Chapter 74: Round One

“Fight!”

Ann sized her opponent up. She was a human, taut muscles under a smoothing layer of fat. She was about Bren’s height, and looked like she knew how to stand, at the very least. Her blue eyes flicked up and down as she tried to keep all of Ann’s taller body in sight, but Ann could almost taste the nervousness.

They circled each other for a few seconds. Ann feinted, and the woman flinched, reacting to a blow that never came. She had decent instincts. Maybe been in a few fights. Ann was new, but she’d spent enough time fighting Kat to know a couple things.

She felt the crowd growing restless and decided to make the first move. Dropping low, coming face to face with the woman, she ducked in. The woman, predictably, threw up her arms, ready to block Ann’s blow. Just to see what happened, Ann didn’t decide to try to get around it, and hit full force into the guard.

A meaty smack, and the woman staggered back, guard holding, but her balance thrown off. Ann grinned, sensing the advantage, and pressed. She landed another blow on the woman’s forearms, feeling their bones meet, and the sweet vibration of impact up her arm.

A frustrated grunt met her ears and Ann watched the woman drop her guard, going on the offence. A left hook flew at her head, but was deflected by Ann’s hand. The woman used the moment to push her right fist past Ann’s guard, landing a blow on her shoulder. It hurt, but nothing compared to what the Warped had done to her.

Ann grinned, grabbing the fist that had hit her with her left hand, pulling the woman in as she punched hard with her right, sending her opponent off balance. Threw another punch from her hip into the woman’s stomach and pumped a smite into it. The purple flash was followed by the sharp sound of the air leaving lungs. Spinning, Ann kept the woman moving, kicking her feet out from beneath her, and sent her sprawling in the sand.

Ann gave her no time to recover. Dropping, she straddled the woman’s hips and rained blows down into the guarding arms below her.

“YIELD” she heard the woman cry. It took her a second, two more punches. “I YIELD” the cry came again, before a strong hand caught her forearm. The ref stepped in, cutting her off.

“Victory goes to Annita!” the Thrundol announced to the crowd.

Cheers, boos, and muttered conversation filled the room as people began to collect their bets on the fight.

Ann stood, panting slightly as she recovered herself, then offered her hand to her opponent. “Good fight.”

“Yeah, sure was,” the woman laughed, taking the hand. “You fight like a beast. Haven’t seen anything like it, but I’m pretty new to all of this.”

“Honestly, I’d say I am too. At least to the organised thing. I’ve been fighting Warped for a month or so pretty regularly,” Ann admitted, helping brush sand off the woman’s back.

“That’s more than I’ve got. Lived here all my life, just joined up with the Guild a couple weeks ago. Think you’re going to be out of the Beginner bracket real quick.”

“We’ll see. Have a good one,” Ann waved, then leapt over the barrier into the crowd.

Quickly, she made her way up to Rosalyn, and plopped down next to her lover.

“That went about how we thought it would,” the druid mused. “Your shoulder ok?”

“Yeah. Kat hits a lot harder than that,” Ann said, rolling her shoulder. It had stung in the moment, and she could feel a dull ache, but nothing serious.

“Oi!” a familiar voice shouted. “I only made it fer the end. Good fight!” Kat cried, hoisting herself up next to them from floor level.

“You between fights?” Ann asked, helping her lover up to their seats.

“Aye. Got me a few bouts ‘fore I’m up again. Wanted tae see yer first go. Shite, kinda feel like I shoulda pushed ye tae go with intermediate.”

“That’s what we were just talking about. Guess the referees will make that decision at this point,” Ann shrugged. “Was also pointing out to Rosalyn I don’t have enough Desire to use Fistful of Love, so I don’t have that in my pocket.”

“That might be for the best,” Rosalyn pointed out. “Considering who you’re up against here? It might seriously hurt someone in the beginner bracket. You would have definitely broken that lady’s arm.”

“Aye. Only reason I know I can take a hit from it is ‘cause o’ me own skills,” Kat said. “Shite’s a heavy hitter.”

“So for now, smites and footwork. Maybe a Predatory Sensuality, but I have to be careful about that.”

“Can’t ‘ave ye goin’ intae a fuck frenzy in public yet,” Kat teased. “Yet.”

“Try ever,” Ann huffed. “How’d your fight go?”

“Eh, bastard was tough. Got tae use me skills pretty liberally. Guy got sloppy after he saw me just blockin’ so I got a good hit tae his jaw an’ knocked ‘im out.”

“Good shit,” Ann cheered, raising a hand that Kat enthusiastically clapped. “Oh, you’re cool with them calling you princess here?”

“Nae, but it’s become a bit o’ a, what’s the word,” Kat muttered.

“Calling card?” Rosalyn suggested.

“Aye, ‘bout the best I can describe it. I ain’t the top o’ the division, but people know the title means I’m not tae be fucked around wit’.”

The next fight started. Inlon and Bultrong, both males, squared off, then started slugging it out. There was no grace or art to the brawl as the two just stood there and traded punches.

“Gotta say this is pretty fun. Sorry you don’t really have much to do here though, Rosalyn,” Ann said, leaning back against the wall.

“I mean, I’ve got my own place I can go to do things I like,” Rosalyn shrugged. “The menagerie may not be the most exciting place for you meatheads, but it’s perfect for me.”

“Can’t all be fighting,” Ann said, watching the continuing punch out in the ring. “Some relaxing with nature is always nice.”

“Aww, thanks,” Rosalyn cooed, leaning up against her side. “Maybe we’ll get Kat to appreciate it eventually, too.”

“I appreciate it plenty,” Kat huffed. “Just appreciate fightin’ the shite there a bit more.”

“Hmmm,” Rosalyn hummed airily, and Ann laughed. She was glad Rosalyn was getting to the point she could trade jabs with Kat, and give her shit on her own.

A bad guard from the Bultrong let the Inlon land a meaty hook on the jaw, and the man crumpled into the sand. The ref called the match instantly, and the Inlon took a victory lap around the pit. A woman in robes, a healer from Ann’s guess, entered the ring, and treated the unconscious man. Once she was done, he left on his own two feet, but looked supremely embarrassed.

“These must be fresh members,” Kat commented. “There’s a couple in the beginners who should be better than this.”

“Princess to ring two!” someone shouted over the noise of the crowd.

“Feck, musta been a quick couple fights. See ya, loves,” Kat grinned, kissing them both before leaping into the press of bodies. “I’m comin!” was the last thing they heard before they were alone again.

“I’ll have to sneak over there some time later,” Ann said, watching the top of Kat’s head weave through the crowd and exit through a door.

“For now, let’s just enjoy this,” Rosalyn said simply, taking Ann’s hand. “May not be my idea for a date, but it seems like you’re having fun.”

“Hey, I’m good as long as you’re good,” Ann shrugged. “I’ve always been a pleaser, I guess. Just happy as long as whoever I’m with is happy.”

“And I’m happy with you, so guess you get to be happy too,” Rosalyn giggled, tickling Ann’s side.

“Love you too,” Ann laughed, squirming away from the tickling and kissing her tormentor. “I do wonder if there’s a magic version of this? Something that’d work better to test your skills.”

“Probably, but I imagine mages are more secretive on their skills and spells,” Rosalyn said. As she spoke, she gently stroked one of her horns, a sign of some nervousness.

“Don’t want to find out?”

“Not really. I’m happy fighting Warped. My spells don’t really change much with who I’m using them against, so I don’t really see the point. Thorns are going to do what they do, and so is lightning. It all hits and does damage. Really, the only thing I have to worry about with skills right now is Entangle, and that’s just figuring out where it’s best placed. I’m sure I’ll get some more interesting spells later, but right now it’s a lot of ‘do damage to thing’.” Rosalyn explained.

“Oooh, what if you get a time delay spell? Or traps or something?”

“It wouldn’t be too farfetched an idea,” Rosalyn shrugged. “Entangle is already a trap, so maybe a thorn explosion or something?”

“That’d be cool. Maybe putting it on Kat’s shield or something? I dunno. Guess we can see,” Ann said.

The next fight was two wrestlers. Both showed a bit more skill than those who came before, but it wasn’t really a type of fighting Ann excelled in, or was particularly interested in. Eventually, one came out the victor, and the other had a broken arm set by a healer.

The next few rounds passed much the same. As Ann watched, she started to see a couple other fighters with some obvious training. They were all still green, from what she could tell, but the difference in skill made itself obvious quickly. A man and a woman both were the two she’d been watching. The man was an Alfhindur with a stocky build and bald head. One of his ears had the tip missing, and he preferred grappling. The other was a Vulhardrin woman with fox features, a pair of fluffy orange ears and tail. She danced lighter than Ann did and hit like a truck when she chose to.

Once the first round of fights was over, there was a short break for the second stage of the bracket to get ready. Ann was first up against the grappler that had broken the other man’s arm. She kissed Rosalyn and hopped down, vaulting the wall of the ring, eschewing the gate built into it. Something about the action just got her in the mindset.

The Bultrong man across from her wasn’t a type she’d fought before and she took a minute to figure out how she was going to deal with the height difference.

“Damn, you’re a tall one,” the man whistled as he walked up to her, craning his neck. “Never seen someone like you. A wolf fuck yer mum?”

“Who’s to say she didn’t fuck him?” Ann shot back. “Wait, shit, that came out, ah damnit.”

The man laughed, eyes crinkling with mirth. “Ah, I’m just givin’ you shit. Just a bit of fun. Let’s have a good match, yeah?”

Ann sighed, glad no one outside the ring seemed to have heard her blunder. “Yeah, to a good fight.”

They shook hands and backed off.

Ann hopped a few times, feeling the sand between her pads and her claws digging into the ground. She shuffled through a few of the exercises Remmi had shown her to better her balance, then nodded to the ref.

Her opponent did the same, and the ref stepped up, raising her hands and quieting the audience. “Second stage of the bracket begins now! First fighters are Annita Kronforst and Koreb Grnall. On my mark!” she raised her hand. “Ready. Steady. Fight!” She threw her hand down and backed off quickly.

Koreb lunged forward, going for Ann’s legs immediately. His arms wrapped around air as Ann leapt backwards, keeping out of range. He staggered slightly, off balance as the expected weight of Ann’s body didn’t present itself.

Ann took the moment to settle on her paws and strike at the man’s head. It was an easy target, and she preemptively burned a smite, confident it would hit. With surprising speed, the man tumbled to the side, and the purple coated fist hit sand.

The next thing she felt was Koreb’s rough hands wrapping around her upper arm and wrenching her backwards. The force caught Ann off guard and sent her sprawling as her paws slipped out from beneath her. She hit the ground hard, air escaping her lips. The man was on her in an instant, pulling at her arm, trying to pin her.

She flexed, trying to lift the much smaller man, but for some reason she couldn’t do it. It was like he weighed multiple times what he should. He pulled, locking his legs around her arm, bending it backwards. She’d seen an arm bar before and did not want to feel the end result whatsoever.

Ann rolled, using her longer limbs to give her some leverage, and hit him several times. She didn’t know where she was hitting, but she connected each time. Grunts of pain came from her left and she felt the grip loosen. Wrenching her arm free, she crab walked backwards, dragging her tail in the sand before getting to her feet.

Koreb picked himself up, huffing. He had a bloody lip and what looked like it’d be a nasty shiner in the morning. “Damn, almost had ya,” he chuckled, spitting blood into the sand.

“My turn,” Ann growled.

She closed the distance, acting like she was going to punch down again. When Koreb tried to dodge like he did last time, she dropped into a crouch, sweeping one leg around to kick him square in the chest. The man stumbled from the impact, but grabbed on to her leg. She shook it, trying to dislodge him. When that didn’t work, the short hairy man hanging doggedly on, she started punching.

Blow after blow, Ann landed on his head. She didn’t use her Smite, afraid of too much damage to his skull, but kept up the assault. After a satisfying crack that left her own knuckles bloody, she felt Koreb’s grip slacken, and he fell off her leg, into the dirt.

“Shit, shit, you ok man?” Ann gasped, falling to the sand next to him. The next moment, the healer was pushing her off and checking him.

“You rang his bell good and hard. Knocked out, bruised. He’s gonna hate you in the morning, but he’ll be fine,” the woman said, pulling back Koreb’s eyelids, checking his eyes. “Yup, he’ll be fine.”

“Winner! Annita Kronforst!” the referee cheered, grabbing Ann by the wrist and pulling her up to receive her praise. Ann waved to the hoots and hollers before ducking away.

“Man, this is different than I thought it’d be,” Ann huffed, sitting next to Rosalyn as they watched Koreb get healed, sitting up woozily.

“How so? Seems a lot like your normal sparring or training, or just fighting with Kat,” Rosalyn commented. “You get up close, start hitting each other and then one of you is on the ground either giving up or knocked out. Though Kat seems to be good at stopping before the knocking out part. Probably for the best. Bren’d get pissed off after a bit, wouldn’t he?”

“Heh, probably more annoyed than pissed,” Ann shrugged. “No, it’s just that we focus more on hitting things. Haven’t really had anyone try to grab me and break me like that. Also, just trying to fight someone so hard that I don’t even know. First time for that. Well, I guess Kat kinda kicked my ass the first day I met her, so not entirely new, but that felt more one sided.”

“Well, more varied practice is good, right?” Rosalyn asked innocently.

“Yeah. Sure is. And real fighting is probably the best trainer,” Ann said, massaging her elbow. Koreb hadn’t broken it, but he’d hyper-extended it, and it was still tender. “Gods, Remmi’s gonna hear about tonight.”

“With her reputation here? I wouldn’t be shocked. Especially with how surprised Roxy sounded when you told her you were Remmi’s pupil. Kinda funny that just being associated with someone can make others talk. I guess we had our small town gossip, but it was all things like the butcher’s son getting drunk and all the things about the farmer’s daughter. The daughter was me, though, so I guess that makes sense. Loner out in her little hut in the woods.”

Ann saw the nerves creeping back in and rested a gentle hand on one of Rosalyn’s horns. The effect was immediate, a calming wave fluttering over her girlfriend’s eyes.

“Thanks, sorry,” Rosalyn muttered, fidgeting with embarrassment.

“Love you too,” Ann smiled, turning her eyes to the ring where the fox woman was getting ready for her fight. “And thanks for taking a chance with us. Know this is a lot, and I really appreciate you putting up with it.”

“Yeah,” Rosalyn shuddered, relaxing as Ann’s hand began to stroke her horn gently. “So far? Worth it.”

“Definitely worth it,” Ann agreed.

They sat there, watching the next few fights. Kat eventually joined them, having finished up her round.

“Feckin’ close one,” she gasped, plopping next to Rosalyn. “Gettin’ all cuddly up ‘ere? Lemme join.”

Without waiting for an answer, she leaned over, sweaty body trapping Rosalyn between them. Ann felt a shiver run through Rosalyn and swore she could hear the woman inhaling deeply.

“Tough fights?” Ann asked Kat nonchalantly, slowly increasing the stroking of Rosalyn’s horn.

“Aye,” Kat huffed, finally catching her breath. “Figure I’m gonna get knocked out next round. They’ve got some good fighters tonight.”

Ann leaned over, grabbing Kat’s face and kissing her. The Protector gave her a questioning hum, muffled by their lips, but quickly accepted the gesture. As they parted, Ann flicked her eyes down, and Kat, following the gaze, saw what they were doing to Rosalyn. She grinned, but pulled back. This was a long game, and they had a full night.