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It had been some time since Prinike had attempted a challenge at the Myrsky Syntynyt pride, but her wounds and hurt pride had finally recovered. It was a brisk and somewhat chilly day, made worse by the fine mist carried by the ocean breeze that also stung with salt. She was familiar with the sensation and not much looking forward to the way she knew that same salt water would feel in whatever scrapes or cuts she might sustain in the upcoming battle. But nevertheless, she trudged on to the place rogues went to fight for membership. The sight of the grounds made her defeat feel even fresher in her mind, but she banished the thought. She could not afford to be distracted.

Hopefully she would not have to face Ensis again. Though he was a fair opponent, she did not want to lose to the same lion, regardless of who they were, twice.

"Are there any reavers who would accept my challenge today?" She called out, a little uncertain if the wind would steal away her call or if it would reach a reaver's ears.

Prinike felt she was a little bit better of a fighter than to rely on the reaver's courtesy, but she allowed it at least for the sake of getting started. She nodded and they walked to more level, sandier ground, Shireen following behind her. The lionesses circled one another, Prinike returning Shireen's smile, though she was incredibly tense beneath it. Sometimes she made slight false-starts and the speed with which Shireen was able to react was incredible. Were they already so mis-matched? Prinike swallowed hard and braced herself.

It was now or never!

The white lioness lunged at the dark reaver with both of her paws extended forward, hoping to claw (not deeply for their duel) a flank or side or at least jostle the other lioness off of her feet. (2)

Prinike only managed to anticipate Shireen's next move to a slight extent because Shireen had had so much more ground to make up for having been pushed back by Prinike's first move. She managed to avoid a really forceful blow to her jaw, but took the brunt of the attack in her chest, leaving her sore and a little bit winded. But now Shireen's face and neck were nearby!

The white lioness quickly went to grab the reaver with her front claws and sink a bite into her neck. She was able to latch on, but did not apply windpipe crushing force like she would have to a prey animal. She did not know what the rules were surrounding challenges where the pride member was killed, but regardless of if it would jeopardize her membership or not, she did not want to permanently hurt Shireen. She had seemed nice enough in their couple of lines of exchanged dialogue. She just wanted to slam the other, dark lioness down to the ground was all. That really was not that much to ask. (3)

Though Shireen mostly whiffed by Prinike, the white lioness too was a little bit distracted in the moment. She felt a little bit concerned now for her opponent. Had it been too much of an attack? Was it still a fair fight? Was Shireen seriously hurt? What if the lioness had some kind of old injury or other kind of ailment that made her more susceptible or prone to those kind of attacks and Prinike ruthlessly and unfairly took advantage of it?? Her eyebrows knitted together in concern, even as she was bumped by Shireen.

Realizing a moment or two later that it was her turn to attack, she tried to knock Shireen off of her feet again. Maybe if she was felled once more, the reaver would realize the potential serious harm that she was being exposed to by carrying on the fight and she would resign herself for her own safety? It was the best Prinike could hope for at the moment, she figured, again hardly thinking of her potential membership at stake. (1)

Probably about half of the power that Shireen would have wanted or intended to go through her blow and into Prinike's face actually managed to make contact, but it still hurt quite sharply. She felt her maw sting with Shireen's claws and the salty air that immediately pervaded her wound. Her head throbbed for a moment before becoming a duller ache. It was still quite distracting, though. She frowned and wrinkled her nose to try and focus through the pulsing of her head. She probably should end this as soon as possible. Shireen would not back down, for better or worse of her own health, and Prinike knew that the more experienced reaver could certainly wear her down given enough time, even in the black lioness' present state.

The challenger resolved herself once again to try and bowl Shireen off of her feet. Since she was still so close to Prinike from the blow to her face, the white lioness crouched down. She sprung up and into Shireen's chest, making the first good and solid contact that either of them had managed to land for the entirety of the fight. (4)

Yanking her paw out of the other lioness' mouth may not have been the smartest route, as it tore her flesh a little bit more, but at least she was freed. Grains of sand were now sticking to the tacky blood staining her white and grey coat. Shireen had managed to get back onto her feet again, but in that time, Prinike circled around her.

The white lioness used her own claws to try to yank Shireen's back legs out from underneath of her, and the weakened black lioness' hind end fell to Prinike's claws with less resistance than was offered at the start of their fight. Could it be? Would this be over soon? With Prinike really winning?! (3)

Prinike could hardly believe her ears! Could it really be true?! After all this time? Though blood was flowing freely into her mouth from Shireen's final blow, the white lioness grinned widely, not minding in the least bit the metallic taste of her own blood (or was some of it Shireen's too, from when she bit her throat?) The white lioness bounced on her feet (less the injured one) and let out a happy roar.

"Thank you, Shireen!" She would have had to stop herself from gushing about how excited she was and happy and relieved, but words failed her, anyway. Instead, the grin was stuck on her face with the blood and the sand and the salt and she followed Shireen into the pride for their reward of tending and sweet, sweet catnip.