Ninjas and Lancers and Dragons, oh my

[brbwalking]

[ there are very few things that can break through Judith's cool, but she's very, very protective of her former home. Mt. Temza was not meant to be intruded upon, especially when she knew there were still people who desired the Entelexeia. She'd never once forgotten that Ba'ul was constantly at risk.

And it's why she's fighting so fiercely now, fighting to kill if he persists, where she might otherwise find joy in a good challenge. Her method of fighting isn't fair. She aims to knock her opponent to the side, to leave lasting injuries, to evade and flip and gouge and slash-- but he's fast, feral, and she hasn't stayed unharmed from this encounter. Truth be told, she's bleeding rather heavily down one arm, another injury dripping into one eye from a gash beneath her bangs. ]

... I won't say it again.

[ she pauses to catch her breath. ]

Leave.

Comments

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke's tactics cannot be called fair either. He fights with no normal method, twisting and using his body in strange ways that somehow almost always strike. Yet even his lithe grace has not kept him unscarred by the battle. He is forced to favor one arm in his own flips, his shoulder gouged, and there is a dark spot bleeding into one thigh of his hakama.

He does not know for certain what she is protecting, but he was told to scout the mountain, and he will not withdraw from an order. ]

Leave I will not.

[ He uses a tree as a spring board to leap for her again, knives flashing out in front of him. ]

[brbwalking]

[ well, she's not one to repeat a warning. She admires stubbornness, but in this case, Judith isn't in the position nor the mood to appreciate it.

She leans back sharply to avoid the strike, though the knife catches her leg as she flips backwards. Almost immediately, she lashes out with her spear, but when she attempts to surge upright, the flare of pain that lances up her leg is enough to make her stumble with a slight wince. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ He certainly catches sight of that stumble, flicking her blood off his blade. ]

Surrender.

[ As he does not know who this woman is, he does not particularly want to kill her, though she seems determined to force his hand. ]

[brbwalking]

[ she smiles at that, grimly. Even as she breathes hard, she keeps her head held high. ]

Would you give in so easily? I'm afraid I have something worth fighting for.

[monkeyjump]

I have no desire for whatever it is you protect.

[ He just wished to finish his mission so he could return to his lord. ]

[brbwalking]

[ funnily enough, she doesn't believe him. ]

You're trespassing either way.

[monkeyjump]

You are master of this land?

[brbwalking]

I am.

[ the sole survivor, more like. ]

[monkeyjump]

My orders are to scout this mountain. I cannot back down from that task.

[ It is almost something of an olive branch, some explanation of why he is here and will not leave. ]

[brbwalking]

[ she's not quite mollified, though the killing intent does lessen. Slightly. ]

And what interest could your master possibly have in this mountain?

[monkeyjump]

That is not my place to question. Nor my information to give freely, even if I did know the answer.

[ Someone takes his job very seriously. ]

[brbwalking]

You're loyal.

[ she almost looks wistful, before her gaze hardens. ]

Unfortunately, unless your master himself can give me a reason, I can't let you pass.

[ if he does find Ba'ul and reports back... she won't risk it. Not her closest friend. Not her family. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke nods in acceptance of the fact. So it is. ]

Have no other choice but to continue.

[ He leaps for her again. ]

[brbwalking]

[ and she's dancing backward, swinging the spear at a sharp angle and lunging to try and kick him into the air. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke ceases talking as he dodges, entirely focused on the fight. He does not mean to kill her, but he will win, whatever it takes. ]

[brbwalking]

[ likewise, she's less focused on killing him. The ideal is beating him back enough for him to rethink this course of action and speak to the one whose orders he was following. If it comes to taking his life, there's no helping it; she's no bright-eyed optimist.

But all this constant vigilance has been wearing down at her. Hunters, seeking Ba'ul. Researchers, wanting to get their hands on apatheia.

Judith isn't at her full strength right now, but she's certainly fighting as hard as she can. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke wastes no time taking advantage of that weariness.

At least, until he hears a very strange sound, one unlike he has ever heard before. He leaps away from her, trying to puzzle out what it might be and yet not let it distract him enough from the battle she will get the advantage. ]

[brbwalking]

[ it's all right-- Judith's eyes flick upwards, and for a split second, she looks almost alarmed. ]

Ba'ul--!

[monkeyjump]

[ Who?

Sasuke looks up as well -- and then freezes, eyes open wide in shock. ]

[brbwalking]

[ and down the massive dragon-whale descends; Sasuke had best move if he doesn't want to get landed on. Judith raises a hand to rest reassuringly on one section of the creature's side, at once concerned and still on guard. ]

Really, I'm fine. You didn't have to show yourself.

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke leaps back to keep from getting squished...

But then he stops. In fact, he seems incapable of movement, instead fascinated by the dragon-whale that has so suddenly appeared. ]

[brbwalking]

...

[ wryly. ]

You know, it's rude to stare.

[monkeyjump]

Beautiful...

[ It is mumbled before words startle him out of his daze. What wait where they were fighting yes! He takes a defensive position, but otherwise does not move. ]

[brbwalking]

[ neither does she. Instead, she studies him warily. Her hearing's much sharper than an average human's; had he been a Krityan, she would have understood his emotions as well. Ah, well. ]

Ba'ul is someone very important to me. And I won't be letting either you or your master hurt him.

[monkeyjump]

... I do not want to hurt him.

[ That is sincere, if nothing else. ]