When it was her turn, Yasmin drew a deep breath and walked through the gates and into the arena. Already the sand was clotted with blood in patches, from the animal hunts that had taken place before her match. This match, of course, would be different; she would be facing another person, and she had no idea who that would be.
But like every other time she stepped into the arena, she quieted her thoughts and swallowed her anxiety, went to that place she went whenever she fought another human being--the place where they became not human but just another animal she had to fight. It was the only way she could face a man in a potential battle to the death and live with herself later.
She showed none of that on her face as she walked out there with her scimitar in hand, clad in light armor that protected her torso but left her arms and legs bare. Instead, she put a bright smile on her lips and waved at the crowd with both arms, turning in a slow circle as she walked so she got all sides. She even blew kisses to a few random faces in the crowd as she paced the arena, restless and eager to get this over with.
Spinning on her heel, she finally turned to face the opposite end of the arena, bouncing on her toes in anticipation.
"Alright. Who will it be today?" she muttered to herself, still smiling brightly waving at the crowd now and then, putting on an air of nonchalance.
Hidden by the shadows of the passage way, Svein growls and snaps at one of the armed guards as they prod at him with a spear to get him moving. This was not a life he had chosen to take up but rather was forced into it due to circumstances. With the guard enticing him to move at the point of a spear Svein begins to step forwards making his way from the cool shade of the shadows and into the sandy arena.
Stepping into the arena his gaze shifts as he glances around at some of the crowd that sat around the arena watching the spectacle. Another growl escapes the werewolf as he glances around at the crowds. His demeanor towards the crowd no where near the same as the one he is fighting. Turning his attention from the crowed Svein rests his gaze upon the woman on the other side of the arena, the person he would be fighting today.
Resting his gaze upon the woman Svein takes a moment to sniff at the air before he begins to growl at the woman, his gaze narrowing as he looks at her. With his gaze locked on the woman he brings a hand to the hilt of one of his short swords and draws the blade from its sheath. Snarling and growling at the woman Svein begins to advance forwards moving towards the woman at a steady pace to close the gap, though he was not in any real rush to get to her.
Well. Balls.
Of all the possible opponents she could have faced today, she had not expected to face someone like...that. Not a human, not an animal, but someone that was both. Yasmin tested the grip on her scimitar and swung it around in front of her to a defensive stance, backing up as he advanced to give herself some time to size him up.
She began to slowly circle him, sweeping her eyes over him, watching the way he walked and moved. While she was always eager to finish and go home as quickly as she could, she never actually rushed. Hastiness and impatience was how you got killed here. He was larger than her, more powerfully built, with sharp teeth and claws, but that didn't concern her; she had taken people twice her size before, as larger people were often slower, and size and power often made people overconfident, and overconfidence lead to clumsy mistakes.'
"Lovely afternoon today, eh, mutt?" she called to him, tone conversational. "Oh, and you might wanna..." She tapped her lips with her free hand. "Got a little drool there."
And then with no other warning but that, she feinted a lunge to his right before swiveling and going low, for his left thigh.
As he advanced forwards Svein watches as she does exactly as he thought she would do, back up to keep space between the two of them. It seemed she wasn't ready to begin the fight just yet though he knew it was coming sooner or later given there situation.
Svein pauses for a moment as she begins to circle around him, his gaze shifting to follow her as she moves in front of him though he does not turn to face her as she disappears behind him. When she would appear in front of him his gaze shifts over her form slowly taking in every aspect of her physical appearance as well as what she wielded.
As she begins to speak Svein silently listens to the comment as she refers to him as mutt, something that he does not take to kindly too but rather one that fuels his anger. Turning to face the woman, Svein growls at her as she continues to insult him, insisting that he has drool on his mouth. For a brief moment, he almost fell for her comment about him drooling however he is forced to go on the defensive as she lunges right at him. Svein shifts left to evade what he thought was a strike coming to his left side, however he moves right into her true attack.
Svein lets out a howl in pain as the blade makes contact with his left thigh. Though he had just been hit Svein quickly went on the offensive. Reaching back to the second sword sheathed on his back Svein grips the hilt of the blade and draws the weapon from its sheath and in one fluid motion launches straight into an attack, slicing the blade in an arc through the air in the woman's direction though he was not necessarily aiming at any given part of her body more so an attack to try and force her back before she could strike him again.
Her blade struck true, and Yasmin couldn't help her triumphant grin. It was short-lived, however, when he promptly counter-attacked, swinging his blade in a wide arc at her body.
With a sharp inhalation, she stumbled backwards and away from the blow, but not before it bit into her left bicep. It was a superficial wound that bled a lot and looked worse than it was, but it still hurt, and with a glower at the wolf-man, she shook her arm out to flick the blood away as it dribbled down to her wrist.
Thank Hakeshna it wasn't her dominant arm.
Circling around to his other side, she went straight back to the offensive. She feinted a thrust at him, then another, trying to throw him off and get a feel for his attack style before, abruptly, she charged him, sword swinging in a horizontal strike.
Given how she had first came at him with the miss leading attack, Svein figured that was part of her game, trick the opponent into moving into an attack or providing an opening. Shifting his gaze to follow her as she begins to move once again, Svein lets out a soft growl and quickly moves into action s she comes at him once again.
As she begins to feign thrusts at him, Svein back peddles, shifting to evade each thrust from her. Finally he presses forwards as she charges at him with a horizontal attack. Bringing one of his swords up, rather then lashing out at her with it he uses it as a means to try and deflect her attack and move in closer to her where he would try and go at her with his maw rather then a blade, biting at her neck like an animal.
His blade caught hers, successfully deflecting it, and Yasmin had been about ready to go in for another swing when--
...He tried to bite her!
It took her by surprise enough that she let out a yell and jerked backwards just in time to miss his teeth by inches, but she was still too close, their swords still connected, and he would get her if she didn't act fast. Heaving with all her might, she shoved back against his sword to give herself some distance--she only needed a little--and then dropped into a crouch. Sword in one hand, free hand planted on the ground, she swung her leg out in a sweeping kick at his own legs, hoping to knock him off balance.
Instead of getting a taste of her flesh and blood like he thought he would be doing, Svein missed his mark as the woman jerks backwards just far enough to evade his jaws. Svein utters a brief growl in response to the woman's withdraw as he wished to get a bite of her in the hopes to end this fight, however his growl is cut short as her leg clips his before he can evade the sweeping kick.
With his leg knocked out from under him by the kick Svein falls to the ground, hitting his bag and letting out a brief yelp before he begins to try and climb back to his feet.
With the wolf-man knocked down, Yasmin didn't skip a beat. She bounced to her feet, hefted her sword, and with a yell she swung her blade at him as he moved to rise, hoping for a death blow.
Raising from the ground Svein keeps his gaze fixed on the woman knowing she would take advantage of him having fallen. The yell from the woman was another sign of her offense and as she swung her blade at him Svein brought one of his up and used it to block the incoming attack as he thrusts out with his second sword aimed for her stomach.
Shit! He blocked the sword, the force of steel on steel traveling up into her shoulder, and then he swiped at her with his second blade. And she might have been left clutching her intestines if it wasn't for the light armor protecting her torso.
But even though her belly was protected, the force of the blow through the armor was like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of her and leaving her wheezing. Retreating quickly, trying to suck in air, Yasmin slid into a defensive posture as she tried to get her bearings again.
Striking true with his second sword, Svein lets out a growl as the armor she wears prevents his blade from biting into her flesh, however his offense still had some appreciated affect on her. With her forced to make a hasty retreat in order to recover, Svein takes the opening to get back to his feet.
Svein climbs back to his feet and growls at the woman as he advances towards her now that she had went on the defensive. As he draws closer to the woman Svein uses one of his feet to kick up some dirt in an attempt to shower her with dirt and perhaps cloud her vision.
Not wishing to give her time to fully recover Svein moves forward to quickly close the gap between them as he launches into an offensive. Coming within range he thrusts out with one of his swords while bringing the second in with a horizontal arcing slash aimed at her midsection.
The ol' kick up sand trick. Fortunately for Yasmin, she had been anticipating that coming up at some point and she threw up her free arm and looked away to shield her eyes before quickly retreating--because she knew the only follow up to that would be the attacker rushing forward through the cloud, hoping to take advantage of the distraction.
And sure enough, there he came, charging through the dust cloud.
Yasmin swung her sword up to block the horizontal swipe and twisted her body to avoid the thrust, but she let out a muffled grunt of pain when his thrusting sword scored her arm, sending blood dripping from her bicep down her forearm. Gritting her teeth, still holding his one sword at bay, Yasmin pulled her leg back and aimed a hard kick at his belly, taking advantage of their closeness.
As his blade met with hers when she brought it up to block his attack, Svein pressed into it rather then pulling away. Though it seemed the brunt of his thrusting attack missed he managed to catch her arm, a grin taking form on his face as he hears the grunt of pain from the woman.
Holding his ground against the woman, Svein drops his gaze as he notices her leg begin to move and instead of pulling back to evade the attack he braces himself for the incoming blow. Just as her foot makes contact with his belly he releases his hold of one sword, though still keeping the other held against hers, and grabs her ankle tightly, sinking his claws into her flesh if permitted.
Oh sweet mother of all things holy!
He grabbed her ankle, his claws deeply piercing her flesh, and leaving her balanced precariously on one leg--which put her in a vulnerable position. Thinking fast and gritting her teeth against the pain, Yasmin yanked back and down, as hard as she could, with her captured leg to tug him in closer and break his hold while swinging her free arm around to punch him in the side of the head, as many times as she could.
She didn't care if it tore up her ankle worse. She just needed to get free.
Sinking his claws into her flesh Svein held onto her ankle to keep her leg held in the air. As she begins to yank back and down on her leg Sevin sinks his claws deeper into her flesh as he held onto her leg for a few moments longer which ended up getting him struck in the face by her fist.
With a growl Svein finally pushes back against her leg and releases his hold on her, attempting to force her off balance and make her fall to the ground or put some distance between them.
He was successful. His move forced Yasmin off balance and she fell before she could get her injured leg back under her. She landed hard on her bottom but let the force roll her onto her back so she could do a kick-up--
A kick-up that was only partially successful.
She landed on her feet but almost crumbled back down the instant she put pressure on her injured ankle. Clenching her jaw against the pain, she shifted her weight to her other leg. This...was going to be problematic.
She needed to finish this quick.
Hefting her sword, she advanced on him again, closing in fast and pausing only when she came near his discarded sword. She kicked it away, behind her, and gave the wolf-man a little smirk. Let's see how he did without it.
Charging him abruptly, though her stride was awkwardly limping, she came at him hard and put her weight into the blows with her sword, swinging once at his head in anticipation of him blocking it before coming back down in a sudden, hard thrust at his lower right side.
Pushing her back Svein watches as the woman loses her balance and falls to the ground. It seemed his tactic had worked however instead of taking the opening and charging the woman Svein takes a few steps back to put a bit more distance between him and his opponent, allowing her to raise from the ground and back to her feet.
Shifting his gaze, Svein glances to the sword he had discarded though he knew he did not need the weapon, all he had to do was get close enough and he could use his claws and teeth, a tactic he was not afraid of using.
As she charged him Svein held his ground and met her attack with his sword, using it to block the attack he pressed his strength into the block. Given he had tosses side his second sword in favor of his claws, the only thing Svein had at his disposal to try and block the second attack where the metal arm bracers.
Rather then fully block the attack or evade it, Svein shifts just a bit and allows the sword to sink into his right side, which causes him to let out a howl of pain. Though he knew it was a stupid move on his part, Svein leans into the blade and grabs her arm, sinking his claws into her flesh as he growls and snaps at her in anger " ... Submit to me human and I will let you leave with your life. "
The crowd was going wild as the two gladiators wound up locked together, Yasmin's sword deep in the wolf's side, his claws deep in her forearms. She grit her teeth against the pain, sweat dripping off her nose and heart hammering in her chest as she stared up into those fierce eyes and snapping jaws.
This was not a good situation.
"Submit. Heh. If I twist my sword, wolf," she said levelly, "it'll kill you." The place she stabbed was not vital, but with one sharp twist she could hit organs and arteries and grind that meat up until there would be no easy way to heal it. But she made no move to do it, still locking eyes with the wolf, because she knew that at this range, and with him holding her tightly, that she couldn't deliver the blow without him taking her with him.
"Not before you ripped out my throat, of course," she continued between heavy breaths. "And then the arena will lose two valued competitors. So...hold. If we're lucky, they'll call a draw."
And sure enough, as they remain locked like that, neither of them capable of making a move that wouldn't take them both out, the cries of the arena took on a different tone--the crowd demanding a draw.
Listening to the woman as she brings up the fact that she could deliver a fatal blow with her sword, Svein remains silent, his gaze dropping to the sword for a brief moment before he brings his gaze back to meet hers. Even if she did such a thing Svein knew that he could do the same to her now that they had become locked together. And though he had no intention in dying this day he gave no sign of such a thing, rather he knew to try and push for a victory he had to seem as if he were willing to put everything on the line.
Svein lets out a soft chuckle as she brings up the idea of a draw, though given the situation it seemed as though it would come down to that as he did not press into an offense nor did she. " A draw. " Svein chuckles again before snapping at her, his tongue flicking out at her face " Seems like you got your wish human. Though next time you won't be so lucky. I will enjoy tasting your flesh. "
His tongue hit her face, and Yasmin grimaced in disgust and jerked her head away. "You are one sick puppy," she remarked, and then she nodded to his hands. "Let go. Let go so I can retrieve my sword."
Svein couldn't help but smirk faintly at her reaction to his tongue when it made contact with her face and her words drew another soft chuckle from him. " You have no idea. " Svein murmurs lightly in response to her statement as he reluctantly releases his hold upon her so she could retrieve her sword.
As soon as she was released, Yasmin pulled her sword free--slowly, carefully, trying not to cause further injury to him. She only killed when she had to, and she got no joy out of injuring her peers. It was a necessary evil, because it was either her or them, and she had no other choice but to fight or die.
Blade free, blood running down the steel, she motioned at his wound. "Go get that treated," she said over the roar of the crowd before, turning to smile up at the thousands in the stands, she saluted them with her sword and turned to head for one of the portcullises, her body aching, her arms burning with pain as blood ran freely from the wounds in rivulets.
But she kept her face as stoic as she could even though, inside, she wanted to scream. But that was her life here. Screaming on the inside so she could smile on the outside.
Though he knew it was coming and something that had to be done, as she removes her sword from his side Svein growls and snaps at her in anger however he restrains himself from lashing out at her since the match was over.
With the blade free from his side Svein brings a hand down and places it over the wound on his side applying pressure to the injury. Her words draw a grumble from Svein as he watches her turn to the crowd and salute them.
Rather then turn and face the crowed right away as she had done, Svein spits onto the ground before he turns to face the crowed though he does not salute as she did, instead he holds his head high. Though not a victor in this fight he still came out with his life and could go on another day.
Ironically, Yasmin realized she might see the wolf again soon, because she found herself limping to the infirmary to get patched up. Ugh.
Soon enough she was there, and the healers rushed to tend to her as she showed them her wounds--deep punctures in her ankle, a cut on her arm, and horrible slashes on her forearms. The women made her sit as they fetched bandages and warm water and poultices, and she grit her teeth and closed her eyes as they went to doing the part she hated most--cleaning the injuries.
"We didn't know there were hunts today," one of the women remarked as she treated the gashes on her arms, and Yasmin couldn't help but bark a laugh.
"There weren't," she said with a grin. "My opponent was a werewolf. I think. Anyway, you'll be getting him, soon, probably, so have fun with that."
Turning away Svein went the opposite way the woman had went, making sure to pick up his weapons before he made his way out of the arena. Clutching his side Svein made his way to the infirmary to get his injures treated.
Stepping into the infirmary Svein growls softly as he is met by healers as they move to aid and treat his injuries. Rather then fighting back against the healers, Svein went along with there orders knowing they would treat his injuries so they would not fester and cause any trouble.
Taking a seat as instructed Svein shifts his gaze as he glances around while a healer begins to clean the stab wound on his side, an action that draws more growls from him, though he knew the real pain was to come. " Damn woman.. " Svein grumbles in anger while the healer cleans the wound.
"Oh, don't be a baby," Yasmin said from the other side of the room. As predicted, the wolf had not been long behind her.
"You did that to yourself when you could have dodged. That was a really stupid move, too, you--nngh!" The woman tending to her had begun stitching up one the deeper cuts in her arm and Yasmin had to clench her jaw and her fist so she didn't yelp or flail. Hakeshna, this part was always worse than the fight itself; everything hurt worse once the frenetic energy of battle faded, and worse, she had to just sit here and take it.
"It was a stupid move," she continued. "Just a few inches more and I could've gotten your kidney. I don't know what you were thinking."
Hearing the woman's voice Svein shoots a glare in her direction along with a soft growl aimed at her. His growl grew louder as the healer tending to the wound on his side begins to stitch it up. Keeping his gaze set on the woman he had fought Svein clinches a fist tightely as he keeps his focus on the woman, listening to her as she continues to speak.
Listening to the woman Svein manages a chuckle as he gives a faint nod. Indeed if he had not moved or moved the wrong way the blow she dealt him may have been a lethal one. " Indeed it may have been a stupid one though it did ensure that the match ended in a draw and could have ended with a victory on my part. " Svein begins as he watches the woman " I knew exactly what I was doing and where to move.. It was part of my plan to allow you to stab me. Victory cannot be achieved without sacrifice be it a weapon or getting injured. "
Yasmin laughed. "So sure of your victory! Why do you assume you would have won? Thinking that way is the perfect way to get yourself killed. You have to be prepared to die if you want to live. It's when you think you've got a shot of coming out alive that you get careless. Ow!"
The healer had poked her a little rougher than needed. "Keep your bickerin' to the arena," the woman said sternly, and Yasmin smiled sheepishly.
"Apologies, miss. Anyway, wolf, as I was--" She paused abruptly. Something he had said clicked. "Hold on. Back up a little. I think I may have misunderstood but...are you trying to say you did that on purpose, with the intent of getting a draw?"
Having fallen silent after he spoke his piece Svein listens to the woman as she begins to speak once again and as he listens he idly mulls over what she has to say. As he listens to her Svein keeps his gaze set on Yasmin though it slowly shifts as he inspects her physical form and features.
As the healer speaks up Svein glances to her for a brief moment before he brings his gaze back to Yasmin, for the moment he remains silent and simply watches her while listening. While listening to her Svein tilts his head to the side faintly as she brings up what he had said about getting a draw.
At first Svein gives a simple shrug to answer her question, taking a brief moment to mull over what she had asked. Had he sought a draw in their match or was it just coincidence that had it end that way? " Why would I want such a thing... What does bringing our match to a draw give me? " Svein asks while looking at Yasmin.
Yasmin lifted her shoulders in a shrug, careful not to move her injured arms. "Your life?" she hazarded. "My life? Both of us walk into the ring, and both of us walk out of it. That's sure the best outcome I can think of! Dunno about you, but the other outcome of 'watering the sands with blood' just seems a waste."
She grinned and tossed her head, as though to flip her hair, if she'd had enough hair to flip. "Personally, I think I'm too young and pretty yet to go rot in a grave."
With his gaze fixed on Yasmin Svein watches the shrug before she begins to respond to his question. Listening to her he could see how she had a point, they both came out of the ring alive as apposed to only one of them coming out with there life and the other not or both not coming out alive. As he listens to her Svein snorts in response to what she had to say before spitting on the ground next to him.
As Yasmin comments about her appearance and age Svein lets out a chuckle of amusement at the thought. " I do believe I can agree with one of those. " Svein says in response to her comment, his gaze shifting over her form for a brief moment before he brings his gaze back to her face.
"You agree I'm too young and pretty to rot? You don't say!" Yasmin said with a grin, relieved to see that she'd managed to diffuse the situation--or, at least, that's what it looked like. Mister Wolf didn't seem quite so cranky anymore, and as for her? Well, injured or not, she felt in good spirits. Her master would be disappointed, but a draw was the best she could ask for.
Both of them were alive. There would be no new tattoos carved into her fingers today.
"Anyway, no hard feelings for today, right?" she asked, head tilted.
Svein lets out another snort in response to her comment, it seemed she had taken it a bit differently then how he had intended it. Though perhaps that was to be expected from the woman. Still, Svein was pleased that he came out of the fight with his life and as few injuries as he had sustained. He had given more then he got and put up what he thought was a good fight.
The question about having hard feelings causes Svein to tilt his head to the side as he thought on it for a moment before giving a light shrug. " I suppose not... We are both warriors forced to fight for the amusement of others. And I meant you are to pretty to die, I did not mean you are to young. " Svein comments with a tooth filled grin as he looks at Yasmin.
With a chuckle, Yasmin shook her head. "Hey, I still think I'm too young to die, too! I'd like to live a bit older than twenty-three. Maybe at least get my first gray hair. Though I'd prefer white or silver to gray. Gray is ugly. Silver is at least pretty and shiny."
It was a little strange, getting complimented so by a wolf man. A literal creature that had a wolf head. But she brushed it off, and sucked in a relieved breath when the woman finished up her stitches. "Finally. Ow. I think that hurt more than getting hurt."
Letting his gaze drop from Yasmin, Svein listens to her as she goes on about hair color. Though he listened to her he didn't give what she had to say much though or care, his gaze slowly shifting and wandering around the room. It was another fight down and another day he got to live, at least until his next fight came around.
He shifts his gaze around for a moment before turning his attention to the people treating his injuries. For a moment he watches them before he lifts his gaze and looks back to Yasmin as she begins to speak, though this time she was not speaking to him. " You whine like a child. " He teases while watching Yasmin, a smirk taking form on his muzzle as he watches her.
"Oh, I whine like a child, hmm?" Yasmin said with a grin. "Says the one who was growling and snarling like a big puppy the entire time the healers treated your little scratch."
Okay. So it was far from a scratch. She could have killed him, if it was any further over. But if he was going to make fun of her, he was getting it right back!
Not taking to kindly to her comment, he growls softly at Yasmin. " You are far more a child then I. " He retorts, beginning to slip into childish manner of making fun of the woman. With his side patched up he slowly climbs from the seat and begins to move towards Yasmin " And I am not a puppy. "
Yasmin burst into laughter. "Did you honestly just pull a 'no, you!' on me?" she asked between giggles, because that was even more ridiculous coming from a wolf-man that could bite off her face in one chomp.
She was still laughing as he rose to his feet and began to approach her. Unafraid and still grinning ear to ear, she leaned back on her hands and casually watched him. "You're not doing a very good job of convincing me otherwise, friend."
Listening to her giggling at what he had said, Svein began to grow angry, she was giggling at him after all. His gaze shifts over her body as she leans back onto her hands. " Is that so. " He says with a soft growl as he moves closer, only coming to as top when he stood right in front of her. " I assure you I am no pup. " He begins as he lifts a hand from his side and reaches out to her. Reaching his hand out he attempts to place it on her side " Perhaps I could show you just how much of a man I am? " He asks a grin taking form upon his muzzle.
And suddenly things went to a very weird place.
Yasmin's eyebrows rose clear to her hairline as she stared directly back at him. Was he...? Was he insinuating what she thought...?
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He chuckles softly at her comment. Perhaps she did not understand what he meant. " Just that. " He says as his gaze shifts over her form. " I could show you just what makes me a man... and then perhaps we can see how things go from their. " He gives a wink as if to insinuate that he sought to do more then just show her a bod part.
Ah. So it was what she thought it was.
Yasmin stared at him a good, solid five seconds. Then she burst into genuine laughter so hard her sides hurt and tears sprang to her eyes. She clutched at her sides and wheezed, struggling for air as she tried to collect herself, and when she could finally speak again (though breathlessly), she wiped her eyes and grinned up at him.
"I'm sorry, do I look like someone who's into animals or...?"
For a few brief moments there is silence between them, something Svein wasn't completely sure about. Then it is broken with her laughter. She was laughing at him? As she laughs he narrows his gaze into a glare as he looks at her. He could take a rejection though she was laughing at him, that's what made him angry.
What she had to say didn't help sway his mood any either. Her words drawing a short angered growl from the male as he glares at her. " Animal? " With another growl before spitting on the ground between them.
"Yes. Animal," Yasmin said, moving her foot away from his spit.
Again he growled at her this time louder and baring his teeth at her. " Watch your tongue female. " he barks in anger.
Yasmin flashed Svein a shit-eating grin. "You're not the boss of me." And then she laughed at the obvious joke and winked at him. "Get it? Because you're not my master? Eh?"