Ch 9 Part 4

Oshwa the Brave: "Well Kale, I see you are just as eager as I am to see the crowds and the fighters today. Let us hope that we both do well again today. As you can see, we have another packed house."

Kale the Slaver: "Yes, I see this. It is so exciting to know that two of my own are fighting in your arena today. I also have made sure to place my bets before coming all the way up to meet you."

Oshwa the Brave: "That is good. Always nice to get that out of the way. Today's event will definitely be worth watching. I hear through the grapevine that your male fighter was undefeated in the southern region."

Kale the Slaver: "Ah yes, he had managed to fight all the best fighters down there and won. His previous owner wanted to see him do well in another region, but getting on in years, he decided it was best to sell him to a new handler."

Oshwa the Brave: "You did everything you could to make sure that was you, right?"

Kale the Slaver: (Smiling with a cocky grin on his face as if to say, "How did you guess?" was all the answer needed.) "I suppose the look on my face is giving away how I felt on that issue now, does it not?"

Oshwa the Brave: "You have no idea how obvious you are right now. But that is fine. For now, we have a glorious day of pit fights ahead of us. Let us enjoy the carnage."

Kale the Slaver: "Yes, let us. It should be an exciting day ahead now. I do believe I see the announcer heading to the center stage now."

With a smile on both their faces they proceeded to relax as one of the beverage hosts completed bringing them some fresh wine and dried fruits to snack on. The thunderous sound of the crowds was once again beating louder than a thousand drums in a war line. As the crowd's excitement grew ever more ferocious, the handlers were already well at work leading them to the specified cages. The eagerness of each of the fighters grew more apparent as they got closer and closer to the main arena. They both seemed to minorly hop and bounce the whole way as they were being led. The fighters had now been led to the green cages, which signified to the audience a combatant that has had well over fifty kills to their credit. With savage looks in each of their eyes, they immediately shifted into beast form, as though the whole process were ingrained since birth. The alchemists were certainly able to take a short break, makes it nice when the fighters already know their roles. Pacing the front of their cages, just staring at the other from a long distance. Eyes completely focused and locked on the other. Shaking their heads, clashing of teeth and claw against the gate, snarling the whole time. Taking center stage, the announcer walked up upon the small platform and began to speak.

Announcer: "LAAAADDDDY'S AAAAAAND GENNNNTTLEMEN! WE ARE ONCE AGAIN GATHERED TO ENJOY THE SPECTICLE OF THE PIT FIGHTS. INCLUDING A NEWCOMER HAILING FROM THE SOUTHERN LANDS!!!!"

Announcer continues: "JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE BEST FIGHTER THE SOUTHERN LANDS HAD TO OFFER! HE IS OF A TIGER CLAN AND HOLDS AN UNDEFEATED TITLE IN ALL THE AREAS WITHIN! SO, PLACE YOUR BETS AND FINALIZE THEM. WE WILL BEGIN HIS FIGHT MOMENTARILY! HE WILL BE PITTED AGAINST SOMEONE FROM A WOLF TRIBE! SHOULD BE AN EVENT FOR ALL TO SEE!

Announcer continues: "IN THE FIRST GREEN CAGE, THE BLACK WOLF AND PRIDE OF OUR AREANA! HE HAS AN UNDEFEATED STREAK OF 75 KILLS IN A ROW! WELCOME OUR BLACK WOLF! AND IN THE OPPOSING GREEN CAGE, THE NEWCOMER FROM THE SOUTHERN LANDS WITH A GRAND TOTAL OF 90 KILLS TO HIS CREDIT, THE GREY TIGER! NOW LET US RAISE THE GATES AND BEGIN!!"

Once again, the loud gong sounds out throughout the arena, amplifying the already deafening roars of the crowd. At the end of the tenth smack of the mallet, the gates slowly rose as the fighters got into a running stance, waiting patiently for the gate to finish rising. More than enough past experience to know that gate leaves one hell of a mark if you jump out too early.

Both the fighters vaulted toward each other. Stopping about three paces from each other. Being experienced combatants, they knew not to charge in blindly. A decisive strike is a better finisher to being torn apart. Leading with his left foot, he raised his palms upward with claws at full extension, knuckles almost touching the ground every time he exhaled, even though fur, every muscle was visibly taught. The Black Wolf took a much wider, almost awkward stance. To see such a beast standing on hind leg, with arms spread wide apart, one palm up and one palm down. A rather ridiculous sight to see in an experienced fighter.

As if on cue, both fighters moved simultaneously in the same direction parallel to each other. Each fighter's style varying to large degrees in movement. The Grey Tiger moved with very harsh and strong movements, only visible when anticipating his opponent's movements. Whereas the Black Wolf moved with agile sweeping movements reminiscent of a large crane or stork gliding through the air. Both fighters approached the barrier wall. The Grey Tiger stopped at the wall, while The Black Wolf seemed to climb and cling to the wall going higher to take a better vantage. The Black Wolf came down with a strong strike that kicked dust into the air where The Grey Tiger had been. It is obvious to the crowd, that even these two strange combatants were equally matched. Both showed strange fighting style, but incredible prowess.

Ducking into a summersault, in time to dodge a powerful kick from The Grey Tiger, almost as soon as it had been dodged, another strike was sent and blocked. Both powerful tiger and nimble wolf danced in a hurricane of fists and feet. The Black Wolf would do all manner of aerial movements, flips and twists; the dust cloud growing ever larger. The combatants were no longer visible. What could only be assumed as a powerful double strike, both combatants are hurled backwards with visible marks from the strikes they dealt each other. Strikes so powerful, they were almost thrown against opposite sides of the arena floor. The crowd's excitement was like nothing that had ever been heard before in the arena. All of them just rushing as close to the edge as they could to see where the two fighters had finally landed. Almost knocking themselves out of the balcony's just to get a better look.

Both of the fighters were back on their feet again almost as soon as they stopped. Being so much closer to the barrier wall, the wolf launched himself almost to the top of the wall, jumping off the very top across the arena and landing a fist strike to the dust to miss the tiger once again. The tiger having experienced this move once already, had not moved as far from the wolf as the previous time. The tiger, prone for an attack as the black wolf hesitated a moment. A snap of the tiger's jaws relinquished the arm of the wolf just below the elbow. With a howl of great pain, the wolf again launched himself away from the tiger. To no avail, the tiger knew that the wolf could not change directions in the air. As soon as the wolf landed, the tiger again was prone to strike. A single downward paw drove the wolf's head to the dirt. The tiger fully extended his claws around the head of his prey locking the clutch. The wolf flailed his bloody stub at the tiger in vain as the tiger picked him up, claws firmly imbedded into the wolf's skull. The wolf let out one final howl before the tiger ripped his bottom jaw from his skull and crushed what both hands held with a wet splatter. Holding what was left of the carcass up as high as he could, he let out a roar that sent tremors through the stone of the arena.