The Dawn of Battle (McDuck)

OoC: This is my first battle, using my character Mordecai. Read his profile for details of his life leading up to this moment...

BiC: The ocean glistened in the light of the full moon as the waves lapped up against the dock. Darkened figures walked along the pier lugging wooden crates from the large tanker to the warehouse. The workers dumped the creates within the warehouse, releasing a sigh of relief each time their backs were relieved of the load. Again and again the workers repeated this boring routine with the grunts becoming severer.

In a event that presented itself as a oddity, the workers struggled with a crate much larger than its predecessors. For them, the pier seemed to have grown in length the more they worked. As with all the others, they dumped this crate in the warehouse, grunting in anguish. They retraced their steps back along the pier to the ship using their voices for the first time since beginning their work.

"There's just the one more to go." The leader of the two announced.

"Oh.. thank you Jebus! " Sighed the other.

The pair disappeared back into the ship's storage compartment. For those listening closely enough, noises of life echoed from the uninhabited warehouse. Another darkened figure, larger than the normal man, crept from the warehouse and into the night. He carried a meter long blade in each hand. It was Mordecai. He keep himself in the darkness. Away from where the few night goers walked about town.

He was disillusioned. Somewhat seasick and wanting to see a sign that would tell him where he was. He jogged at a brisk pace, keeping to the back alleyways. He was fit, but the extended jogging was wearing him down. The shore was far behind him so he stopped to catch his breath. The full moon lightly lit the alleyway. He was startled by some rustling behind him. Turning, he focused his pinpoint gaze. He couldn't quite make out the figure entirely, but it appeared to be nothing more than a little cat...

Bleo Leonus carefully side-stepped out from the shadows. Like a wraith of the night, he strode towards the tall man and stopped ten feet away from him. Mordecai, after recovering from his initial surprise at seeing the furry foreigner here of all places, turned his chest to face Bleo. The cat stood, legs planted on the cobbled brick of the alley, and began to speak.

"Mordecai! What brings you to the docks on a night like this?" purred Bleo, addressing the man before him, "What premonition woke you from your slumber?"

Mordecai remained silent, but gritted his teeth. Bleo raised an eye-brow . . . that is to say, the fur above his left eye shifted and rose.

"Say something, man mountain! I can only presume you are up to no good. I'm sure your anger is directed mostly at the mere fact that I followed you," (here Bleo place a tentative paw against the hilt of his blade), "I can assure that my intentions were good, man mountain".

Mordecai stood up to his full stance; at almost four times Bleo's height, the silent man was an intimidating statue of power and assertion. But the cat's last comment had left him curious. He gestured with a calloused hand for Bleo to continue. Bleo Leonus took the crude hint and obliged:

"You and I are rather alike, more so than you have probably guessed," explained Bleo, "We are both strangers to this place they call 'The Dome' and should be grateful that its lords and masters offer us protection, food and work. Damnit, you and I both are running from responsibility and will be accepted nowhere else. This is our home now and we owe it all to the grace and understanding of those high above us".

Mordecai grunted and folded his arms, still holding tight to his twin swords. Bleo nodded at the physical change in the big man's stance.

"I followed you because I believe you are abusing the trust that has been placed in us both and I can't have you betraying the grace that we have been offered," said Bleo, asserting his words with a single step towards Mordecai.

Hesitantly now, Bleo spoke, "I will fight you for your trust". Mordecai ran a hand through his long black hair and gave a stern nod in agreement. Bleo recognised the move and in response, pulled back the sides of his blue leather jacket and drew the twin sabres from his belt (planting his feet in a traditional battle stance). Mordecai stepped forward and held his swords parallel to each other in front of his face, just grazing the tip of his nose.

OoC: Over to you, Mel!

OoC: You're a great writer McDuck and quick too.

BiC: Mordecai still looked hesitant. Conflicting thoughts invaded his mind. He lowered his swords and stumbled backwards a few steps, turning to show nothing to Bleo but his muscular back. Bleo stood up straight, relaxed from battle stance. He dropped his sword wielding arms to his sides. Mordecai looked down at the ground. He just wanted to be left alone to ponder his thoughts, but the cat had challenged him. He was not one to back away from a battle. His facial expression changed to anger, his teeth grit tight. He had decided to end of the babbling of Bleo, or that's how he thought of it.

Bleo, with his proud head still held up high, broke the silence. "What say you man mountain? Do you cowardly back away?"

Mordecai quickly raised his head with a savage grunt. He was not going to take this from a mysterious little feline. He quickly turned to face the furry fighter, looking arrogantly down upon the creature. He raised his swords back into a battle stance and Bleo caught the message, readying himself once again.

"There's a good boy." Bleo purred somewhat sarcastically. "You're not a coward after all. "

Mordecai grunted all the more as Bleo continued his dialog.

"C'mon Mordecai." beckoned Bleo with a motion of his paw.

They were ready to fight. The battle had dawned, as dawn itself approached at a steady pace. The monstrous Mordecai could be heard snorting loudly with each breath as the two stood in a cliche standoff. Mordecai glanced around the alleyway, surveying what he could see of the battle arena in the moonlight. Bleo traced his eye movements suspiciously, wandering what the youth was planning.

Mordecai was ready. He had found his first prop. Grabbing the aluminum rubbish bin which sparkled in the moonlight, he flung it at Bleo, hoping to catch him by surprise. Bleo was quick and darted to avoid the heavy hazard, uttering, "It will take more than that man mountain." The feline quickly regretted his effort to speak, as he copped one of Mordecai's boots. It wasn't a hard kick, but more of a playful flick, sending Bleo across the alley and onto his back. Quickly he nipped up, brushing his fur clean of the alley's filth. The two again stood in a stand off, each with a queer smirk governing their face and their blades ready for action.

OoC: Your shot Duckie.

OoC: Whoah, Mel! That was really well written; plus, you understood my character very well Let's see how this turns out!

BiC: Bleo carefully rubbed the bruise Mordecai's foot had left on his chin. There was a moment of deafening silence broken only by the gentle lap of the far off waves. Bleo took a moment to silently judged Mordecai's broad build and his muscular physique; the big dark man stood like an impenetrable wall against the alleyway, his silhouette letting only the bravest rays of pink morning light through.

Despite the very obvious size difference, Bleo managed to crack out a slight smirk. Mordecai may have been big, but Bleo guessed at his speed from that first attack; he could match that, surely. Then again, Bleo's opponent was vastly stronger than him. Bleo shook himself of his momentary doubt, and freed himself from his leather coat. It fell to the grimy stone beneath their feet without a sound.

Without his jacket, Blue's armor could be plainly seen; bright silver plates protected his shoulders and upper back and that was basically it. This, to Mordecai was an offense. To come into battle wearing nothing more than that said plainly that Bleo assumed to little of him.

Mordecai narrowed his eyes and Bleo planted his feet. The cat's claw twitched and clicked against the hilt of his blade -

- and Mordecai attacked, his reflexes acting before he himself could make an educated battle decision. With a heavy involuntary lunge of his body, Mordecai swept his blades forward in Bleo's direction. The cat was caught off guard. At last second, he pulled his limber frame away from this brutish attack. Mordecai's twin swords glanced off the walls of the alley with a heavy chink. He regained his battle stance momentarily, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Bleo had been startled by the initial attack but was ready this time around. When Mordecai took a quick step towards him, Bleo was quick to dart to the side and ready his weapons. Mordecai furrowed his brow.

A third lunge from Mordecai caught Bleo before he could dodge it. Bleo's feet faltered as he clutched a small flesh-wound in his side. Pale blood dripped slowly from between Bleo's claws. The pain filled his head and it couldn't, Bleo couldn't allow himself to be consumed by it. He closed his eyes for a moment, just enough, to block out the burning in his waist. When he opened his eyes again, they were cold and powerful once again.

As Mordecai came in for a fourth slice, this time vertically, Bleo leaped up, running his way along the grimy wall and pulling himself up by an out-cropping brick. Mordecai watched, open mouthed, as the slinky feline jumped between the closely spaced walls and finally pounced his way to Mordecai's other side. Landing with grace and prowess, Bleo drew his swords once again, this time letting them catch a glint of light from the beach beyond. He was now on Mordecai's other side, they had switched places. Bleo smiled.

"What say you, big warrior?" he chuckled, "Face me!"

OoC: You understand my character very well too.

BiC: The courage and determination of Bleo was admirable, yet cocky. He was still shaking off the pain that plagued his open wound. He could feel the thick blood soaking into his fur and the cold ocean breeze beating against it. Mordecai turned around to face Bleo, as the feline had requested. He started harshly into Bleo's eyes which glistened like any cats in the moonlight. Mordecai was filled was confidence. He was facing nothing more than an arrogant cat, yet his sudden confidence is what caught him by surprise.

This time it was Bleo who made the lunge. Carefully analyzing the alley's set up the cat acted. He lunged past Mordecai and onto a trash can, aiming for an aerial attack, but his plan was foiled. Mordecai crunched the bin with a mighty kick sending Bleo tumbling had onto the concrete. It was a hard blow, but Bleo made it seem like play wrestling. He was fast to regain his battle stance and smirk once again at Mordecai, showing no signs of pain from his hard fall or his weeping wound.

Mordecai was a challenge, but Bleo was confident. He realized that it was time to use a tactic. The size and strength of Mordecai was an obstacle that Bleo couldn't match. No... He'd have to counter it. Bleo was sure the massive man would not be able to match his speed, and so it was again Bleo who lunged forward. This time he didn't go for an attack. He ran past Mordecai and back again. The feline was speedily darting around the alleyway. Mordecai was rapidly turning and taking swings at the cat with his twin blades, but to no avail. Mordecai was tiring and Bleo seemed to be dominating.

Continuing the quick darts across the alleyway, Bleo begun to notice that Mordecai was becoming both exhausted and infuriated. It was time to strike. Bleo darted behind Mordecai and the man was not as fast to turn this time. Bleo took the opportunity. He again jumped onto the rubbish can and from there pounced over Mordecai as he dizzily spun around. The man didn't see the cat. He didn't know where he'd gone. All he knew was that he felt overwhelmed at that very moment. He had underestimated the cat and expected that an ending blow was imminent.

Bleo landed his jump behind Mordecai without making a sound. Regaining his vertical base, Bleo steaded his saber in his right hand to deal the blow. His paws lunged forward pushing the saber mightily into the gastrocnemius of Mordecai's right leg, just below the knee bend. The giant released a grunt of agony as his right leg crumbled, forcing him to fall onto his knee just like someone proposing. His two mighty blades came crashing to the floor of the alley.

Bleo withdrew his saber, which dripped of blood in the moonlight. The cat walk triumphantly to stand a meter in front or Mordecai. Mordecai breathed heavily and looked up from staring at the ground, to stare at the proud feline. Mordecai's eyes had a look, seeming to ask what the point of this fight was, yet this was hidden slightly behind a glance of hatred which masked Mordecai's insecurity. Mordecai was still determined to end this cats reign. The cat who was hurting him as his father did, similarly with no valid reason. Persistently Mordecai struggled to his feet to tower over Bleo, who felt like he had only angered the beast more. A small puddle of blood shone on the alleyways harsh floor.

Mordecai continued his stare at Bleo, with his eyes now screaming hatred as well as 'why'. He was swordless, yet Bleo doubted him to be helpless. Bleo still clung to his sabers as he caught Mordecai's glance. Bleo didn't read the glance of hatred but he saw the looming 'why' question. Bleo begin to speak, calmly explaining the situation, still with a hint of achievement in his voice for bringing Mordecai to his knees.

OoC: The dialog is yours McDuck!

OoC: Wow, Mel, you're really good at describing battle scenes! Sorry I took so long with this one.

BiC: Bleo Leonus planted his sabres firmly in the fertile earth, inbetween the cracks of the stone alleyway. He let out a long, low sigh and closed his eyes. Mordecai watched intently as the cat breathed in the salty sea breaze. There was a moment of intense silence in which the two battle-hardened warriors, far from their homes and weak from fighting, were content to be at peace. They listened to the sounds of the ocean and of the morning as it slowly enticed the harbour out of sleep.

“I do not wish to fight one such as you,” said Bleo in a deep confirming voice, opening his eyes to stare piercingly at Mordecai. The man narrowed his eyes at the cat and opened his mouth as if to speak. No words came, as usual, just a low grunt that signified some level of agreement.

“You have suffered, I know,” continued Bleo, “I can see it in your eyes. Yes, a man’s eyes dictate his life without clouding truths or secrets.” Bleo sat down and crossed his legs, looking past Mordecai to the end of the alley where a sliver of sea was visible.

“You have fought for what . . . I do not know. You are running from . . . something. Gods, why won’t you speak to me?” Bleo looked up at Mordecai once again, “I too have abandoned those around me. I left my homeworld long ago to come here. To a place where brigands and warriors alike are worshipped like heroes . . .” and here Bleo trailed off.

Mordecai remained standing, hands loose at his side, hooked on the small feline’s every word.

“. . . and you? What were you doing out after curfew? Why would you abuse the trust that our last safe-haven on earth has given us? We are blessed with a home and food and honour! I just don’t know what could have compelled you to leave and come out here.”

Mordecai let out a long low breath and shifted the weight in his feet. There was a glimmer of recognition somewhere on his face but was yet to faint to place. Bleo followed the expression with his eyes, silently judging.

“You and I are more alike than you know,” he muttered. “But,” (Bleo got to his feet), “We must fight for the honour that we owe each other.”

Mordecai flinched, but quickly regained his battle stance, ready for battle. Bleo, with a great heave, pulled his swords from the dry earth. They were ready to fight, but there was a new understanding, a new recognition between the two fighters. As though they were no longer fighting to win.

“Come, warrior,” said Bleo with a twinkle in his eye, “Let us take this to the sands!” The corners of Mordecai’s lips curled ever so slightly and then he was off, racing down the alleyway and out onto the beach where the sun was dispatching its first rays across the glimmering ocean. The sea water lapped at the shores complacently as Bleo bounded after him. The two fighters, vastly dis-proportionate, fought their way up and down the sands. The chink of blades drowned out by the sounds of the sea.

OoC: Over to you! Not quite sure what to do with it now, but I know you'll think of something

OoC: Okay... Hmm... Where to take this...

BiC: It was an odd sight for anyone. A monstrous man holding a perfectly proportioned sword in each hand swinging them low to the ground, where a warrior feline was reaching high with his twin sabres. The two fought. Any hate and emotions that had governed the battle previously were left behind in the alleyway. The moon was low and it's last bit of light peeked over the horizon.

The two continued to swing their blades at each other, only to hit the blade of the other. Neither of them was attempting to hit their opponent anymore. Their swings were guided unskillfully as the two's sword fighting skills wavered, mixed with their tiredness from fighting long through the night and their wounds. Mordecai swung, even in his weakness, with thrusts that look extremely powerful. The feline blocked them, yet was being driven backwards along the beach as they continued fighting.

Waves rolled into shore, leaving the chinks of the swords silent to anyone but the two warriors. The moon had disappeared and the sun was shining over the horizon, lighting the sky in terrific shades of orange and pink. The fighters continued, appearing themselves as nothing compared to the majesty of the rising sun. During their skirmish the pair had traveled many miles along the beach, and now they fought unknowingly out the front of a small sea side cabin, whose veranda was tickled by the beaches sand itself. Strewn on the beach around the cabin were lots of small boats and nets. It was a fisherman's hut.

Dawn had come upon the battle as the sun crept higher into the sky, still lighting the sky magnificently. The two were completely unaware of their whereabouts, dodging between the small boats on the shore without a thought. The two were tiring. The end must have been near, yet none knew how it would come. Mordecai continued his powerful blade swings and one caught Bleo off guard. In an attempt to block it, Bleo raised a sabre, but Mordecai's thrust knocked it out of his hand and to the ground. Bleo stumbled and fell backwards, landing bis bum upon a small sand dune.

Mordecai paused, unsure what to do with his vulnerable opponent. Bleo dropped his second sabre purposely, gesturing with his head for Mordecai to look out to sea. He did. There the battle stricken warriors stood, humbled by the magnificent sunrise, as they store out into the vast ocean. Dawn had come, which was the prime time for the fishermen.

The pair seemed to forget themselves as they gazed into the sunrise. They stood, frozen in motion, even in time itself. This utopia was broken as they heard the door to hut behind them open. They turned to see a middle aged man of moderate build standing confused in his doorway, ready to retreat back inside. The scene was set. A small feline crouching in the sand defenselessly as a mighty man held his two mighty blades. The sun-struck fighters glanced at each other. Suddenly the battle had changed. It was no longer one on one. It was two warriors against a single man. The two continued to stare at each other unsure of what to do. Whether to run or not.

The strange newcomer was darkly tanned and built short and wide, like a truck. He wore nought but a pair of grubby pants and a bandana around his forhead. His long, matted, dark-blonde hair tickled the tops of his broad shoulders. The man surveyed the two warriors with a look that mingled anger and fear into an unfathomable expression.

“You boys are making an aweful racket, you know?” growled the man. Bleo was the first to react; standing up to his full height, he bowed low to the ground, sheathing his blades in the motion.

“My sincere apologies, my good man, we meant no disrespect,” he purred. The tanned man seemed almost offended at the sincerety of Bleo’s polite manner. He stood stock still, calloused feet parallel to his shoulders, and looked the small fighter up and down, silently judging.

“You’re not from around here, are you mate?” the man asked, adressing Bleo.

“Ah, but is anyone here? It seems this place is inhabited mostly by those seeking refuge from their homeland,” replied Bleo calmly.

“Fair point, mate. What about you, ‘tall, dark and scary’?” grunted the man, turning to Mordecai, who had also sheathed his weapons. A sense of calm had washed over the scene, like a wave from the ocean, and left both fighters at somewhat of a loss for what to do. Mordecai was shifting the weight in his feet and running his big hands through his lank, dark hair.

“It would seem that my acquantance, here, is in much a similar position to myself,” said Bleo, gesturing haphazardly at Mordecai with a paw, “Society’s outcasts, both of us, on the run from responsibility and” -he glanced over at Mordecai- “I believe, from our wrongs.”

Mordecai, after a moment of silence, nodded purposefully. The third man, hitching up his pants with a free hand, looked confusedly from one to the other.

“So . . . wha’ is it that you lads were fightin’ over?” he muttered. And they had no answer for him.

The two fighters stole a quick look at each other and realized, quite to their surprise, that they no longer had a quarrel to fight over. Whatever they had fought over, it was clearly in the past. At the moment, it seemed that their similarities were outwaying their differences, however strong examples of the latter appeared to be. It clicked in both their minds that they were merely two lost souls, rejected by their people and seeking refuge in the only place that would accept them.

For the fist time in his life, Bleo was lost for words.

“W-we . . . I’m not entirely sure,” he murmured, rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully. He looked cheerfully at Mordecai. “Yes, I’m not sure at all.”

For a second, or it could’ve been an instance, Bleo could sware he saw the corners of Mordecai’s mouth curl slightly. His lips parted ever so subtley, and closed.

OoC: I don't know about you, Mel, but that felt pretty conclusive to me. I had an absolute ball doing this, thank you so very much for the experience. I had way too much fun, thanks.

OoC: No problem McDuck. It was a pleasure to battle you and a good debut in BA for both of us.