[COMBAT HELPER] Extra Challenger Afoot (Forward by Choice x Gloom)

[fluo]

Gloom was in fine form this festival. There was something in the air and with temperatures dropping to chilly weather, a new season was fresh upon them. Everyone dealt with change differently, and with Gloom, he embraced it. A new season meant a new cast of florals and plants to devour and find. New projects could start. He thought of his bulbs. Soon they would flourish with the next cold snap. Things were great and when a call for arms and combat was made, he shrugged elegantly and thought, "Why not?"

It would be fun right? He eyed the other kin. A battle of strength he could do. He was no young buck, but he still had some fight in him.

[HuniPi]

Forward by Choice had never been the sort of kin to back down from a fight. Not then and especially not now when it seemed to be for a good-natured purpose. Hopefully this would draw enough attention for Heart to find him among the crowd.

He turned to face his opponent, pausing briefly in surprise to see a stag. This was the first one he'd ever met in his life, it was certainly an experience he'd be telling his children about. With a nod of acknowledgment, the totoma sized up Gloom when he spotted something from the corner of his eye.

"Oh Beast," he muttered in annoyance when the displacer cheetah suddenly darted out of the shadows, its tentacles playfully batting at the ground. He had half-expected his lion to follow, but Displaced Beast was proving far more unpredictable.

"Stay out of this," he commanded, his voice gruff and his tone was not one to be questioned. Once the cheetah was sufficiently cowed, Forward was able to give his full attention to the other kin. And took his chance at the first opening he could spot.

[HuniPi]

Going purely by how the kimeti stag appeared, they have the advantage of size and likely experience especially when one considered their ascension. While it made Forward wary, it also made him excited and eager to test his mettle against someone who was actually keen on fighting.

Forward made a few feints at firsts, trying to gauge the kimeti's reflexes and speed. He suddenly reared back, as if gearing to bring down his front legs, but then twisted mid-rise so that he would instead be in the right posture to kick up with his hind legs. He managed to pull it off smoothly because he felt his hooves connect. It wasn't meant to be a debilitating blow but there was strength behind it, enough to push the other kin back even if they braced for impact.

When there came blur of red from his periphery, Forward snorted in irritation and sharply side-stepped to block the cheetah from joining in the fray.

[HuniPi]

The cheetah was proving to be a liability in this situation with it unintentionally distracting Forward when all it wanted to do was play with the tussling duo. Was this Forward's fault? Had he not been bringing Beast along to enough hunts to work off its surplus of energy?

A retaliatory blow from his opponent brought Forward's concentration back to the fight. He shook his head to clear his thoughts then gave the cheetah a low growl of warning that was edged with menace. This time it was enough to have the cheetah slink off back into the thickets, though he could still sense his familiar was still nearby.

"Apologies for that. You have my undivided attention now."

[HuniPi]

Forward by Choice's name was not meant to be indicative of how he fought. He wasn't always charging headlong with nary a care to the danger it would pose to himself. He was willing to retreat to a more advantagous position when the situation presented itself. He was careful but not overly cautious, capable of taking calculated risks. Though they didn't always pay off, the stag got some solid hits on him, Forward still managed to come out on top.

Breathing hard after their combat, Forward by Choice bowed to Gloom to show his respect for the stag's skill and strength before scanning the crowd in search of the doe he arrived at the gathering with.

((using up my 2nd roll to reroll the 4 and 2; Final roll is 1, 6, 6, 4, 4 = 26))

[fluo]

First roll

Gloom was not one to dwell on what he lacked in life, but seeing the Totoma move adeptly and with muscle memory had his heart twinging with something akin to dark thoughts. Because even if he started his life allover and was aided by the MotherFather, he was not built like that. The Totoma had bulk, strength, and miraculously agility on his side. Gloom was built more lanky and wirey. He was flexible and fast, but not like the speed demon in front of him. This was going to be a painful learning experience, but he was excited. He hadn't felt this type of challenge in a very long time. It was a shame Doom was not nearby to witness such prowess.

[fluo]

2, 6, 1, 2, 5
Keeping: 2, 2, 1
Re-rolling the other 2

The blows kept on coming and he staggered under the Totoma's strength and ferocity. It didn't help that a most fascinating species of cheetah darted between the created small spaces of the two kin's bodies. The cheetah was not part of the fight and Gloom did not want to hurt it. He was intrigued and each distracted glance granted him a hard blow to the side. He should have known better but those tentacles that unfurled from the body reminded him of grappling vines of his favorite, elusive plants. He struck out hoping to connect. Though he touched the Totoma, his blow lacked the strength needed to bring his opponent down to their knees.

[fluo]

Second reroll

Gloom allowed him a brief chuckle. For all their blows, the cheetah was determined to play. Its tenacity and oddness reminded him of cantankerous Doom. He missed his family dearly. After he limped from this battle he would make effort into finding them and reconnecting. Already his side smarted and he couldn't help a small chuckle escape from his bruised lips at the cheetah's antics.

[fluo]

Final hand: 2, 2, 2, 1, 3
For four 2s
Gloom has been defeated!

Sweet mercy the fight was over. His chest heaved and his eyes watered from the Totoma's thundering hooves. This battle of strengths was rough on his stag form. He looked at the sky. It would be a few hours before he could muster up any dignity to shift to his spider form to recover away from spectators. His spider form was useful though. Perhaps he could spy on the cheetah and none would be the wiser.

"Great battle," Gloom wheezed out. "You've landed some solid blows and are quick. You're a formidable foe."