The "Sand pit" was about 15 meters long, and 15 meters wide. Located deep in the bowels of Fort Skull, it had been traditionally used for duels since anyone could remember. At one end of the arena, Deyna stood, wielding a longsword stolen from the armory. In the middle, Longtail, watching the proceedings with a cold and calculating eye. And at the opposite end, One-Eye, propped up on a crutch and leering at the otter with a disinterested glare.
"Now, Draw your weapons!" yelled Longtail. Both beasts drew. "Remember, no killing. Anything other than that is permitted, and the first one to be disarmed loses." He paused for a momnet. "And good fortune to you both."
One-Eye's black and red scimitar hummed a bit as it emerged from the sheath. "I think I've introduced you two before." said the wildcat. "In any case, this is Bite."
"The folly of unhinged vermin." said Deyna, readying his sword.
"Maybe so. In any case, get ready for a bad time."
Longtail raised his paw, and both beasts steeled themselves. The feral cat dropped his paw and dodged away as fast as he could, expecting a fierce charge from the Warlord. It didn't come.
Deyna approached cautiously, sword at the ready. When the otter got close, One-Eye twirled his his scimitar, and made a probing swipe at Deyna's midsection. Deyna yelped and dodged back. He growled and retaliated with a thrust towards One-Eye's leg, which bore fruit in the form of a large gash opening up near the wildcat's footpaw.
Blood trickled out, staining the packed sand. One-Eye growled, before swinging the heavy blade directly at Deyna's head. Once, twice, thrice, the scimitar was parried, before the wildcat lashed out with a kick right to the center of Deyna's chest, right where the arrow of Vallug Bowbeast had pierced, so many seasons ago. The kick sent Deyna sprawling, but he wasn't even close to finished.
He let out a slight laugh, propping himself up on the longsword. "You'll have to do better than that." The otter pushed himself up, propping himself up on the longsword. One-Eye glowered at the otter before arcing his blade in a sweeping swing, breaking the longsword in two.
Deyna stared at the broken hilt. "How did you do that?" asked Deyna, looking up at his opponent.
One-Eye allowed a sadistic smirk to spread across his muzzle. "You could say, I'm special." The smirk disappeared. "Its over, woodlander. No weapon, you lose."
Deyna grinned. "I've still got the handle. We aren't done yet."
One-Eye threw his head back and laughed. "What, what are you gonna do with that thing?! You'd be better off using it as a-"
As One-Eye talked, Deyna took the opportunity to kick the wildcat's crutch out from under his left arm. The big wildcat tottered, but stood fast. "Yeah, what were you saying?"
"That's a good trick, woodlander." said One-Eye. "Goodnight." He swung his scimitar directly at Deyna's head. A killing blow, if it would land. He blinked, and realized something was very wrong. One, Deyna wasn't leaking blood and brains onto the sand of the pit. Two, Deyna had caught the blade in his paws, avoiding the killing blow.
The otter snarled as he forced the blade away, making One-Eye bury it up to the hilt in sand. Struggling to maintain balance, and a hold on his weapon, The wildcat adopted a hunched posture, leaning on the pommel of his blade.
Deyna took this opportunity to slam his fist into One-Eye's chest. Once, twice, thrice. On the third hit, the otter knocked the wind of of his opponent, forcing him even further to the ground. Deyna then placed a footpaw on One-Eye's side and pushed hard, forcing the warlord to remove his hand from the blade to prevent himself from falling over.
There was silence, before slow clapping rang out from a chair in the corner as Longtail stepped forward. " T'would appear, we've got a winner. Well done, woodlander."
"Yeah, thanks." said Deyna, offering One-Eye a hand to get up.
The wildcat pushed it away, with a muttered "Fuck off."
Deyna shrugged, but still kicked the crutch over to One-Eye before walking away.
Longtail watched the otter leave before turning to his fellow Southlander. "Gates, that otter sure is something. Where'd you find 'im?"
"Doesn't matter."
Longtail leaned down a bit further. "How come you lost? I ain't never seen you lose like that before."
"Fuck off."
"Whatever you say, mate." Longtail stuck his paws in his pockets and walked away, leaving One-Eye sprawled, battered and bleeding in the sand.
A/N
Ain't that a shame?
