Flashback [The Arena of Ancients] Wanna Fight? (Tiza)

[Kaie]

Kaie was about to give up on the girl. She was a coward, weak in her vulnerable position of submission. Defeated. The child hardly cared anymore whether or not their peers might've scoffed at the fight. All she could do was gape at her opponent with the deepest scowl she could muster. It was not the way, what she was doing. This was not a warrior's spirit nor the actions of another kin those heart beat for the Goddess alone, yearning for praise and the soldier-esque hardening of their outer shell.

The longer she remained upon the ground, the more the child wanted to hate her for her cowardice. Sympathy would not snake its way into her soul. No more empathy would be spared. She'd done all she could for the girl without shaming her more than she had herself. Just when Kaie was about to growl and leave the circle they had stood in, there came the voice. One she leaned forward as if trying to hear...

Thwack!

And Kaie was suckerpunched right off her feet, stumbling backward in a haze until she dropped on her back to the dirt. Irritated, reddened eyes fluttered in an almost vacant manner for a moment. Had Tazi perhaps used true force the fight might've ended with that single blow. She sat up as the older girl scampered backward to recover from her humiliating display. Kaie forced herself to sit up at the very least, a tanned hand rubbing painfully under her tender jaw. There was a weird buzzing in her skull for several ticks that made it hard to tell exactly what her assailant had said. Needless to say she had obviously taken Kaie's advice.

"Goddess," She murmured to herself as she moved around her jaw, glad to see it was still working just fine. Then she rose and shook her head, a bewildered expression crossing her eyes.

So which is the ploy? The cowering girl or the defiant soldier-to-be?

"Damn right she shouldn't have."

Kaie snapped her head to the right to find Keikyo's bruised and swollen face. Her eyes were narrowed in something resembling disappointment and confusion, arms crossing his thick chest. The child merely blinked and pushed herself back to her feet. Still her gaze lingered upon her cousin. What are you doing? he mouthed to her, his lips taking on a furious curl. Her own brow furrowed at his accusing stare and a shrug of her shoulders was the only reply she had to offer him. Then she focused back on her assailant and raced back in.

It was flashy and stupid, a gladiator sort of move with far more bravado than true tactical merit. She'd seen one of the training pairs of soldiers try it, and being the ambitious little thing she was, it was impossible to pass up the opportunity to implement it for her own experimentation. So she ran at the older girl with a shriek head on, then jumped at her side with a twist of her hips and a wild swing of a fist at the fleshy spot just below the shoulder clumsily. It was enough to make Keikyo put his head in his hands.

OOC:You're fine! I liked the little momentary flashback with her sister.

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones Tazi stared at her opponent as she sat there. Her eyes drifted with Kaie’s to her companion, who was now black and blue. Whatever was transpiring between the two allowed Tazi a moment to sturdy her stance, and observe the onlookers. They were like ravenous dogs, unable to satiate their need for blood. Tazi could see it in their eyes. They needed a victor. Not one that was deemed victorious by default. She could see that now. Their world, was different. Even though she lived in it, Tazi barely understood her own society. Wasn’t there something more out there? Her opponent was getting up again, and Tazi brought her arms up to her face in a blocking stance. The next move seemed peculiar for the little girl to try. Tazi had gotten the feeling she was an experienced warrior for age, but the sudden shriek almost said otherwise. It was extremely childish and caused her arms to drop a little bit in shock. Her eyes were wide as the girl barreled towards her. Towards the end, Tazi watched with a slight smile as the girl jumped to the side. That was more like it, though the strike she suffered was a little lacking. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shamed response her companion was giving. For a brief moment, a strange thought crossed into Tazi’s mind. Moments ago, she would have banished this thought. Winning for Tazi wasn’t important, but it clearly meant a lot to her opponent. Since the girl wouldn’t take the freebie win, Tazi was going to ensure to piss her off enough until she got another decent hit in. Then, she would play dead. Everyone would win and Tazi would be able to get out of this hellhole quicker. She puffed out her chest, snickering at the girl. ”What was that? That didn’t even so much as hurt!” Tazi snarled back, patting the soft spot of her upper arm where the blow had landed. She danced backwards, throwing her feet out to the sides in a sweeping motion, catching the eyes of the onlookers. As long as she made the peons happy, she would get out of this pretty well off. Suddenly she surged forward again, similar to the move that she displayed at the beginning. She tucked herself down, as if in hopes to catch the girl around the waste and pin her. At the last moment, she hauled her torso backwards, sliding her feet forward. The dirt cut into the thinner parts of her pants as she slid, attempting to tangle her feet up with her opponent’s and trip her up. Maybe the girl would be faster on the ground. Maybe not. It was worth a shot to try and give her the upper hand. All Tazi wanted was for this to end.

[Kaie]

For the love of Myri, smooth one there. Really well done, Kaie.

Her small fist rebounded off the arm rather than more toward the chest, the strike's potency severely diminished by the unfavorable location. She tried to recover from her folly with as little hesitation as she could. Her feet landed strangely and unevenly upon the dirt, some loose specks flying up upon impact. It was all wrong. Her hips were facing outward, body leaning slightly forward in an attempt to regain balance. Kaie needed to concentrate, to find her bearings and execute again before her opponent rushed the offensive. The older girl's words, however, caused her teeth to grind in silent fury. Immediately her mind wandered to thoughts instead of action. By the time the youth had managed to fall back and orient herself, the older Myrian had already made her move.

A yelp of surprise escaped her lips as the female smashed into her torso. Kaie could feel her body leaning backward, her balance so quickly going to ruin. In a panic to free herself she lifted her right arm and brought her bony elbow down upon her attacker's shoulder once, twice...and then everything had shifted. Some clever shift of the scale on the other's part found Kaie in a world of trouble. It felt like her feet were tangled in a web of vines she couldn't escape. With a sharp thud Kaie hit the dirt. All the while she could only hear her father's rare piece of advice in her ears.

No matter what, never lose your footing in a fight if you can help it.

"No!" She snarled defiantly, turning on her back and yanking a foot to her knee before shooting it back at her assailant. It was a juvenile move at best, but it was her first instinct. Anything to get the girl away and find her feet once more...but since when was anything that easy in the Arena?

[Tazi]

Tazi's strange method seemed to have work, as both girls fell to the ground in a twist of legs. A dust cloud grew around them as the struggle moved to the land. People were cheering, and some of the boys were hopping up and down in excitement. Even though the fight had a moment where it was no longer fun, at least it wasn't over. Before Tazi could make another move, she heard a defiant yell from her attacker and saw her pull back her foot. Tazi could do nothing except try and scramble out of the way. Sadly, she was too slow.

Kaie's foot collided with her nose, causing Tazi to yowl in pain. Her hands instinctively went to her face, her eyes water as fresh blood began to gush out of her nostrils. Had Asar been fighting, this would have enraged the Myrian. Since it was Tazi, she practically had to take all her nerve to keep from running from the circle and crying now. Sure, she was older, but petch that hurt! Pushing herself out of the fray with her feet, she struggled to get to a standing position. Drops of blood had already begun to spot her clothing.

Mother better treat me like a victor tonight for this.

In a crouched position, which is all she could seem to get to in her bout of pain, she watched Kaie with wary, teary eyes. On occasion, she would sniff, trying to staunch the flow of blood by inhaling it back in. The taste of it was somewhat refreshing, as she had missed her first meal this morning.

[Kaie]

Ah,there it is...

There was always something so satisfying that came with violent contact, whether it was a knuckle to a face or a heel to one's nose. The cry from her opponent was a verbal signal of Kaie's success. It was a redemption from her previous display of infantile idiocy. At least that's what the gathering Myrians around them seemed to be reassuring her with their hoots and exuberant shouts that came with fresh blood. It seemed to have been enough to force to girl away from her, giving the youth a chance to escape and have a shot at securing an impossible victory. Keikyo must've realized the same because the next thing she knew his voice was all but in her hear.

"There you go! Now get up! Get up, Kaie!" He encouraged her viciously from a crouch beside her on the inner ring of the spectators. His voice was strong, proud, and it was enough to bring an extra thump in her heart and a more predatory scowl to her expression. "Yes! Now get after her! Now while you have the advantage!" And so she rose, glaring at her opponent as the girl shoved herself away from Kaie and to her feet. The younger of the duo wasted no time in engaging once again. Just as the other girl had fallen into a crouch of her own, the little Myrian had already rocketed across the Arena with the pugnaciousness of an offended tigress.

He's right. You can do it. You might be able to do it. She's bleeding now, maybe distracted by it. Be smart. Strike hard and do it quick before she does first!

This time she shot her bony foot out toward the girl's middle, hoping to double her over. If she succeeded Kaie would try her luck with a follow up downward strike of her elbow upon the back of her head.

[Tazi]

The vicious pack of Myrians - animals more like - that surrounded the fighting pair had gotten larger as other spars ended. Their spar had continued on longer then many anticipated, and some held their breath with wonder. The victor was no longer evident, the older "warrior" bleeding down her white clothing, while the younger girl pulled herself up. The words of her friend seemed to get a rise out of her opponent Tazi noticed. Through the tears of pain that were welling up in her eyes, she watched as Kaie got up and lunged forward. Tazi was too slow to throw an arm out to block the kick, taking a majority of the force to her soft abdomen. Hand fell foward to her belly as she crumpled forward. Her face, belly, wrists, legs...everything hurt. Her vision was getting blurry as she stared at the ground, trying to comprehend what was happening.

The next move put Tazi on the ground. A cloud of dust rose from around her body, her head spinning. Her opponent had done a ending blow to the back of her head. Wide-eyed, Tazi tried to find a place to place her hands. Attempting to push herself back up, a few blood droplets landed in the dirt. All she saw was a pool of blood as the droplets multiplied in her new found double vision. One hand found solid earth, the other a loose stick. The stick rolled, causing her to fall flat again with a groan.

There was no getting up. Her head was splitting and her body was giving up. Heavy breathing took over and she closed her eyes, trying to regain an ounce of her sanity. She began to count in her head, breathing in and out with her thoughts, just like her father had taught her when she was overwhelmed with the world. That, and when she violently had to empty her stomach. Vomiting right now would not help the sting of the loss she just sustained.

One. Two. Three. Four...

[Kaie]

It wasn't a very practical blow in hindsight, that elbow strike. Its angle had been awkward and its delivery shaky but in the end it had served its purpose. The youth supposed that was all that had truly mattered really: victory. The Arena was more than a training ground for whomever chose to enter. It was a place to test their meddle and teach them the rules of the world they lived in. Real conflict didn't finish with fuzzy heads and broken bones. It came to a close with pale, blood deprived cadavers and blank stares from glossy milky eyes. Death. That was the lesson they had come to learn here and also the one they prayed to avoid. It was survival of the fittest and the fittest weren't always the ones projected to dodge Dira's grasp.

Kaie stared down at the dropped female gasping upon the earth, her own back all but crumpled forward as her own chest heaved. For a moment there was a battle within her own mind. One bit of her willed the other girl to get back to her feet and have another go at her, while the other begged her to remain submissive in her defeat. The motivational roar of their spectators erupted into a howl of cheers for the fight's conclusion. Without warning Keikyo stepped to his cousin's side and lifted her fist into the air.

"Kaie of the Cutthroat Shadows!" He bellowed aggressively toward their peers, his face contorted with fierce pride. A broad grin cracked across the tired combatant's lips upon the crowd's rabid cries, some chanting her name. Keikyo ruffled her messy brown hair and gave her a rough pat on the back, apparently well aware the soft, vulnerable image of the family members hugging would do a number on both their images.

For a couple chimes she basked in the hard won glory of her win, but as the cries began to ebb as Myrians searched for the next thrill, her amber eyes found her beaten opponent. After a moment of deliberation she walked over to her and crouched beside her.

"You fought well. Don't dwell on it too long, I probably just got lucky anyways, right?" She jibed in good nature, standing again and offering down a hand to help her up if she wanted it. Perhaps "good sportsmanship" was anything but common in their society, but there was something undeniably curious about the fallen girl. "I am Kaie of the Cutthroat Shadows. What's your name?"

[Tazi]

Tazi groaned, but the sudden assault of noise from the surrounding Myrians was appealing to her. It meant that the fight was over. Finally. Bruised and bloodied, Tazi rolled onto her back. Placing her better arm over her eyes, she smiled to no one in particular. Yea, she lost. Would it have been nice if she had won? Sure. Yet, that had not been her mission. Tazi had injuries that would make Asar cringe and her mother proud. Even her father would have been proud with the onslaught she suffered today.

Eventually the noise died off, and a cloud crossed in front of the sun allowing her to drop her arm. She looked over her head as onlookers moved on to the next fight. Finally she would be able to sneak away, deal with her major injuries, and then head on home. Rolling on to her side, and then her knees, she paused when she saw a pair of feet in front of her. Lifting her gaze, she was somewhat shocked when she saw her opponent standing there with her hand extended. As unusual as this display was, Tazi decided to take her hand, pulling her weary self up.

"Thanks," Tazi started, brushing off her torn pants. "I doubt it. You are more skilled than I am. I am Tazi of the Scattered Bones. You fought very well. Where did you learn all of those clever moves?"

[Kaie]

The young girl shrugged her shoulders sheepishly and dug at the earth with her heel. Confidence in herself was something she found important in battle. There was a necessity in trusting oneself to get the job done. Kaie wasn't exactly one to be labelled humble, but she certainly didn't hold herself on any pedestal. There was a reality she understood: she was young, inexperienced, and there was much knowledge to discover. By no means could she truly claim she was good. One step in the Training Yards would prove that point. However, Kaie was adequate. She was in a place she could work with and everything needed to come with industriousness. Skill came only after hard work.

"Thank you. Keikyo and I spar a lot. Every fight brings a lesson, they say so I try to learn as much as I can now. Sometimes I just try things I've watched the soldiers do. They're better at it than me," Kaie offered with a slight grin. A spear spar had already begun to gain attention to their left, Keikyo's included, but for the time being it appeared the youth had no interest in watching just yet. "I don't remember seeing you here a lot. I kinda got the feeling this really isn't your thing."

It was an absurd thing to say considering their heritage, but after reviewing Tazi's reactions during their little battle, it was hard to say otherwise.

[Tazi]

Tazi nodded as Kaie explained. It made sense that the young girl manipulated what she saw to learn new skills. Asar would have appreciated the talent the girl was harboring. That, and she probably would have asked if she could have joined them in sparring since Tazi was so against fighting. Snuffling, she ran her hand beneath her nose. Some of the preformed clotted blood fell to the ground, and fresh blood streaked her nose. At least she could find some benefit to fighting. She had injuries that would allow her to practice her medicinal skills as well.

"This is actually my first time sparring with someone that is not my sister. My mother kicked me out of the long house and said do not come back until I had at least one bruise. I think she'll be proud of me for once," Tazi chuckled, looking at the blood on her arm. Bruises had begun to form in the various areas, dying her skin blue and purple. Where there had been less pressure applied, her skin was slightly more yellow and green. She imagined she was going to develop some severe black eyes from the kick to the nose. "I prefer the path of healing. My mother despises me for it, but she idolizes my twin. Myri is not born in all of her children. I'm just odd."