung a punch. She'd thrown her dagger, and her sword was too long for close combat.
The punch caught Garth in the shoulder, but it was hardly enough to stop his momentum from taking them both to the ground, Garth on top. Hopping up quickly, he held his axe directly over her head, fighting within himself as to whether he should do it, or not.
Arya closed her yes, and sighed. "Alright. Do it." She said slowly and quietly, resigning herself to the idea of death as she waited for the blow to fall.
Cries for Arya's blood filled Garth's ears, urging him to take his right to leave a free creature. But. . . at the cost of a life? 'Boos' and angry yelling replaced the original cries as he lowered his weapon and helped Arya up.
Looking directly at the warrior-chief, who stood from his throne in anger, Garth yelled "We will not fight!"
Ordering soldiers down into the ring, the chief went down to force their deaths.
"Thank you." Arya whispered, then vaulted for the side, and grabbed her bow and arrows, taking an arrow and using it to kill the rat who'd taken them. Then she got back down, and grabbed her sword and dagger.
"I've got a plan," Garth said, watching the vermin form a semi-circle around them. We go through the gates they came out of and lock this lot in here." He ran toward the group to vault over them. "I hope you're a good squirrel!" *
OOC: * I mean jumping capability.
Arya ran, and leaped, passing Garth's landing point. "Of course!" She quipped, then kicked a rat in the face accidentally-on-purpose
"Let's go!"
Garth ran as quickly as he could toward the gate, bowling over a ferret who stood in the way. When Arya was with him, he found the lever to shut the gate, ready to lock the vermin inside.
Arya noticed the vulgar rat coming for her, so she decided to get a better payback, and punched him in the nose. It felt good. Then she was beside Garth, slightly out of breath. "All good." She said.
Pulling the lever, he ran out behind them where he figured the exit to be, leaving vermin trapped and cursing at them. Cutting down a rat with his axe, he found himself faced with a large door. "Come on, this has to be the way!" he called to Arya, tugging desperately at the door.
Arya gasped as she was stabbed in the footpaw. SDhe turned and slew the rat, then ran, limping, after Garth. She grabbed the door handle and tugged, then fell over as it opened.
Hauling Arya up, he half dragged, half carried her as far as he could, turning to see the vermin guards having stopped a long way off. They shook their fists at the two squirrels, going back inside to help their warrior chief. He smiled a bit. "We made it out."
Arya smiled, "Yes we did!" On an impulse, she gave Garth a small uick hug, then blushed. Then she hobbled over to a tree, and started ripping up her tunic to bandage her injuries.
Garth blushed as well, not used to being so close to anybeast, let alone a female squirrel. After hesitating half a moment, he went to help Arya bind her wounds. When they were done, he helped her up, saying "Come on; let's get you to your mother."
"Thank you." Arya said, then smiled. For once, she was happy.
OOC: Hey, Skarzs, it looks like this duel is over. But how about a follow-up RP? One that continues their story?
OOC: We can discuss this in the OOC. I'll PM a mod about this being over. ;)