"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
11-21-2016, 12:57 PM (This post was last modified: 11-21-2016, 12:59 PM by Nayl.)
Dear Naga,
You have been quite an absent Queen so now I challenge you for Nerine. If I win, I will be the new Queen and you will vow to serve under my rule loyally for at least 1 year. If I lose then you remain Queen and I will hold my tongue for 2 years.
2 posts each
2 attacks, realistic defense as needed
No power playing, etc.
3 days between posts
You go first
And no traits.
Ok....well...here goes nothing. I knew I shouldn't have avoided battles for so many years. But, I will give it my best try. Wish me luck, good luck to you too.
Naga
Akhal Teke Hybrid
More of a compact pony build but with a refined head.
9 years old
14.2 hands high
Black with a star and one hind right sock. Short mane/tail. Green eyes.
Panther Shifting (not allowed to use)
breaking waves of change
She is surprised to be challenged so soon, if challenged at all. She was trying her best to formulate how the kingdom would function without stepping on toes or making the sisters angry. But, she should have known. Nayl was never happy with Naga, ever since the day Naga took initiative and lead the women to the mountain to petition. She should have known Nayl would take advantage of Naga's decision to take a little time to properly form their Nerine. The weather is starting to warm up, the early morning sun just beginning to rise over the treeline surrounding her and her fellow sister. She steps forward, her hooves sinking into sloppy terrain. Of course, with the melting snow, the ground was going to be soft and a bit slippery. But, thankfully, even though Naga was not allowed to shift in this battle, her mind was still all cat. So her sense of balance and cat-like reflexes were still a big part of her. Nayl's words seem to try and sting. But Naga stands with grace and pride, her expression is stoic. Her deep silken voice rings out to Nayl as she nods her head to the terms of this battle.
"Well, I see you are not satisfied under my rule. I accept your terms. May the most skilled sister win."
She shows no hate, no malice, no sense of irritated feelings. She was calm, cool and collected. She hid her worries well. Since she knew Nayl to be quick to anger and a bit unfeeling in almost all of their interactions since the journey to the mountain. But, it was time to push her feelings and personal opinions aside and begin their spar, since the stage was open for our dark queen to take her place.
She dances lightly, ready to pounce, she calculates in her mind quickly how she should go about her first attack. She only had two chances to get this right. She pushes away, steady, not too fast, but powerful, toward Nayl. Her first attack is then executed, she attempts to stay close to Nayl's front end, as she rears slightly to begin boxing at Nayl's chest , or legs, or head, whichever her strong hooves manage to strike first. Striking hard enough so that she could either do some serious bruising or break a bone. She tries to keep her head tucked as she does this as to attempt to shield her throat from Nayl's teeth. Though the first move is always risky, she was not going to let her mind make her weak.
After she maybe felt a hit or two, she cranks her head to the side to attempt to grab at Nayl's cheek or side of her neck just past her cheek, or if she missed a little, at least grab a good chunk of mane. The purpose was to hold and drag Nyal down, like herd stallions do to make their opponent either lose momentum or make it harder for them to make a strike with their head being pulled to the side. This is a little defensive move that her dear Rhy had taught her when she was a young filly. She hoped it wouldn't fail her, it was probably her best defensive move. The closer she stays to Nayl’s shoulder, the better.
Though she hopes that she knocked Nayl’s momentum off kilter with her defensive moves, now she takes the opportunity to pivot on her haunches and press her rump up close to Nayl’s painted chest. Naga roared loudly, slamming her front hooves down firmly into the mud, spraying it up onto her face like war paint as her hind end rises. She coiled back and shot booth her hind legs out as hard as she could to slam into Nayl’s chest or legs. The goal was the same as the first, she planned to immobilize her opponent. If she landed her hits right, she could come out of this as the victor. She was not going to play easy. This was a matter of defending her title and her dignity. If she was going to lose her title, it was going to be because she handed it down to another, step down peacefully. She was not going to let just one mare out of all the mares within the kingdom try to kick her out of her position. She worked hard to get them to Nerine, she was not near done with what she started. She was not going to stop now.
She let out a deep, booming whinny, one worthy of a Warrior Queen. Though after her kick she felt her hind leg slip a little in the sloppy clay ground below, but managed to keep her footing. This was a battle she did not intend to lose without trying her damn hardest, despite the conditions of the terrain. She was a thick, tough opponent, her compact and round pony build giving her some nice cushioning. Especially since still has some of that thick winter hair and a lot of muscle covered in a layer of winter chub. She has lots of stamina as well, thanks to the Akhal-Teke in her. She would not be knocked down so easily. She could feel her mind shifting from cool and collected to something more attuned to her murderous mother's and predatory cat mentality as the battle intensified. A dark sense of satisfaction after feeling some, or at the very least one, of her attacks hit, something she couldn’t help. It was like when she was young...she had these feelings...dark feelings.
Her eyes widened, her pupils grew so large that the sparkling green of her eyes became just a slim ring. Like a shark when it smells fresh blood in the water. She felt her body tingle. She felt primal….feral….she couldn’t hold it back any longer. The change in her eyes and her energy could be seen, and it could slightly be worrisome or maybe intimidating. Since our panther queen has always had such a demure and rational air about her. This was not our normal Naga...this was something much darker and much, much more fierce.
Naga
.::.SUMMARY.::.
1st Attack: Naga pushes forward, rearing up enough to strike her front hooves into Nayl's chest or legs, mostly the knee caps or forearms since she is aiming around the chest area. Since Naga is short, rearing doesn't make her come up too too high. If she does hit the knees, she hopes to pop them out of place, break, or chip at least one of them if not lucky enough to hit both. Though she is boxing so she may not land a good hit to the knees, hopefully just a battered chest. Or bruise on the leg if the hit isn't major. If Nayl does try moving to the left or right, Naga may have a high chance of still hitting her since she is planning to stick close. Either the shoulder or forearm damage is hoped for.
Defensive Move 1: Kind of? Keeping her head slightly tucked to try and protect her throat/throat latch area from getting damaged from Nayl's teeth.
Defensive Move 2: Trying to grab Nayl's cheek, area on the neck just beyond the cheek, or even a chunk of forelock to try to drag her head downward to attempt to knock her off kilter so she cannot land as many critical hits. Also staying close to her front end as much as possible. Being an equestrian myself, I have been taught that the closer you stay to them (most just to their shoulder) that if they were to kick or strike, you are less likely to get hit. This could or could not work according to Naga's plans. But she hopes for the best. Rhy was a good teacher, same as Scorch. They taught her well.
Second Attack: Pivoting on her haunches to face away from Nayl, though pressing her rump up near her chest, still trying to stay close. She then lets out a strong buck sending her back hooves into either her chest or hitting her femurs or knee caps. The plan is to either break bones or hit her chest hard enough for her to bruise or cause a hematoma lump to form. If she hits the kneecaps or forearm, she hopes to break or chip a bone. If not, hopefully we end up with some good bruises. Once again, if she moves left or right, she plans to either hit her shoulder or even her belly. Still hoping to cause either hematoma and bruising, or if she is lucky a broken rib. If she lands the hit that is.
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Oh man, I hope this is ok. I have not been in a challenge in over...4 years? LOL I practically have no idea what I am doing, I am trying so hard not to make it seem like power playing hahaha Let's hope Lady Luck is on our side though<3 Maybe I didn't do too bad lol
You and me both, girl! I haven't battled in AGES hahaha. Good luck! Nayl is just a bit of a bitch lol
Nayl
15. 3 hands
Mustang Hybrid Mare
Fairly stocky and compact. Very hardy due to most of her heritage containing mustang. Has a bit more height due to other breeds in her genetics that also make her a tad more refined than the typical mustang.
She spun the stars on her fingernails
Even now, with their lives intertwining again at the battlegrounds, Nayl still doesn’t hate Naga. She never has, but there is no denying the mistrust that has soured their relationship. Unwilling to defy the hopes of the sisterhood Nayl simply stepped aside when they told her to and condone Naga to sit prettily on her newly-carved throne. Always blunt – always opinionated – Nayl suggested her apprehension with predicting their Queen’s activity slump. Is it her fault that she ended up being correct?
Nayl waited. Nerine was bustling with life initially, but it faded quickly. While most disappeared into the sound of crashing waves, she remained. Even when their numbers dwindled to near nothing Nayl patrolled the border and confronted stragglers. Much to the contrary, Nayl has a heart and she had hopes for the panther, but more than half a year was too long to have not seen their Queen in Nerine. It needed change. She had promised that she would be there, actively, but Naga lied.
And so when their eyes meet there is no hostility, but an understanding. This is life and one of the many obstacles often faced. Nayl says nothing in response to the Queen, but she slowly nods her head before pivoting and gliding away. Rather than talking, the piebald was scrutinizing Naga. Every curve, every muscle that quivered beneath her coat, was memorized. That brief meeting was all she needed to size up her opponent. She can only imagine how clumsy Naga must feel in her horse body after having been taken with her panther shifting prior to her hiatus. They certainly aren’t as lithe or nimble as the feline predator; and hooves aren’t quite as stabilizing as paws in the muck.
It can’t be expected for a horse to remain in one place during the time of a battle. Nayl’s adrenaline is beginning to seep into her veins and her heart is pattering against her chest. She moves to the right, her eyes never straying from Naga. There isn’t a great amount of time from the exchange to the first attack. While the panther dances Nayl is walking tersely with her muscles screaming for this all to begin. Occasionally she lunges or hurls her front legs forward to force Naga to deviate from her path as well as to gain space between them. Her mind is reeling, her body preparing. Nayl can hear the suction of her hooves in the mud, and she takes the opportunity to evaluate how slick or steady it is. Clay predominantly reigns the battleground; that, mixed with the recent snow melt has made the footing rather precarious, but not so bad as to hurt themselves in action. Careful, Nayl muses, as her eyes dart from the red clay back up to Naga just as her muscles coil before springing.
A mere blink and Naga is lurching forward then into a rear. She aimed to be at Nayl’s forefront where she could batter her chest or forelimbs, but Nayl has been moving and it’s easy to shift just enough to spare her face. Instinctively, she rises as well, but only halfway as to safeguard her head and withers. Unfortunately, it leaves the large plane of her shoulder and neck exposed, but she would rather the concussion fall to areas of more cushion and muscle than her legs. Nayl shifted to her right which results in Naga’s hooves colliding with the left side of her neck, but there is still some power reverberating through her shoulder. The flesh beneath her coat ripples and the blood immediately rushes to the sites. Location-wise, Naga has hit more or less along the ventral serratus muscle and medial Brachiocephalicus muscle. What’s important, to any horse, is that her eyes are still well and in-tact. Nayl can breathe at this relief from having tilted her head to the right and away from the pommeling hooves; it’s another instinct that certainly saves their species daily. With this positioning, by Naga biting Nayl’s mane, it isn’t entirely inhibiting much. It actually pulls Nayl’s head toward her opponent in which she willingly does as to defensively bite at Naga’s left point of her shoulder or chest. Nayl only half reared and so she couldn’t have been dragged down as hoped. She landed shortly after being hit with Naga still balanced on her hind legs, but descending. The bites are merely to encourage her opponent to release, but Nayl jerks away nonetheless while losing a patch of her mane in the process. The ripping of the follicles echoes through her ears, but it doesn’t hurt since there aren’t nerves in the mane.
By pulling away, still leaning to the right, Nayl finds her torso and haunches closest to Naga since the mare hadn’t really left her place from rearing and now bucking. Due to their close proximity, however, Naga’s attack can’t reach full power and momentum. Nayl is taller than Naga and so the panther’s hooves hit the underbelly and part of the gaskin, but because of their closeness it is only enough to push Nayl away for the most part. There will still be bruising from the impact, but this is when their nearness plays to Naga’s disadvantage in her attack.
Since the distance between them is already minimal and Naga hasn’t fled, Nayl ambles backward with her haunches tucked, backing into Naga’s hind end. Her ears are laced back, submerging into the thickness of her unruly locks. Her autumn eyes are aflame with a battling prowess and she inclines her head to the side just barely. She backs forcefully only a couple steps, just enough to nudge and put a little space between their hind ends before she kicks. Oftentimes in battles horse will use their weight to shove an opponent whether it’s solely for that or before rearing or bucking. Nayl’s size gives her an upper hand; she’s taller and weighs more. A downfall of kicking is that it’s a mostly-blind attack since Nayl can’t see directly behind her or aim at a target like a missile. Her hind legs simply lash out like a spring and hope to cause some amount of damage either to Naga’s hindquarters (gluteus superficialis-biceps femoris type region) or flanks depending on if she had time to shift or pivot in the blink of an eye. It would be beneficial to hinder Naga’s pushing ability that comes from the hindquarters and would make her second guess rearing.
Nayl’s legs land quickly; it had been a short, forceful kick rather than a buck often seen in play. Circling to her right and away from Naga she grapples briefly for balance as the slick clay slides underneath her. Beating it down in just these couple minutes of fighting has made their traveling a tad more tedious. She spares a glance down to see the red splattered across her legs prior to blinking and staring at Naga again. Assuming Naga won’t remain still, Nayl comes up behind her opponent and sticks to her left side. They remain close, a tactic frequently seen, but the piebald tries to quicken her step as necessary before lunging forward. She reaches to grab the crest of her opponent, hoping to mostly stop her forward momentum which would ultimately bring them back into combat as Nayl hurls her front legs forward toward Naga’s forehand. Her hooves slide a little in the muck. The bite is mostly to pin Naga and to stop her from running away since their blunt teeth can’t exactly sink into or tear flesh. Not saying it’s entirely impossible to rip skin (I’ve seen it), but this is mostly for control. It’s the kicking forward that mostly seeks to damage. With their size difference in consideration, Nayl has a chance of hitting anywhere from the medial aspect of Naga’s left cannon bone, knee, all the way up the forearm. Depending on her opponent’s retaliation, however, the targets can certainly vary since a horse’s hooves flail for a second or two before finding purchase again on the ground. The main goal is to simply damage Naga’s forehand since 60% of the horse’s weight is carried by this half of the body. To have harmed both the hind end and forehand would be ideal as that would slow down Naga enough.
Unfortunately, they do not live in such a pretty and perfect world. Anything can happen and every attack is a gamble.
Nayl unhinges her teeth just before her legs return to the slick clay. Immediately, she ambles backwards again with her haunches tucked and swerves to her left which is the opposite direction of Naga. This side is tender; her neck and shoulder are beginning to throb from the earlier impact. It doesn’t stop her, but it makes her slightly clumsier in the sharp turn as she adjusts to its ache. She merely performs a tight circle that puts space between them before she trots in the opposite direction, now counterclockwise while her eyes stay trained on Naga to see what move she makes to follow and attack.
