I had stepped outside with RaXi for a moment with a rare urge to talk with someone. We chatted for a short while, and then she left to investigate a figure standing on the roof of the East tower. I sat by myself in the chilly night air, looking up at the full moon in the sky.
Finally, I stood to leave. My hand had barely graced the doorknob when a male voice behind me called out, “Please do not leave just yet.”
I spun around quickly, eying the sudden intruder. I stood warily as he spoke, all of my senses on high alert. There was something odd about the way his skin shimmered slightly under the moonlight, almost like he had…
Bowing politely to me, he said, “My name is Pashnirix. I understand that we are to engage in a fight to the death,” with a slight accent.
He had hair so pale it looked like bleached ice, worn in a ponytail that reached his waist, thrown over his right shoulder. His eyes were the same cold color, and he wore a smirk on his face. Strapped to his waist was a single scimitar. Like me, he wasn’t wearing his uniform coat, instead choosing to dress in a finely tailored black suit. This wasn’t some newbie Nobody, or some immature teenager. He had experience, both in life and with his powers.
“Who are you again?” I asked, not exactly understanding the part about ‘fight to the death’.
He laughed. “Ah, yes. I am part of the Organization, a much more advanced and powerful one that this measly get-together your leaders call an ‘organization’. We are here to eliminate you nuisances, and proceed with our plan of world domination, if you don’t mind.”
Oh. Well, then. It figured that sooner or later, a bunch of Nobodies would realize that we weren’t exactly the most organized Organization and try to eliminate us, but that didn’t mean we wouldn’t fight back. “Very well,” I said. “I assume you know the rules of a proper duel, then?”
“Of course, my lady,” he said. I wasn’t sure if he was mocking me or not. From his looks and aura, I would have said not. He held out his sword. “En garde.”
I let the chains around my hands lengthen until they covered my forearms, providing an arm guard. Then I moved in close to Pashnirix, and we circled for a bit.
He made the first move, reversing around to slash at my arm. My instinct kicked in and I caught the blade, roughly pushing it away from me. He lashed out again, and once again, I deflected him.
“Not bad,” he said pleasantly, “but let’s see how you handle this.” With that, he began a furious offensive, forcing me to quickly parry each of his blows and putting me on complete defense. Finally, I grabbed his blade with one hand and punched out with the other, grazing his cheek as he leaned away from my hit. I took the offensive then, throwing out a flurry of kicks and punches, each one blocked.
Then he snatched my wrist, holding me close to himself. I couldn’t help but bury my nose in his neck and smell him, and was surprised as he did the same.
“Your element,” he said roughly, “what is it?”
“I could ask the same of you,” I answered. He smelled of something exotic, something I’d never smelled before, yet it seemed familiar.
“Spirit of the Dragon,” he said abruptly, looking me in the eye.
I gasped. “What? I had heard that there were other Nobodies out there with powers like me, Animal Spirits…but I never believed it,” I said softly. “I’m the Tigress.” No wonder he smelled so good. This close, I could see the faint outline of tiny scales dotting his skin.
“I had heard the rumors as well,” said Pashnirix, “but I never realized…No matter.” He released me. “I suppose, then, you wouldn’t mind if I asked for a fight in our Final forms?”
I nodded my head. This was crazy. I hadn’t been this excited for a fight since…since Saix. Finally, a fight against a worthy opponent, one like myself.
I unclipped all of my chains, letting them fall to the floor. I had only used my Final form two other times, but in both fights, the results had been deadly. I didn’t know how I would fare against a Final form like mine, though. I removed my boots and rolled up my pants, and then took off my gloves. Standing with my eyes closed, I performed the hand motions that were ingrained in my heart, and whispered, “Spirit of the Tigress.”
I could feel the power coursing through my body until the transformation was complete, and I looked more tigress than woman. Claw scratched the ground as my feet morphed into paws, and the same for my hands. My teeth sharpened to the point where I could tear flesh from bones, and sensitive whiskers sprouted on my face. My cat ears twitched with every sound that passed by. A striped tail grew out at the base of my spine, flicking nervously from side to side.
Pashnirix looked on with something like amusement. “I’ll admit,” he said, taking off his shoes and jacket, “I’m nowhere near as subtle as you are with my transformation.” With that, he threw his scimitar high into the air and shouted, “Spirit of the Dragon!”
Immediately, his pupils became slitted, and two great wings emerged from his back. His hands and feet turned into scaly clawed talons, and horns grew at the top of his head. His teeth as well lengthened and sharpened, like mine. Finally, a long tail with an arrowhead tip snaked out and around his feet. His scimitar fell to a sudden stop just over his head, and separated into six different blades. I had a feeling that the weapon replication trait was common across all animal spirit Nobodies, and that he could replicate that blade as many times as necessary.
We stared at each other, both of us in a low crouch, waiting for the other to make the first move. I would fight as a tiger, not as a human. While he had the advantage of raw power, I had the advantage of speed. This would take all of my experience and instinct in order to win.
I set my eyes on his as we both whispered at the same time, “Hunt.”
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I'm not sure how long it'll be until I post the second part (I'll be at the inauguration this weekend ^_^), but I'll try to get it up as soon as possible.
KitKat: Oooooh, epic battle royale between the Tigress and the Dragon! I wonder who'll win...
Rexikat: *too busy trying not to get killed*
