A Friendly Spar (Banir, Alea)

[Banir Ironwood]

Slowly he began to understand. This wasn't an order or a command, this was to aid someone else. It was a little late to calm down, his blood burned as it coursed through his veins. Taking quick and almost panicked breaths trying to contain his rage. Reaching over he reached under his amour and grabbed tightly on his right arm. The twitching died down a little the metal quieting down. His voice was rushed and and had a hint of fear as he looked down at his feet.

"I agree to the 'spar' but this Jamoura." Silently he prayed to the gods to allow him to contain his anger until the fight. Alea demonstrated no real combat experience, even with someone like Yuros near he didn't want to risk it letting out his anger. His graveled tone bit the air once more as his anger gnawed at his mind.

"I hope this fight you have arranged is soon, I'm rather angry right now. I apologize but it may come forth at an undesirable moment." This he prayed to Izurdin for strength to hold back the emotional overflow. Containing his rage was beginning to hurt a little mentally.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea nodded and said, "He told us to meet him this way." She believed that bottling up his anger wasn't good for Banir, but she also agreed that this was probably not the best place to unleash it. She reached up to take Yuros' hand on her shoulder. The strength of his grip was starting to get a little uncomfortable. She pulled him along as she skipped toward the meeting place, assuming Banir would follow. She tried to make light of the situation, but she could not completely mask the sense of urgency she felt.

When they arrived at the prearranged location, Alea frowned. Gromm was nowhere in sight. Did we mistake the time? she wondered. She looked at Banir nervously, wondering what he would do now that she'd broken a promise to him and he had no outlet for his rage.

OOCIt has been over a month since Gromm was online, so we are continuing without him.

[Yuros]

With eyes that spoke of quiet intensity, Yuros gazed about the space, but there seemed to be no sign of the Jamoura. Sniffing the air the Kelvic looked down at Alea, but she seemed as perplexed as he was. With a grunt Yuros rolled one of his scared shoulders, looking back over his shoulders at the man of Rage and Fear. He could smell the man's rage, and out of instinct Yuros placed himself between Banir and Alea.

His eyes returned to Alea, though he kept Banir in his peripheral vision, "What should we do?"

[Banir Ironwood]

Pain warped his mind as his anger burned in his veins. He couldn't restrain himself any longer. Heart pounding rapidly, breaths short and quick, his muscles almost enlarged from his rage. Falling to a knee he started to groan and shout. Shortly after he stood up his eyes practically glowing red from under his hood. His rage had over taken him. Standing up he looked upon Yuros, no fear gripped him, no measure of restraint was shown. Not a bit of mercy in his eyes as he began to charge at Yuros. The cold metal adorning his right arm glinted in the dim sunlight. Screaming death his rough voice violated the calm air. Each powerful footstep sounding like a storm as the metal clattered violently on his boots.

The deathly claw raised above his head while his left gloved hand balled in a fist. Banir had gone wild, his berserker rage holding him tight in its grip. He had tailed behind them a few ways but he was gaining ground fast. Though Banir's greatest advantage was his strength he moved rather fast for someone who thought so slow.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea's gut wrenched in panic. It had been stupid of her, but she had not foreseen this outcome. Her instinct was to get out of the path of the raging monster she'd unleashed, but this time Yuros was here. She couldn't just leave him! "Run?" she said in a small voice that did not carry nearly as much confidence as she had intended.

This was bad. Usually Alea was able to instinctively come up with a plan when bad things were happening, but for some reason, today she was just drawing a blank. She didn't think they could both outrun Banir, and there was nowhere to hide in a space this open. A man with murder in his eyes was charging at Yuros. There was nothing she could do, and it was all her fault.

[Yuros]

Calm... Rustle of leaves and rays of light shining through a canopy of waving limbs... Once more, Yuros found himself in the Spire, in the midst of survival, of life and death... A twig snapped and the Kelvic's mind raced "What was it? Is it a Hunter?" It was not panic, it was instinct. No thoughts, no emotions to cloud judgment or interfere with survival. All there was, was action.

No thought, no feeling, a movement in the corner of his eye. A crunch of snow and clink of metal, and the unmistakable scent of death. It was another world, it was no longer the city of Avanthal, and those around were neither friends nor enemies. It was just Yuros, just the pounding of life's blood and the scorch of adrenaline through his veins that caused the Kelvic's ears to thud. It was just a quick intake of breath and one sudden, all consuming question. Fight... or flight... In less than an instant the decision was made. There was a charging danger, a frightened doe, and blood was sure to follow. Yes, only one decision was appropriate... FIGHT!

Turn and step forward, ready hands and brace shoulders. The coming danger was not friend or foe, it was life or death. The Kelvic knew he would kill if it came to it, he knew that if it were a choice of him or this danger, Yuros would always choose himself. Banir's charge was crazed, wild and out of control. Yuros' felt his inner instincts shift his stance slightly as he was reminded of his bout with a giant boar while within the Spire. Its size was nearly the same as Banir's, and its tusks just as dangerous as the coming claw. Yuros was not frightened. He had dealt with such dangers before, and he had survived every encounter.

There, a grunt and impact and Yuros' left hand came up to pull down the clawed hand, diverting the sharp edges so that they sunk into his side instead of his chest, just as the full of Banir's weight crashed into him. The man's fist found the Kelvic's ribs, driving the wind from his lungs as he was driven back a few paces, his boots sliding in the snow, just as with the boar from so long ago. The Kelvic's body was hard, his muscles steel cords that, while they were not overly bulky, bulged with strength born from survival and countless life and death struggles. His strength might have been surprising for Banir, for Yuros did not fall, did not give in and did not give more ground than he could. They both came to a stop just a couple of feet from Alea.

Sniffing the air, Yuros could smell her scent, could almost taste the girl's uncertainty and fear. She was a doe unaccustomed to such strugles. She had yet to see her first rutting season and the ferocity it brought, and feeling her confliction gave Yuros' already pounding heart a sudden surge. With a grunt that echoed his animal form, Yuros brought his knee up hard into Banir's gut, perhaps enough to knock the wind from him as well as loosen his grasp. Just as the man leaned back Yuros brought his right hand sailing up, catching the underside of Banir's jaw with the flat side of his palm. Shifting his weight and turning, the metal claws digging in deeper into his side, Yuros followed his motion and sent him tumbling to the side, not waiting to see if the man fell or not.

In one fluid motion, Yuros turned and swept Alea up in his arms, bounding forward with leaps that almost seemed to defy gravity. The Kelvics knotted leg muscles carried them far from the reach of the man, and there Yuros set the Huntress down as gently as an infant, letting her lean against him for a moment as she caught her breath. However, the Kelvic could sense the danger had not passed, and soon turned to stare down the man who would dare to harm his bonded. Blood flowed freely from the 4 long gashes in his side, causing crimson streaks to trail down the Kelvic's thigh and staining the leggings red. With a huff Yuros readied himself to charge. If it came to it, Banir would die this day, gorged on one ivory point, and the Kelvic would watch the man's own crimson life spill from him. Thus did Yuros swear to himself, in the defense of his doe.

[Banir Ironwood]

Nothing, it was an all encased nothingness that surrounded the real Banir, trapped within his mind. It was his own mental prison, the dark silent place he went to whenever there was too much emotion. Inside guilt gnawed wile his rage controlled him. He never wanted this, the only reason he had gone berserk was because Alea said it was alright. But it appeared his opponent hadn't shown, but his anger didn't disappear. Like a sentient beast it broke from its cage needing to sate its hunger for violence. Banir waited silently, sorrowfully, for his rage to expire. In the darkness of his mind he waited.

Weightlessness was strange to the monster that once had been a man. Though the pain of impact from Yuros's knee and hand didn't phase him for a moment, neither had the impact of the fall. Though tossed to the side like he had been discarded he got to his feet spry and quick. The eyes of blood searched left and right, vision was limited, sacrificed for greater strength. No thought other than momentum, forward, attack. All he saw where targets, things to destroy. Rage took his voice as he let out loud shouts that caused hair to stand on end. It was the shout of a creature ready to die in the name of killing its opponent. Grinding the iron claw along the shoulder guard as it screamed. Creating an almost perfect aura of horror. The minute he saw Yuros he charged once more.

With footfalls like thunder, iron claw a force of nature unbridled, eyes of hate staring down death. This thing that was Banir was faster, stronger, and fearless. There was almost nothing of the true man left in those eyes. He had become just a mindless creature bent on the destruction and death of others. Without pity, without morals, without self preservation. It was like nothing would stop it. Not the cold air scrapping into its lungs, not the pain of impact, not the burning of its own rage. Nor the desecration of its own flesh and bone.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea clung to Yuros as he carried her, staring in horror at the bloody gashes in his side, unable to look away. She looked up at his face in terror. She was more afraid for him than herself, but she was also worried that he might have to hurt Banir. She hadn't meant for things to go so wrong, and she wanted both of her friends to stop trying to kill each other. A bizarrely detached part of her mind wondered how they were going to get all that blood out of Yuros's trousers. Alea's own clothes were stained with his blood.

Banir was already charging again, an unstoppable force of rage and destruction. Alea felt as helpless as ever, but she took strength from the knowledge that Yuros would protect her, which gave her more room to think. Her Denvalian pride rekindled, and even if she had no chance in a fight, she'd be damned if she was just going to sit around playing the damsel in distress. She had to do something.

Alea had no idea what state Banir's mind was in, but she knew he'd lost control at least once before and come back from that. The Banir she knew had to still be in there somewhere. She didn't know whether she could get through to Banir, but she had to try. "Banir, stop! You don't have to do this! You can fight it! Don't let the anger control you!" Alea hardly knew what she was saying, she was just desperately shouting any words she could think of that might reach Banir before anyone got seriously hurt.

[Yuros]

Breath... Nothing else mattered... There was a stinging sensation and a warm flow trailing down the Kelvic's left side, but he paid it no mind. Breath... If there was still breath then there was life, and with life Yuros could go on. One arm moved, no pain. Stamping of one foot did not bring forth agony. All was whole, all was well but for the spreading warmth to the side, but that was something to be concerned about later.

Sound, loud and savage. Heart pulsing faster, muscles tightening in response. Breath... Continue to breath... do not give up on that life, do not forget... Step forward, examine the charge. A beast, crazed with blood lust sought to end the life, to stop the breathing. That was all there was. There was breath, and there was something that sought to take that breath away...

The charge moved strangely, the thud of footsteps muffled by snow. The clinking of metal could be heard, and Yuros noticed the man tilted slightly to the side with its weight.

Breath... No thoughts, no fears.... Breath... Do not forget, life comes with each breath. To stop would mean to have died, to have failed... React... React... Do not think, react... Fight but do not forget... Breath... LIfe... React... Do not fall for breath shall be taken... Breath... do not stumble least life be stolen... Breath... Do not fear, for reaction shall be slowed...

Pounding heart, thud of blood and surge of muscles, a call flew from Yuros' lips as instincts guided his actions. No thoughts surfaced, no guiding or meaning could be found in his movements. It was a forward charge, straight toward Banir. It was a challenge, it was a test of strength, it was a show of respect... Breath... React... Live...

With a clash the two slammed together, Yuros' hand found Banir's metal claw and pushed it up to the side on impact. His other caught the man's shoulder, and both came to a complete halt, struggling to overpower the other. There was pain once more, though Yuros did not take the time to discover from what. The Kelvic performed a simple heel stomp into Banir's shin, hard enough that a normal man would have cried out in pan, then with a wrenching motion Yuros pulled on Banir's claw, the metal biting deep into his hand, and pushed with his other hand in an effort to sling him to the side. Following his own momentum Yuros let go and rolled sideways, a short distance from the man and quickly came back to his feet.

Blood dripped from his fingers as he stood, shaking his head and rolling his shoulders in preparation. His breaths were long and controlled, inhaling leading to a steady exhale as Yuros tried to calm his pounding heart. The brief intermission ended suddenly, and the Kelvic found himself locked in battle with the man once more. The claw struck, aimed for vital areas but were deflected to the sides or away at the last second. The Kelvic felt his inner self going over past conflicts, fights for survival that brought movement to his limbs and understanding to his eyes. A shoulder dip would lead to curved attack, a step back could mean a bracing for a powerful thrust or kick, the sting of the claw was one that Yuros knew well, and his scars all cried out in greeting as new bloody gashes were rained down on his form.

His movements were not those of a trained fighter. There was no technique, there were no forms or stances. Everything was basic, a sudden reaction to a motion or an impact. Pain was the guiding factor, experiences moved him more than his observations. A fist would sail forward under a block to pound of flesh, a kick would find its way to shin or knee to gut. It was all so... simple. At times the Kelvic would take the claws merles touch for the chance to strike back at Banir, every time his aim was not to defeat, it was to incapacitate. Each strike that was a solid hit would become a bruise, some hits may fracture or splinter. It mattered little as Yuros received a cut here and a bruise there. Both were injured, and blood flecked from the Kelvic with every movement. Crimson streaks began to make trails down his body, covering his shirtless form with tears of blood that Yuros paid no mind to. All that mattered was the Breath... the life... React... React... React...

[Banir Ironwood]

Darkness, sorrow, it was all that was inside the depths of his mind. Like a child Banir sat in the recess of his anger. The numbness he had in the abscense of control was something he'd gotten used to over the years. He had always been afraid of losing himself to his rage, it meant that he hurt people, but it also meant he could return to his body to find his life draining away. Fear didn't instil in him when he thought of death, he understood it was natural and even a means of rebirth. But killing another was something he abhored, be it himself or another. As the true Banir sat he realized he might have offended the goddess of death Dira. He prayed silently hoping she forgave him. He wasn't familure with her, or her domain but it was good to be polite. As well it took his mind away from the surrounding darkness, and the possible horror the future he may make for himself. A familure voice called into his head, far off but getting closer. The voice of his father, and with it a fountian of insults for him. This didn't infuriate him, it caused his throat to close, his chest to squeeze like it was being crushed. He could do nothing but endure, wait, wait until it ended.

The clash of impact between the two was barely even painful his shoulder guard protecting from Yuros's hand while his claw kept trying to overpower him in his fury. The puffs of snow at their feet, Banir's fur lined and armoured boots Instead Banir used his free left hand to relentlessly pound into Yuros's side. With his chest heaving under the weight of air while he fought with the taller Kelvic for each second seeming like a minute. He felt nothing from the heel stomp with the metal guarding his shins. But found himself shifted off when Yuros broke the hold, he was disoriented for a moment. Seeing him come out of the roll he charged once again locking into combat again. His claw hacking and slashing away giving a strong offense with the only defense being no raction to a hit upon him. The metal glinted with blood as he kept stricking at Yuros, his own wounds taking toll on his fighting ability.

As he drowned in his rage that fueled his actions he was nothing but mindless striking. Some where simple random stiking. Others where far more dangerous as they reflected real fighting experiance almost trained moves. Banir took every hit delt to him, and the monster hit back with deadly fearocity. His tough skin and dense bones giving him a small advantage over most beings. But his wounds where taking a toll yet he continued to fight. Not ready to give up or give in. Without warning Banir suddenly brought himself into a charge at their close distance and tried to throw Yuros over his shoulder. He had crouched low hitting him on the lower stomach and swung his arms hard at his legs. The force was hard to counteract as Yuros fell over Banir. His feet hammering the ground as he stopped and turned around, he jumped at the fallen Kelvic both arms raised in fists ready to crush what was below him.