[CHALLENGE] The Last of Them (Amtat x Hila)

[Epine de Rose]

And thus the final challenger stepped forward and it was her who was insistent on a rest. Regardless of how strong Hila might have been, Amtat was not prepared to allow her to push herself beyond her limits. Even a Nergui would be exhausted without a moment to pause and while she may have taken one or two instances to breathe...The lioness was not yet satisfied she had rested enough.

Evidently, this one was one who displayed a level of compassion that was unusual for those raised within her former pride.

"You will rest," she instructed firmly as she regarded Hila. A small smile lifted on to her lips, all things considered, after four battles the Stormborn lioness had done herself a great service. "Then we will finish this," she lifted her paw and gave it a small wave.

"I will only battle those on even footing," she explained. "You are not quite there yet," she advised.

Vashtya

 

[Vashtya]

All Hila wanted to do was lick her wounded pride in private....but there was still one more challenge to address. Rolling onto her side, then getting to her feet, she bit the inside of her cheek to contain the groan that wanted to escape. She was running on fumes, at this point - and pride. It was fortunate that these fights had not been to the death, although she was feeling bitter enough to not fully appreciate her luck in that regard.

Her left forepaw was nearly useless, although she strove to hide just how much it was bothering her, forcing herself to stand squarely on all four paws. It was a testament to just how exhausted she was that she didn't argue with the paler lioness, instead allowing her statement to stand. It helped that she'd given Hila a pride-saving reason for the delay, all the more so given her...poor performance so far.

Determination stiffened her spine as her breathing slowly evened out (although her aches and pains came more to the forefront at the reprieve), her posture shifting minutely in reaction. If nothing else, she wanted to make a respectable showing - and it wasn't in her, to quit once she'd started something.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

Amtat had her concerns, though she wasn't prepared to voice them at this particular moment in time. Her Nergui sisters had been unforgiving (for the most part) in their duels and hadn't taken pity on the Stormborn lioness. Hila had demanded a challenge and on occasion her arrogance had spoken for her, they had responded in kind. However, what stood before the pink lioness now was a Stormborn female who was in ruin.

...Hila was not well.

Whether the black lioness was willing to admit it or not, Amtat didn't firmly believe that she would fight well in this duel. Still, it would be of great disservice to simply walk away from her at this time. Amtat would give her the opportunity to at least try to put up a fight and from that point on she would make a call. If Hila did in fact possess the strength to battle her then she would provide her with that duel but if she didn't... Well then Amtat would do what her pride sisters had not.

All she could do now was wait and see as she regarded the lioness and waited expectantly.

Ah, but Amtat appeared to be giving Hila the first move as well, though her stance seemed to imply she was ready for the impact. Amtat wasn't doing this out of pity, it seemed she was doing it out of necessity.

Vashtya