"The Final Match!" Monquel annouced, firing an arrow into the air.
All waited, the tensions as high-strung upon the air as a giant terrifying harp, for the arrow to land.
On the side farthest away from Kayi, Clan Nutsy waited, their eyes flickering with anxiety.
But on the opposite side of the battlefield-to-be, Clan Borzoi awaited the arrow's a-waited touchdown.
With a silently deafening crash, the arrow mutely kissed the ground.
The engagement was on!
A Thief who Kayi had learned was Thane was first to be struck. Naturally, he dodged, and Eponine's arrow hit Callypso instead on the hat.
Montblanc yelled something. Gukko looked up just into to embrace a full-out Blizzara full on the face.
Gukko screamed as the ice cut into him, and probably would have been injured if all of a sudden, a Paladin did a roll over to avoid more arrows and summoned forth a Nurse. A few rings of soft light, glittering softly, rained down upon the Paladin and those surrounding him.
"Thanks," the Fighter yelled. "Don't sing!"
The Paladin grumbled. "Whatever. So.. now what-"
"SHUT UP!" Callypso yelled.
Both closed their mouths.
And muttering a spell, the clan on the opposite side of the battlefield held a bracing stance, ready for any attack that came forward from Callypso outstretched hands...
But no attack came forward.
No, it came from underneath!
A huge energy blast issued forth from the earth beneath Clan Nutsy's feet.
Eponine, dragging Sandath behind her, leaped out of the way. Sandath just barely caught the heated fringes of the destruction spell.
Marche lept out, Monte and Muglio leapt out...
Victor and Montblanc fell to the ground. Montblanc had been KO'd completely, but muttering a healing spell, Victor regained his health in a holy aura of healing energy.
"Positions!" Gukko yelled, waving at his clan. "Come on!"
The White Monk squinted against the leftover light and crouched down, a small target ready to leap away or block hits.
The Black Mage next to the Paladin moved paces forward and gathered magical energy in his hands.
Everyone shifted into positions, subtle changes that would not make one bit of difference until the deciding move, the climax of the engagement...
And that climax, that deciding move, came sooner than anyone would have expected.