Marcus vs. Vela

[BrookSkimmer]

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Marcus vs. Vela

Setting: Sandy beach with water on one side and salt marshes to the other.

Marcus has first post!

[Ceteruler]

*Aye, nothing could stop him now! Marcus could see the vermin making their way ashore. His clenched teeth now letting spittle fly out of his mouth, the enraged mouse charged headlong toward the vermin's flank. All he could see in his mind was his cave that fateful day. Red covered his vision and the floor, the body of his beloved wife sprawled dead, shamefully murdered. His tiny son, Andrew, gone forever. Who knows what could have become of him? Both of them appeared in his mind's eye, urging him onward toward the foebeast.

Marcus... remember me. Make them pay. Don't let those stinking vermin ever plunder another cave on these northern shores.

Daaaddaaa. Eeee!


Strength poured into his muscles, energizing him like a cold gust of wind on a sleepy morning.  Now he was only fifteen yards from the closest victim. A fox. Foxes had been present there. They had done it. They must all die! The only thing that could be heard from Marcus was his pounding footsteps as, sword upraised, he charged the female fox and gave a mighty swipe at neck level.

Regardless of whether it hit or not, as soon as his blade passed the fox he jumped and kicked with both paws at the fox's stomach, intending to knock the wind out of her and to push her to the ground. Landing on his footpaws and one frontpaw, he quickly stood to assess the vermin's condition.

[321tumbler]

*Daaaddaaa Eee!

Vela looked up and saw a mouse running towards her with a sword. He took a swipe at her neck, but the blade only chopped of a few hairs. She had seen these types; strong beasts with vengance flowing through their veins. She was drawing out her dagger when the mouse kicked her in the stomach. She fell into the water, but instinctivley rolled back.
It wasn't until the water clogged her nostrils and she went into a crouched position that she noticed her dagger missing. The dagger had gotten caught in some seaweed, but Vela couldn't find it. She decided to turn the sling into a club. The mouse was a few feet away so she hoped she could get it before he arrived. Reaching into her pouch she found the sling and a large stone. She ran towards the mouse and swung towards it's head.

[Ceteruler]

*Unsurprised to see the fox dodge his wild swing but glad to see his footpaws had connected, Marcus took a few seconds to catch the breath that had been swept from his nostrils. The fox had rolled back into the water, now struggling to stand. She seemed to be missing her dagger. This caused Marcus to smile, widely. If the vixen lost her blade, she stood no chance against him. The fox suddenly stood, now holding a sling and stone in her baneful paws as she swung toward him.

Instinctively Marcus jumped back, holding the sword out in front. He let the sling wrap around the sword, not even letting the stone whack on the metal before pulling as hard as he could away from the fox. With his sharp blade, he had little doubt that it would slice through the sling. Even if it didn't, the leverage he gained should have been enough to pull the weapon from the foxes grasp.

Keeping his feet firmly planted, Marcus let out a wild yell. "Prepare to die, fox!" His teeth bared and his eyes blood red, the mouse fought hard to keep his mind under control. Screams, the taunting voices of vermin he never saw rang loud in his ears over the pounding of his heart. Joan's final breath let out in a dying moan, maniacal laughter, and rushing footpaws. Vermin, Vermin.... They must all die! Nothing, nobeast, could ever hold him back! He would not rest until ever one of these vermin were sent beyond the gates of the Dark Forest. Letting out another bellow, Marcus attacked the fox vicioiusly, sweeping his sword back and forth expertly at the fox, also attempting to keep her back to the sea.

"JOOOAN! AAANNDREEEWWWWW! FREEEDOOOOMMMM!"

[321tumbler]

*This fight hadn't been going as Vela planned. She lost her dagger, she was wet with salt water, and know the mouse had expertly counter attacked her sling was tearing. It snapped and fell into the water. The mouse swung the sword back and for and Vela knew he was trying to push her back. Her mind searched for ideas, but couldn't find any. Then, -when she looked back at the sea- she saw a fin pointing up far from the shore. It reminded her of her belt and the pouch. She had some "magic" powder that would create green smoke when thrown on fire. The burning ship was only a few feet away so  she ducked towards the ship and threw a little of the sparkling purple powder on a flame.

Smoke poured onto Vela, but she could still see the outline of the mouse. She splashed through the shallows until she was farther away and crouched down in the shadows. She felt around her and grabbed a rock next to her foot.

[Ceteruler]

Marcus could only blink in surprise as the fox threw some sort of powder at the ship which immediatey caused it to engulf her in smoke. The mouse stepped back and held his sword at the ready, searching for the fox's figure. Where is she? The mouse thought to himself, his keen eyes carefully searching the smoke. Ready at all times, the mouse forced himself to take a deep breath and keep a calm (or at least not insane), sound mind.

Whatever that vixen was planning behind that smoke, Marcus was ready for it. He knew she couldn't run away- he would spot her instantly if she went to either side and going into the sea only invited death. She must be gathering some sort of weapon. Maybe rocks, who knows? Marcus held the blade up level with his eyes, squinting along it to find the fox as he stood at the ready, ignoring the salt water lapping at his legs and footpaws.

[321tumbler]

Vela's plan had worked; the mouse hadn't see her where she was crouched. When his head was turned she threw the rock at his head. She took a deep breath and submerged herself fully in the water. Then, she used the sand floor to pull herself closer to the shore. When she got a far enough away she dared to look up to see where the mouse was..

[Ceteruler]

Marcus barely saw the rock coming until it was already halfway there. Quickly he tried to duck, but-

Crack! The stone gave him a sharp blow to the head, causing him to stumble backwards. His head exploded into pain, stars dancing in his vision. Unwittingly he let his sword hang loosely by his side as his free paw immediately groped at the wound. Already it was bleeding harshly, and Marcus's consciousness was hanging on only by a thread.

The vixen. The vixen. Marcus repeated the phrase over and over to himself. Laboriously he forced his eyes to search for the fox. There! She had just let her head up from under the water and was watching him. The wounded mouse dragged his sword up so that it was pointing toward the fox and stumbled his way toward her. He was not done. Not yet. Panting, he took a swipe at the prostrate fox while letting down as little of his guard as possible.

"Joan... Joan..." his breaths came out in pants of the name of his beloved.

[321tumbler]

"Yessssss." purred Vela. The stone had found it's target and it hit the mouse right on the head. He saw her, but to Vela it seemed that he was critically hurt and she hoped he might pass out. The mouse seemed to hold on, but his strength seemed to be draining away. He stumbled toward her with his sword pointing straight at her. The sword came down on her leg and she yowled in pain. The cut was deep and it started to bleed heavily. Vela hoped that the sea water would help a little, but she knew she had to get away from the mouse first.

[Ceteruler]

Marcus had little time. He knew it. The pain in his head grew by the second, and blood threatened to blind him. Steeling himself, he took multiple swipes at the fox. Must... kill... her... The words repeated themselves over and over in Marcus's mind as he aimed at the vixen's head and neck. Once she was dead, he would need to go back and get some help. And quickly.

[321tumbler]

*Vela tried to dodge and kick out with her feet, but the flat of the blade slammed against the side of her head. She knew she had to break the string that held the mouse's consciousness before she lost her own or he would kill her. Her legs kicked out even harder as she used the last of her power. Luckily, the water wasn't to deep so she didn't worry about drowning. Her head slowly sank down and she fell into an inky blackness.

[Ceteruler]

Marcus's sword fell with a small clang to the sand, unheeded. The fox was gone. No need to worry about her anymore. Kicked away by her footpaws, the delirious mouse stumbled backwards, towards the caves. There was no reason behind this. It was all he could do. Caves... the... With an exhalation, he only made it a third of the way up the sand before he collapsed, bleeding from his head profusely. As he sank into darkness, he could only hope that someone found him in time...