Magdalie vs Fenyx, Darklingbird vs Caithann

[-Caithann]

(OOC: Remember, the outcome of the battle will be decided by the level of skill that the RP'ers show, and not the technical victory that may ensue. This means that though you may lose, it is possible to still receive the full rating and obtain the maximum amount of posts. Fenyx will have the same skill set and level as our friend Magdalie. Please, enjoy the introduction battle, and contact a member of the staff to have your poll set up after you have each had your 5 posts. Darklingbird will have the first post, and please remember to set the battle area description.)

[-Darklingbird]

It was just past midday and the dense forest was already growing dim. The canopy of the tall trees shielded the forest floor, casting their ancient shadows in deep shades of green. There was no discernible path this deep in the forest, save for the natural bend and flow of the ground, woven between the roots and trunks of the silent sentinels. Distant rustling and snapping from the undergrowth, and the periodic disturbance of boughs above, punctuated the otherwise quiet scene.

Distinctive bipedal footfalls could be heard through the soft murmuring of deep forest life. Magdalie moved through the uncharted forest at a patient, deliberate pace. She pressed her bare palms to the trees’ bark as she passed and stepped carefully over their roots. As she came to each fallen log, she would test it with her soft leather soles, mindful of putting her weight on anything lulled into decay by time and weather. It had been her goal, since late childhood, to become increasingly conversant with the vast woodlands and terrain surrounding her home city, Anur.

She had since learned to expect the unknown, though it never ceased to inspire her. Her human eyes were growing weak in the incessant darkening of the dense forest path, so she paused her travel and leaned her back against a peculiarly curved tree trunk to regain her senses. She exhaled through her nose, pulling her mind into a deeper focus, and temporarily pushing out the exertion of the hike. It was time for night vision, and this meant it was time for bear.

Her pale, grey eyes were suddenly flecked with iridescent amber. Bright yellow freckles from one angle looked a deep caramel color from another. As she controlled her transformation, allowing only her eyes to shift, the amber spread throughout her irises, totally covering the grey. She could now see more clearly through eyeshine, and immediately spotted a clearing ahead. Pushing off of the crooked trunk, she righted herself and headed towards the break in the tree line.

Suddenly, Magdalie felt as if something was askew. She reached her long arms back to pull her bear-eared hood over her bright copper hair and peered into the clearing. It was a roughly crescent-shaped meadow with wild, tall grass. An understated breeze swayed the stalks into curling waves. She stood at the edge of the forest, reluctant to move from the trees’ cover.

[-Caithann]

There was something else in the clearing watching the girl. Four large paws made quiet gain through the tall wildgrass; four paws that linked to musclebound pillars that pushed the large wolf along. Barrelchested and thin waisted with jet black fur, the beast looked like it was built for war and conflict.

The beast's intelligent eyes betrayed this outer visage, though. The orbs shone a brilliant emerald, pjercing the grass to view the intruder. He had been making this area his own quiet retreat, a place for simple existance and reflection.

Why. The wolf asked itself. A simple passing traveller was too simple of a reason to have a guest. Was she looking for something? Was she looking for him? It would humor a greeting and perhaps even change the tables and converse.

It didn't wish to attack, and the visitor didn't seem hostile yet. But in any case, a low growl crept through the underbrush to make his territorial presence known. The wolf tensed, digging emerald claws into the ground in preparation.

[-Darklingbird]

The growl sounded like distant thunder, so low and lengthy. Magdalie saw the wolf, ancient hellhound of a creature, eyes shining an unnatural emerald green, making a slow approach. Her hearing was pricked with the sound of rustling growth, and her other senses stretched instinctively to detect its intention, its distance, its nature. It was a dangerous wolf, perhaps a little underfed, and it hadn’t fled from her. More than a wolf?

Surefootedly she pressed her back to a tree and strafed around its trunk, casting her eyes upwards to look for a low hanging branch to position herself beneath. Wolves couldn’t climb trees. If it charged her, she would have to be able to pull herself up in a matter of seconds, or fight. Fighting wouldn’t go well for either of them, she knew. If she had time to shift, she could break its back with her weight, and it could tear her throat with its teeth. She shook her head of the thoughts and smiled nervously.

Then she stretched her arms high above her head and made herself look as big as possible. She kept her eyes just below the wolf’s, as to not evoke aggression from it, and waved her arms overhead. Her voice carried well, and under the generally friendly tone there was a note of dire, “Hallo, wolf! I am big and scary!” as she continued to wave her arms, “Passing through here, no need to alarm!” And then her eyes squinted with a smile as nervous laughter issued from her throat.

She kept her eyes on it to gauge its reaction. Her knees bent slightly, ready to flee, leap, or otherwise move the hell out of its way. In the brief moments between her flailing and its response, she began to control her slow shifting into a more sturdy form, trying her best not to give away her transformation lest the wolf took it as a threat.

Her eyes glittered amber, from their previous slate. Her mop of wayward hair darkened, the nape of her neck and her upper back sprouted with short fur, and dense round ears sprung up atop her head beneath her hood. In this she paused, knowing any further changes would surely be more visible.

[-Caithann]

He almost laughed, almost. I am big and scary... Surely she was joking, had to be as he picked up an unfamiliarity to her scent, something just this side of wild. It was getting stronger now and his powerful muscles rippled a little as his head lifted to pick up the smell better. She wasn't human, that much was obvious, the question was what was she?

He rolled forward two more steps, his massive paws making the grass sway a bit but not making noise, tempting to attack, she had invaded his space after all. But the amusement at the words she spoke had him considering her. He'd test her now, just a little. The light orb was sent almost lazily in her direction with only the lifting of his paw. "Surely a big scary girl knows not to talk to wolves and expect a response."

[-Darklingbird]

Magdalie emitted a low huff that rolled into a growl as the orb approached. She didn’t mind the wolf, he seemed friendly enough, but he was advancing now, and sending strange arcane orbs in her direction. As it neared her, she focused her energy at the cantrip, reflecting it back towards him. Was that a threat? she wondered.

Regardless of this, she decided it might be better to put herself on an even playing field. The powerful hell wolf wasn’t just a wolf, and she wasn’t just a girl. Her golden eyes glinted and she swiftly pulls the ties loose on her leather gear so it could naturally fall away from her shifting form. After an artless and modest transformation, her body had molded itself into her inherited shape: A large brown she-bear.

From her increased height she looked down at the large wolf, who now did not seem quite as intimidating. Falling forward onto all fours, she leveled her gaze at him. If he was advancing to attack, he might think twice now. If he was looking for conversation, they now had some common ground.

[-Caithann]

She bear? Interest rose in his eyes and he stopped the advance, sitting now in full view of the bear. He considered his options when the orb came back at him just as lazily as he had sent it out. It had almost touched his nose when he dispersed and then reappeared just behind her letting the ball fall to the earth and explode in a small burst of light. He took a deep breath, catching the scent and then in a gravely voice muttered. "Not bad, for a bear of course."

[-Darklingbird]

The wolf dematerialized before her eyes, leaving the energy orb to touch the ground and explode. The bright flash of light caused Magdalie to squeeze her eyes shut, and shake her wide grizzly head. Her mind cleared itself of the explosion and she focused on the wolf, again. Chuffing along with her low bear rumbling, she ambled around with heavy, cumbersome footsteps to be face-to-face with him once again. She could move quite fast, if she needed to, but she often relied on others thinking bears were clumsy, dumb and slow. Based on his comment, she assumed he thought the same.

She lifted her massive snout to look at the trees now surrounding Fenyx. He had teleported past her, and just into the forest where she had been walking. She set her eyes on a sturdy low-hanging branch beside them, just over three feet from where she stood. In an instant, she vanished and reappeared in the low hanging limb, using the very same trick to regain an advantageous position.

She sent her own shimmering green sphere of light energy towards the wolf. Her wild eyes sparkled mischievously. It seemed like a game.

[-Caithann]

His eyes glinted as the bear lumbered, how odd that he could find it relatively graceful. Then she was gone, using a trick he had used on her. Clever girl, he approved and then he heard the branch above his head groan and looked up to see a green light coming at him. He didn't bother to move but reflected back up at her.

He smiled, his tongue rolling out as he settled in to see what would happen when he... Yup, shot a ball up at the crook of the tree that held the branch in place so that it would break under her wieght then teleported a few feet back.

[-Darklingbird]

The energy ball exploded, disrupting the poor tree’s limb and caused it to snap under her heavy frame. All in the space of the seconds it took the limb to crack and fall, her mouth parted into a troubled circle, exposing her top two fangs and her golden bear eyes grew wide. The deep grumbling voice of her bear throat nearly formed a high-pitched,”Uh-oh!” and then the branch gave, and she fell those few, shameful feet to the ground, landing squarely on her belly, and the previously hanging tree limb.

What a funny sight, to see such a large bear groaning and covering its ears with its massive, deadly paws. She was obviously not the combat type, however growly. She raised her massive head to look at the wolf, and righted herself. Then the great bear teetered and fell back onto her behind; her little stubby back legs stretched out before her.

Legs that continued to stretch and elongate as she shifted herself back into her human body. She was then just the gangly, oddly graceful woman she had been at the start. Her mouth turned up in a pleasant smile; her hair was in definite disarray; and her fingers wringing in front of her until they were striped red and white from the pressure. She unlaced her fingers and rubbed the front of her torso with them, slowly healing just a fourth of the pain she received from the fall with an eerie green and white light.

After she felt satisfied with her work, she extended her hand towards the wolf, palm up, and offered, “I am Magdalie. Who are you?”