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

[Kaie]

88th of Spring, 503 AV

It was seriously becoming her favorite stomping ground already, the Arena of Ancients. Now that her father had taught her to use her body as a weapon, each spar with her companions proved far more rewarding than ever before. There was something so sadistically satisfying she felt when she struck her opponent, something promising every time she hit the dirt with every intention of getting up again. Each fall was becoming a lesson, failures a stronger motivation toward success. May the Goddess Queen damn her if she ever thought for a moment about submitting. Defeat was not ever an option. Only victory. To lose was to die, and when one lived in the thick, merciless jungles of Falyndar, survival was an ever fleeting luxury. Some lived and some died. There was never any middle ground.

"Finish him, Kaie! Finish him!" A small crowd of children began to yell like a troop of monkeys hooting in the trees that surrounded the training grounds. Their voices were excited, some crouching to become almost level with the combatants, souls growing more eager with each and every moment of action. She was learning to feed off them, to absorb their encouragement and bask in it like a reward for her growing progress toward prowess. Their cheers this day were of unbridled admiration, and she loved them for it.

Her opponent that day was a boy a year her senior. His attitude had been cocky, arrogant in a way that was almost uncharacteristic of Myrian males. He treated everyone as his subordinate, bragging about his mother taking over as a clan matriarch and his father bonding with a Myrian Tiger. A few had challenged him to a brawl in an attempt to knock him down a few notches, but unfortunately he kept rising as champion. Keikyo was familiar with the youth, and he had smirked the moment they had come for another day of sparring only to find the male present. He was big and bulky in build and Kaie was smaller and therefore quicker, her cousin had reminded her. The swell of confidence was enough to convince her to have a go at him. And now there he was laying under her, face all bruised and blood running down from his nostrils. Barbarians would've cringed at the very sight.

"Do it, Kaie! Finish him already! Come on!" They chanted at her as she straddled him, her hands balled into tight fists. The bronzed child stared down into his dark eyes hesitantly, only to find disbelief and hatred glaring right back. It was just when he began to spit some sort of vulgar insult at her that Kaie hammered his knuckles right into his jaw. It was enough to keep him from readily opening his mouth again, and certainly enough to merit the end of the spar for pride. After all the Arena of Ancients was a place for sparring and weapon skill building, not for violently settling grudges that always looked more like a blood bath had taken place afterward.

"You were right, Keikyo. I am faster," She said with a jokingly arrogant smirk, shoving herself off the hurting boy and dancing over to her cousin.

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right," He shot back with a crooked smile, one hand messing up her curly brown hair to make her giggle. The humiliated male pushed himself up to his feet while pressing the heel of his palm against his blackening left eye. Kaie could feel the heat of his gaze upon the back of her head. "I think I should pick your fights more often." Keikyo continued smugly as if intending to take credit for her win.

"I think you should pick some for yourself sometime soon."

"Well as your cousin and fellow clan member I have to believe you're the best fighter here besides me. If you were the best, which you're not, I'd just have to start kicking your ass all day, everyday. I wouldn't want to embarrass you when clan mother interrupts to start asking me to go easier, you know, just so you think you could ever have a chance."

Goddess, he's such a jerk.

"You just don't want to fight me because you know I'll win. It would be embarrassing to be beaten by your little cousin, wouldn't it?" She shot right back playfully, her voice feigning sympathy in her conjured truth. He merely laughed out loud at her.

"Try again in your next life, Kaie. You don't have a shot."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm."

"How about I pick someone for you to ask to spar then?"

"This'll be good," He scoffed in amusement, arms folding across his thickening chest. "Go for it, Tigress." Kaie couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. For a moment she was silent, amber eyes narrowing as she carefully scanned the promising crowd of loinclothed Children of Myri in their company. Quickly a satisfied smile burst across her features.

"That one.

"Which one?"

"That one. Her." She extended her little index finger toward one of the fiercer looking females in their midst. A gritty looking adolescent already marked with scars yet lacking the blessing of their Mother. Still she was a predatory looking warrior and a worthy one at that. Keikyo's pupils dilated and Kaie swore for a moment his face turned pale. Then returned that always smooth, knowing expression.

"Only if you challenge that one."

"What one?"

"Right there. How about her?"

Shyke...

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones ”I swear to Myri child, if you do not come back with a wound of some sort, you are going to get more lashings then your body can handle!” The sounds of wounded yips came from inside their clan home as a girl came tumbling out of the door, falling over herself as a wooden spoon was hurled at her. A cloud of dust swirled up around her as she scrambled to her feet, running with that wide-eyed look on her face. Mother was in a mood today, and Tazi was paying the ultimate price for her rage. She had been given the task to go to the Arena of Acients and get into a spar with another Myrian child. Someone strong who would put a beating on her. Of course, it probably would not be as terrible as the beating her mother would lay on her if she did not do as she was bid, but Tazi was still mortified that this is what it had come down to. Scampering down the dirt streets in her hand-me-down sandals, she tore off for her destination, fearing more wooden cooking utensils would come flying at her head. She snuck into the arena as quietly as she could. Children were jumping on each other, screaming and cheering for their favorite warrior. Bodies ranging from small, quick-footed creatures to burly, heavy-set fighters congregated in various circles. Many fights were going on, many of which seemed to be evenly matched. Women were fighting men and men were ganging up on groups of women, training for the day that they would honor their clans. Tazi had always want the skills that they had, but Asar had stolen all of the fighting skills. She preferred to fix injuries, not attain them. Trying to look like she belonged, she slipped into one circle, crouching down with some of the younger children to observe a fight between two brothers. They were twins, similar to Asar and herself, with the signature tattoo of the Slitted Throats clan. Dark hair clung to their heads with sweat. She could tell they had been going at this a while. The tension in the air signaled to her that it was coming to a close. Not a whisper left the lips of the onlookers, too captivated by the standing lock the brothers were in. Then, it happened. One brother tilted his angle in the wrong direction, trying to prepare himself for his final move, but his twin was faster and more prepared. The lock was thrown open by the soon to be victor as he kicked out a leg, falling on his brother like a hungry Myrian Tiger on a fresh kill. Tazi’s heart didn’t even have a chance to beat a second time before the defeated brother yelled out. Cheers went up for the victor as he got up off his brother, grinning like a madman. ”Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!” The unruly crowd chanted as they swarmed forward to congratulate the victor. Tazi, slower than the other children, stood up moments after the surge, dusting off her pants from having knelt on the ground. A part of her wanted to take her father’s training and ensure that the loser had not suffered serious injury. Of course, that would be a sign of weakness in the arena. She would immediately be picked on like the lamest animal in the herd. Suddenly, Tazi got this very strange feeling that she was being watched. In the middle of her dusting, she turned her head to look across the arena to a small girl looking at her. Pulling herself up to her complete 5’10” stance, she took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders slowly back. Tazi had seen her sister look intimidating before. Asar’s words echoed in her ears. ”Breath deeply. Show that you are strong. If you make them think you are a beast, they won’t know that you are not. Make them believe you are something you aren’t.” Easier said then done of course. Tazi widened her stance, silently praying to Myri that just maybe her blue would spare her. Then again, the girl was small. Maybe, just maybe, she could take her. It would get her back into somewhat good graces with Mother and allow her to accomplish the task that she had been given. Suddenly, overwhelming need to make her mother happy fueled her bluff. Tazi curled her lips in a malicious sneer, moving to close the distance between her and the girl. She stopped when there was 10 paces between them. ”What are you looking at child?” Tazi hissed, crossing her arms across her chest.

[Kaie]

The child's expression remained moderately stoic but beneath it was a moment of alarm as she observed the other girl. The female Keikyo had chosen was far older and taller than she was, and that alone would give her a huge advantage. Kaie blinked twice in amazement at the task and Keikyo seemed to be doing the same in their rare moment of silence. Her cousin was just opening his mouth to finally say something when the two Cutthroat Shadow children noticed the aforementioned chosen opponent storm over with poisonous smirk.

Petch you, Keikyo.

What came next was expected, the confrontational response any Myrian would be subjected to for offending a more experienced female. It was enough to make the young girl bristle and her hands to ball into defensive fists. Silence between the three followed for several heartbeats, leaving nothing to be heard but the thunk of arrows upon a target, the scoffing sound of bare feet scrambling for better ground, and flesh crushing upon flesh. Then Kaie suddenly turned to Keikyo with a wicked (and perhaps suicidal) grin.

"Yeah. I'm gonna take this one," She declared to him before stepping forward to meet her new opponent. Keikyo failed to hold back a short burst of laughter but did indeed keep to their implied deal, departing to see about taking on his own assailant. That left the two females, and though they were seven years apart, their tenacity and spirit appeared to be no different. "I'm looking at someone to give me a challenge I hope." Kaie shrugged her shoulders and flexed her fingers anxiously. Her expression was one of both utter defiance and ambition, and she radiated confidence after her last match that went far easier than expected. Perhaps too much.

"Wanna fight?"

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones Well, bluffing seemed to only allow Tazi to dig herself a bigger grave. The two had passed words between them and the older looking boy left. By now, people had paused in their ramblings of previous fights to focus on the imminent spar. Children were hoisting themselves back into the trees for prime spots to view the onslaught. Murmurs about which one would be the victor were already running rampant amongst the gambling children. At this point, Tazi’s grave was about big enough for her to lay in it. ”You have picked an opponent. I would not want to bring shame on my clan for turning down a runt.” The words that were coming out of Tazi’s mouth were not her own. She was normally the quiet twin, but right now she was pulling on all her memories of Asar picking and winning spars amongst the other children. Her sister was much better at asserting her dominance over the others, but Tazi was not well known in Taloba. She could act the part and maybe get away unscathed. If she was lucky. Of course, this little girl was most likely going to win a great victory due to Tazi’s lack of skill in the arena. Maybe, just maybe, she could use a little of her age advantage to bring in the good graces of Myri. Maybe she would get lucky. If Tazi was going to have any advantage, it was not going to be on the defensive side. Since she was not familiar with the etiquette of the arena, Tazi took a couple of wary steps forward, closing the distance by half. ”Let’s fight.” Tazi growled in agreement. With that, she launched herself forward, lowering her center of gravity as much as her body would allow without falling over. It was not the prettiest of lunges, but hopefully it would catch her opponent off guard enough to land a mark. Beyond this initial move, Tazi hoped it was similar to ceremonial dancing. Be quick and be ready for any sudden changes of the flames.

[Kaie]

She stood there before the obviously older girl, eyes glittering with excitement and a foolhardy grin plastered upon her sunkissed face. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Keikyo sheepishly head in the direction of the vicious warrior across the way. His steps grew more humble the closer he became. Faintly she could hear him asking the fateful question, voice gradually saturating itself with respect. A venomous smile crept along the female's features and she gave him a curious nod of her head. From then on they had moved out of her peripheral vision, leaving her to concentrate on her own struggle.

There was an eagerness in Kaie that seemed to reach outward and grasps those in close proximity. The voices of fellow children mutually interested in the obviously uneven match about to begin came forth to spectate. Even the boy who had she just beaten to a pulp eased on over to put in his own opinion, which was not in her favor. Yet as biased as one might believe, his prediction was not blinded by his own experience with her. It was merely based on fact. Myrians trained in the fine arts of combat from the moment they could curl their fingers into a tight fist. Every year was filled with breaking bones, bruising flesh, and brand new knowledge. From all standpoints, Kaie was completely and utterly screwed.

"Good thing," She agreed with a shrug of her shoulders, competitive smirk widened at the very insult. Her eyes were busy in that moment. They scanned her build and watched the way her muscles tensed as she advanced. I am still smaller. I can be faster, She assured herself with a feral snarl serving as a response to the other's growl for battle. Her knees bent and she slid back into a gangly, predatory stance. Her hands were no longer clenched into bony weapons but instead curling into the likeness of claws. With a purr of content, Kaie began to lift them into a guard, but the older girl had already sprung into action far sooner than the child had expected.

Pupils widened and her breath caught in shock, yet by the grace of what can only be explained as the mercy of Myri the Merciless herself, Kaie managed to all but tumble out of the way. Her sidestep away from the lunge was neither graceful nor strategic. It was merely a panicked, jerky movement that landed her out of the way and right onto her back. A cloud of dirt sprung up around spot where she landed followed but a grunt of fierce irritation. Luckily the lunging motion that soared past her gave her enough time to roll back to her feet, cursing quietly at herself all the while.

Such a promising start, Kaie. If only your clan could see you now...

There was no moment taken to dust herself off, not a chance to right where her fall had uncomfortably adjusted her leather vest. There was only room for a calculating indifference, and that was exactly what Kaie was trying to embody. Just like before she fell into her stance, bringing her guard up to defend her face this time before the battle resumed. And like a tiger circling its opposition, she side stepped slowly around the perimeter. Thinking, watching, trying to find a strategy to combat her cruel odds. Yet her young warrior heart was an impatient once. With a sudden childish roar, Kaie raced toward the female with all the boldness of a rampaging Tskanna. When she was within range she paused to root herself and swung a ferocious right hook aimed at the jaw. And so their dance began.

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones Air. That was all she felt rush past her open arms as her opponent ducked ungainly to the side. Momentum wasn’t allowing her to stop and spin around on a Bikka, so Tazi ended up taking a few more steps then she would have liked. Turning around, she took a deep breath in, fixating her eyes upon the squirt. Dust clouds began to settle, and more onlookers began to gather around. Most of them were cheering for her opponent. Tazi could understand that, as she was probably more well known in the arena. She was pleasantly surprised when a few of them were cheering for her. Even if they didn’t know her name, they were rooting her on to “squash the runt” and “put the little girl in her place.” Suddenly, the small girl was in front of her, right arm arched like a deadly viper to strike. When did she get that close? Could people really be that fast? Tazi lifted a foot to try and take a step backwards, but she was too slow. CRACK! The sound of the girls knuckles on her sun-kissed skin was almost deafening in her ears. Having never been hit by another Myrian other than her mother or sister, Tazi became momentarily dazed and off balanced. She stumbled backwards, barely able to keep herself upright. Finally, she managed to place both feet soundly on the ground, lowering one hand to the dirt to help her balance. Shyke! That hurt! Mother would be proud… Placing her free hand on her jaw, she already could feel the warmth radiating from the site. It hurt, but for once, it felt good. Her mother wouldn’t be able to send her scathing replies this evening. To Tazi, even if she lost, this would be one small victory she would take home. She pulled her lips back, baring her teeth in an animalistic snarl. Digging her nails into the ground, she contemplated her next move. Her opponent was a few steps away, but lunging at her seemed like a poorly calculated plan since it did not work originally. Suddenly, Tazi came up with a devious plan. She pulled up a handful of dirt, flinging it at her opponent’s face. All she needed was a simple distraction. If it got into her eyes, that would be a bonus. Then she closed the distance, curling her hand into a fist as she did so. Tazi aimed, pulled back, and pelted a blow forward for the girls abdomen. ”How dare you strike your elder?!” She yowled, desperate to come up with something clever to sway the crowd to her side. After all, the cheers were fueling her opponents fire. Maybe they could fuel her own.

[Kaie]

It worked! Goddess, it worked! She sung exuberantly within the confines of her own mind at the sound of contact. Remaining stoic was so challenging when Syna herself shined through her very soul, lighting her pride for all to see with a satisfied smile. A round of excited whoops in her success rose around them but it was short lived. Kaie was still but a child, and not even the most carefully places strike probably held the power to knock out her opponent. Perhaps had she not been so caught up in her own shock she might've had the sense to keep the woman from finding her bearings so easily. In fights like these even second counted and every missed opportunity was another strike out of one's favor.

See, Keikyo? I am the best.

The child's expression dissipated into one of bewilderment, brow knitting in momentary perplexity as the girl took on a certain gleam in her eyes. Yet young ignorance left her vulnerable to the clever tricks of her assailant. She simply couldn't identify them in time. The dirt flew into her face and clouded her eyes, forcing her to shut them tight and cry out in surprise. How could she not have seen it coming?!

A crushing blow sent the child flat on her back with a sharp yelp, and this time it was not so easy for her to scramble quickly to her feet. Instead she laid there a moment with the wind knocked from her, a sharp sucking sound coming from her lungs as she gasped. Only adrenaline gave her the drive to struggle out of the position, hands frantically trying to rub the filth from her eyes. She was lucky enough this challenger was choosing to be less aggressive, merciful even by neglecting to follow up on her punch.

Amber globes blinked hard several times but it was to no avail. Her vision was still cloudy, and her eyes watered more violently from the presence of the foreign material than the Kandukta Basin flooded due to monsoons in the warm seasons. At least she could sort of see the fuzzy silhouette she was supposed to attack. Of course the cheers that came with the girl's taunt did little help in mending Kaie's wounded ego.

She grit her teeth and let out a snarl as she eased back into the fray. Her tactics needed to become more clever, too, but not with the environment. She needed to become more strategic in her approach.

I'm still probably faster since I'm smaller, but she's stronger and probably knows more than I do. I need to be less predictable.

A left fist snapped out toward the girl's nose, but right when her punch approached the halfway point it shot back, and her right shin swung out instead to strike the side of the knee. It was a dirty move, even Kaie would admit, but it was an action nonetheless. How many times had the older clan members freshly enlisted brought her tales from the Training Yards, a place they claimed had few rules. The jungle was unkind and war was cruel. What was the use of an unrealistic spar anyhow?

"Here you'll need more than age to earn your respect!"

If she managed to gain an advantage, she'd follow up with a round of wild punches aimed at the body. If not, she'd bring her hands up to protect her face and pray no counter came to wreck havoc.


"Here you'll need more than age to earn your respect!"

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones It has worked! Asar would be so proud of her right now. Not only was she engaging in one of her first real spars with another Myrian child, but she was able to land hits. She took a moment to rejoice, giving her opponent time to get up. Of course, if she were truly an advanced fighter, she would have jumped on her and continued pummeling the girl until she yielded. Of course, Tazi thought there were rules of battles, and one should be able to show their prowess in a safe ring. It wasn’t like the girls were at war with one another. At least, not yet. The snarl drew Tazi’s attention, and she took two steps back to push some distance between them. The girl looked sad, although anger probably fueled her now. The crowd was whistling and cheering, some of the ones that were on “her side” were laughing at the little girl’s flooded face. Tazi felt bad for a moment. Shame. She knew what that felt like, and to impose it on another so young was a pitiful thing for Tazi to do. No one should feel like she did, ever. She held enough shame in her clan alone to carry the Myrian race through their lifetime. Yet, this was in a world that was no longer her own. She was in their world, where strength made you the best and loss put you at the bottom. The little girl snarled, lunging at her. Tazi was more prepared this time, throwing out her right hand to catch the little girl’s fist. All she got was air. A look of shock crossed her face as her opponent pulled her fist back and lashed out with her leg. Pulling her leg towards her, Tazi haphazardly swung her arm down in a sloppy defensive maneuver, catching the girl’s shin with her wrist rather than her knee. Pain coursed through her fingers and up her arm. Tazi took a step back, her left hand gripping her right wrist to try and quell the radiating pain. Of course, the onslaught hadn’t stopped there. Her opponent’s hand landed with a thunk to her lower right abdomen before another strike came at her from the left. Tazi tried to make herself smaller, pulling her torso down almost into the protection of her legs as she knelt. Her injured wrist and good arm went to the corners of her face to protect her head as the blows kept coming. Now she was in a position that made it difficult to counter. Petch. Now you’ve done it Tazi. Yeild, or try something spritely were her options. She had been doing so well, and yielding seemed like such a childish way to get out of a fight. Yet, her mission had already been accomplished. Her mother hadn’t expected her to win a fight and now she was sporting more injuries then was agreed upon. Hunkered down in this defensive posture, she began howling at the other girl. ”I yield! I yield!

[Kaie]

She was in a blind rage. Humiliated, shamed, and made a fool in front of her peers, the child had nothing left to lose. She didn't care her rush and the actions that followed were the result of nothing more than a temper tantrum she should've outgrown long ago. She simply couldn't stop herself. Her fists continued to rain down upon the girl without any aim at all. Majority of her strikes hit nothing but the girl's hopeless defenses, and they did not quell even when the girl all but curled into a fetal position of defeat. The rhythmic thudding of her own punches were deafening to her mind, the excited cheers of shocked spectators ringing in her ears.

One, two, three, four, one, was her breathing count within her own head as if it were the only part of her she still controlled. She had disappeared somewhere inside herself. Somewhere in which she still reigned the superior despite how unrealistic the idea was. But she would not yield, would not relent until...

"I yield! I yield!"

Kaie's fist paused mid-strike over the cowering girl. A look of utter bewilderment saturated her features. Slowly she eased her hand back to her guard distrustfully. Amber eyes fluttered in pure disbelief before the child began to hiss something quietly to her.

"What are you doing? You have to get up," She whispered in a strained voice, her own eyes wandering the equally perplexed crowd around them already murmuring about them. "You have to. They'll never let it go. They'll never forget." The murmurs turned to open shouts of insults, many of them snickering and praising Kaie for a victory she did not truly win. The child remained in a state of horror in the older's actions.

"Hit me," She growled low at her, her lips barely moving to make the sound in hopes no one could read her words. It was almost pleading, but she could harbor no sympathy for one who would so willingly curl up and submit. Especially when that defeat was not hard won by one so young. "Do it if you're going to do it. Do it now!"

[Tazi]

Tazi of the Scattered Bones The blows had stopped. The parts of her body that stung were slightly numb by the pulsing that was appearing all over her tenderized limbs. Tazi peered up from her defenses to get a glimpse at what was going on. To her surprise, the people were not cheering for the girl. They were snickering, almost laughing at her. She had won, what were they doing laughing at her? Tazi started to lower her arms when the angry whispers filled her ears. She looked up at her opponent, who was practically begging her to start fighting again. "You have to. They'll never let it go. They'll never forget." Tazi suddenly was pulled back into her head, watching as Asar shoved her into a tree. “You don’t get it Tazi. We are warriors! Not weaklings! No one will respect you if you don’t fight back! Shyke. She had forgotten the cardinal rule of their race. Children pummeled each other until the other wouldn’t get up. Then both could leave with less shame then one that quit. By Myri, she was going to hurt them both at this rate if she didn’t take the girl’s advice. ”I’m sorry…” Tazi whispered right before she lunged up at her opponent. Tazi did not want to do this, but since she had been asked and seemed to be doing the girl a favor at this rate, she could only keep fighting. Her skin was already turning colors on her chin and her right wrist was swelling. Using her good arm, Tazi lunged out a left uppercut to the girl’s face. Although it looked like she was putting in a decent amount of force, Tazi was kind of hoping the girl was quick enough to get out of the way. She had yielded, this felt so wrong, but shame would be brought to both of them. Tazi could not allow that to happen. Whether or not her strike made connection, Tazi would jump backwards, looking around. Something clever would cover her folly. Something that would bring the onlookers back into the fight. ”Do you really think I would yield runt?! You shouldn’t have let me up!” Sorry...Sorry, , this post is absolute crap. Wail on her good.