The Primal Dance of Combat

[Bones]

The canine awoke in a cold sweat, snapping up to a half seated position, her chest heaving in the struggle to claim breaths. Her gunmetal tinted fur matted with the turmoil of her wicked dreams. Her eyes adjusting to the light in the room, she leaned back just a little, with a small sigh. Her breathing slowly calming, her chest rising and falling slowly. She didn't move for a long while, just allowed herself to adjust to the environment around her. Her eyes slowly drifted to the window, and she caught a glimpse or two of the brightness slowly filling the day. Another sigh escaped her maw, this one having more of a groaning sound to it.  Her elbows fought with her fatigue, raising her to her hands, as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She stared down at herself for a minute, thoughts running rampant through her mind. Her thoughts flowed as if they were an ocean, her mouth becoming a bottle neck to a river, only allowing a few thoughts here and there out. It was a good thing, of course, that she could keep her thoughts so controlled, otherwise her troops might not support her so fully. Questions would abound if they knew the kinds of things that really ran through her mind. But on the other hand, it hurt to keep so many things locked inside her mind. For a moment her thoughts drifted to the hope, the wish, the desire to have someone be close enough to talk freely to, but she shoved that through away with a snarl.

She slowly pushed herself to her feet, one leg of her pajama pants that had been shoved up to her thigh in her fitful sleep, fell back to the floor. Her hands ran through her hair, brushing a few strands from her face. Her body ached, audibly protesting being awake by the popping and groaning of her joints and muscles. She hadn't slept well in months. The impending war, the preparations, and then the battles themselves taking a toll on her health. She winced at the thought. Had it really only been months since this had begun? She thought of her home, then, and how much she missed it. Even if she had never been close to her family, her community, it was still hers, and leaving it, especially in this manner, was heart-wrenching. Her hands caught on her shoulders, holding there for a moment as she gazed out the window at the approaching day. The sun slowly climbed in the sky, it too, appearing to dread this day, seemed to groan as it awoke. Slowly her feet took her across the small room to the window sill, her hands dropping from her body to rest on the frame of the window. Instinctively her face leaned against the coolness of the glass there, and she reveled in the feel of such coolness on her damp-with-exhaustion skin.

She stood there for some time, contemplating her life, the choices she had made, and how this war had started. She didn't even know anymore, what had caused such pain and suffering. Sure, the two species had never gotten along, but to tear at each other so fully, so ruthlessly... She never thought she'd see the day. And now this day promised to be the worst of them. She would go into battle herself, as she had many times leading up to now. But her scouts had gone ahead and spied upon the camp of the others, and sent word that he too would be going into this battle. Once, a long time ago, she had hoped for such a challenge. For a worthy opponent to test her skills against. But this wasn't the way she wanted it. Not against such harsh means. Not by the deaths of her people, her loved ones, her beautiful land. As her anger rose she could see her breath forming on the window. Although the day was hot, the life coming from her mouth met the glass and formed there in a thin sheet of ice. The element such a part of her that she didn't even intend for it to come out, but her emotions had gotten the better of her, and there it was. A paw reached for the ice, a single claw extended and she cut into the thing sheet with ease. It reminded her of the way her sword, too coated in ice, had cut through the flesh of so many with ease. A single tear rolled down her face, this was not what she wanted. Even if she hated them so for what they had done to her people, seeing them perish by her hand would always be one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do. And today, she'd have to do it again.

A knock on the door drug her out of her thoughts harshly, and she didn't try to hide the snarl of anger at this as her head snapped to pear over her shoulder, the rest of her body as unmoving as a redwood, to stare accusingly at the door across the small room. "What is it?" Her voice came rough, rougher than she would have liked, but at least it hid her true emotions underneath the gruffness, as she had been doing for so many months now. Another snarl shoved it's way through at that thought. So long had she not been able to express her true emotions; the hurt, anguish, suffering she felt for her kind as they too were slaughtered.

"I was sent to be your wake up call, m'lady," the voice came through the thick wood of the door, but the shakiness was not hidden. Whichever individual happened to be on the other side of that door was clearly having an emotional battle of their own, and a pang of empathy resonated in her chest. She longed to be the kind of leader her people came to with such things, but in this time, this time of war and disaster, she could only be the rock to which they clung.

"Yes, thank you. I shall be out shortly," her voice was gruff again, and yet there was a softer undertone to it. Perhaps, she hoped, the individual would hear that and take some comfort in knowing his superior did in fact care for him and his fellow warriors, that she was not completely a stone to them. She could not spend long on such thoughts though, and busied herself with peeling away the slept in clothing, and pulling on that which she wore under her icy-armor. She made haste, and joined her troops for their morning meeting and the first nourishment of the day. All the while, thoughts of the end of the war swirling through her mind. She hoped for peace, for a truce, but the thought that one species would be completely wiped out before this were over plagued her mind as she started what objectively could have been a beautiful day.

[Bones]

When they had finished their breakfast in a normal manner, for she refused to disrupt that one normalcy that the war could not take from them, they all began to don their armor. She'd told them they would break camp and head out soon, and they were all eager to make it to the next battle. Everyone one of them knew what loomed ahead of them promised to be either the worst or the best fight they'd faced yet. And as she stared out over their faces while she briefed them on the fight, she saw a range of emotion that she never expected to see. Many were excited, ready to serve their king and their land with all of themselves. But there was fear there, and even if they wanted to keep it hidden, she could see it. That was not what surprised her though, no fear was to be expected, but the passion ignited in these, her people, before her was enough to stagger even the most vile creature. They were eager to fulfill their destiny, even if it were certain death. Where she pointed, they would follow; not because they were ordered to, but because they fought with the same intensity and love for their land as she did. She blinked back tears, not wanting to show such weakness, but unable to hide her pleasure and pride.

When the announcement of the inevitable happened, when her father came to her in the dead of the night, telling her to prepare for what he told her would always be her destiny, it seemed unreal. The next day she stood next to him, not as his daughter, but as his warrior. And her soldiers now looked to her not as their princess, for her identity had been kept closely under wraps, but as their fearless leader. She saw the dedication in their eyes, the admiration with which they all regarded her. She hoped she would not fail them, but her mind wondered to the worst of thoughts as the stress of the war weighed down on her.

She had suited up then, and led her people to the battle front, just as she had been trained to do. Just as she had asked to be trained to do from such a young age. Her father, resisting at first, urged her to reconsider the life path that she so desperately wanted to follow. He told her that war was not for women, and that she should be protected at home. She remained persistent, and finally, as every loving father must, he gave into his daughters desires, and ordered her to be trained by only the best. Years later she found that he only gave in after learning of her affinity for water, and her unique control and manipulation of ice. It seemed natural to her that she should be so attuned to water, she had never thought to use it as an arguing point to gain her what she wanted. But in the end, it had been what won her her destiny. And she looked to it now for strength.

She'd given the order that they would begin their advancement in an hour, and as her troops began to break camp, she made the small hike to a flowing stream nearby. She crouched by the water, contemplative for a moment before she rolled up the legs of her pants and slipped her feet underneath the surface, sending ripples out from where her legs had broken through. Instantly she felt the stressful weight lift from her shoulders, and her eyes slipped closed in bit of a trance like state. Her mind expanded as if it were becoming the water itself, and she could almost see up and down the banks of the small stream. Her legs kicked slightly, back and forth, as she felt the vibrations of the water.

As she concentrated, her mind slipped further and further along the water, until finally she had found where it met the camp of her enemy. Her ears perked as she listened, and she heard them too readying for battle. No words could be made out, but she knew those sounds well; they would be met with ready forces. Unconsciously her tail began to wag. The fight would at least be interesting, she mused.

She stayed only a short while longer before she pulled her mind back to her, and withdrew herself from the stream reluctantly. She whispered a short prayer to Tethys, the goddess of fresh water, her eyes lingering on the pristine liquid just a moment more before she turned and made her way back to the area which once was used to house their encampment. Now it was just a small clearing, and as soon as her troops were moved out, it would appear as if no one had ever been there. She smiled to herself, the pride she felt for her people beaming through.

Quickly the canine would pull on her own armor, slinging her bow and arrows over her back, and strapping her sword in it's scabbard to her side. Her eyes gazed about, meeting the eyes of those who stood with her. Men and women alike, for she had begged her father to let the women join rank when she had broken through to him herself, grinned in readiness back at her. As young as they were, she saw the same intense passion in their eyes that she knew was mirrored back at them in her own. She said nothing, her smiled just broadened, and as she nodded, they moved.

Swiftly, silently, they made their way through the wooded area between them and the encampment they were to fight today. She wasn't sure if they would be met half way, or if they would close the distance completely. Ultimately, it did not matter. The heart and soul of her people moved as one through this area, and they knew it well. Soon enough, those foul creatures who had plagued them so would be under attack, and soon after, she felt it in her very soul, the war would come to a close. She didn't know how, or why, but she knew this to be fact. This battle would be the means to the end.

[Bones]

As they approached swiftly, the movements of her body became routine, and for a few brief moments in the safety of the trees, she pulled her troops together for one final rundown of plans. They had gained the high ground around the felines beneath, and she peered over as her troops waited a ways away. She knew she was stealthy, that her dark coat blended her easily, but they were not all so blessed. She thought of the pristine white pup in her ranks, and her heart strings pulled. Too many times she'd seen that beautiful fur matted with blood. Blood of her own, blood of the others, blood of the enemy. It almost made Alina flinch with disgust, but she held her stance.

As she peered over the mountain side she glimpsed their camp. Packing up as they had just so recently. Her heart strings were yanked at again at what she saw. Her eyes fell first on a young lynx. She was frightened, clutching a drink to her; no doubt something to calm her nerves and let her loose her inhibitions in the coming battle. Several others seemed to be preparing mentally, hushed conversations of encouragement dotted the camp. 'They are all so young,' she thought. 'But then, so am I.' Her heart sank at the thought. She was young, but she knew how to lead, and being on both sides of that sword cut her deeper than any in battle had yet.

And then her eyes, as they grazed the encampment solemnly, fell on who she most dreaded, and at the same time longed, to meet in combat. She knew if any held a match to her skills it would be this rugged tiger. She felt her calmness, and her smooth control over her element gave her an ahead against him purely in combat. But he had a hatred for her people that she would never be able to match. She only hoped that the love she felt for them, and all living things to be truthful, could overcome his detest for her species. The war had been hard on all of them, but she knew bits and pieces of his story, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel for the feline. He'd suffered loss, and he'd been placed in a position where that loss was only exploited over and over again. Another pang in her heart rang out as her mind raced with the thoughts.

She'd have to kill him today if she wanted peace for her people. That was the only solution her mind could see. His king would compromise, would come to an agreement, a treaty. She knew she could reason with him if this hothead were out of the way. She admired his fire, greatly. But he didn't seem to know the control that she had felt all her life, and she planned to use that to her advantage. She lingered there just a moment, her gaze fixed on him in thought, before she snapped out of the trance the feline had fixed her in unknowingly, and her body moved silently back to her troops. She had no fear that those below had spotted her, for all she knew they wouldn't be expecting them so early, but she needed to get in and get out quickly. It needed to be over with; she could feel the dragging souls of those around her, and not just her own troops. No one wanted this terrible war to continue, and she vowed it would end here today. Somehow.

The eyes of her troops lit up as she returned with a smile painted on her face. It wasn't entirely fake, as she was proud to fight next to them, but her eyes told clearly her distaste for what would have to be done today. She looked around at them: the white-furred husky she had thought of earlier; a lithe dalmatian, no older than the first; a doberman, who, despite his scowl had more heart than she had seen in many twice his age; a black lab, tensed and ready to spring at any moment, in the prime of her life; and so many more who stared back at her with the eyes of those aged not by years but by hardships. She choked back a gag, and looked to the Great Dane to her right, her lieutenant, her right hand man, the one she looked to for advice and encouragement, her best friend from childhood. It was hard to think of how short a while ago that was.

She nodded, and he returned it happily, the smile spreading across his face filling her very soul with whatever drive to win she had been lacking. "Whaddya say, Kalil?"

"Ready to do it, Ali," he said in his gruff voice that she'd never get over hearing. The way his nickname for her rolled off of his tongue always made her feel as if she were glowing. The grin on her face spread, and she turned to the rest of her troops.

"It's gonna be a hard battle. These cats are well trained, and the one who leads them is seemingly heartless. We need to focus or he will tear us apart. Do not let them separate you from the rest of us. We will be ready for whatever it is they have to surprise us with, and we will do what we do best: defend our pride, honor, and most of all, peace." Her words, although they were similar words to what they had heard before every major battle, rose in them a spirit which she'd never tire of seeing. They were silent, but their eyes shone with the love and adoration they held for their leader, their home, and, most of all, one another.

"We're going to be attacking from the top, archers first," she nodded to them in turn. "When I give the signal, attempt to pick the weakest off. The smaller their number, the more we can surround them and not be surprised." Silently, she added to herself that the smaller the number the more likely they could find some common ground and come to a truce.

"I'm going to send a few of my arrows in," she nodded her head to the arrows coated in sparkling ice strapped to her back, "At him. I want to knock him down a little before I rush in with Guinevere." She paused, and they all nodded, some of them still in awe at the powers of her sword, confused at the blade, and the effect it had over her enemies. Normally, she'd cut any down easily. The chill effect of the blade sinking to the bone of those who came under her blow. But he was different, and she knew it'd be a challenge. She trembled with excitement at the thought of such a challenge, but she only wished it were under much different circumstances.

"I'll need you all to keep the rest of them at bay, this fiery Bengal won't just give me a victory." The snark in her voice lifted their spirits, she could feel it, and she was glad that her tongue could be as sharp as the ice coating her arrows.

"Alright then, archers, positions. Melee, if they somehow come up the hills at us, defend your archers. Remember to work together." She turned, and strode back to where she had spied before, and slowly she saw the faint movement, and the felt the eyes of her people on her as they all took their places. She waited just long enough to know they were all with her, and ready, and then she gave the signal.

Down in the feline encampment, she knew they'd be surprised, and this was her favorite part, because for a moment all seemed so distanced from the war. It always caught them off guard, and it made her incredibly thankful that she was so blessed as to be able to work in tune with an element in such a way. No doubt they had heard of this tactic from previous battles, but the effect was always the same, no matter the rumors; they were in awe, and, they too, for at least a moment, would be drawn out of the hideousness of the war.

She felt herself well up, and her eyes, glowing a bright icy color would watch as small snow flakes formed in mid air from the moisture around them, and fell upon the felines below. Were it a different situation, she would delight in the way the young cubs would respond to the frozen water as it nestled into their fur.

But it wasn't a different situation, this was a war...

And she watched, half in horror, half in delight at the fluidity of her pups, as arrows began to rain even more heavily than the snowflakes on the cats below. She watched as the weaker ones were picked off easily, and her own arrows were sent directly to where she knew he'd be. One landing outside his door, a sign that she was there and he should show himself, and until he did, she'd continue to pick off his troops, demanding a real fight from the only one who could truly match her.