InsaneJournal

Hellcat; Round 2
Who: Hellcat vs. NPC
When: Saturday March 7, probably late morning
Where: Obstacle Arena
What: After wiping the floor with an aquakinetic in round one, Raksha gets to play hide and seek with a chameleon in round two


He saw nothing stepping into the arena, bare feet finding easy purchase on the packed dirt floor. But the scent of mutant drifted on the air, fresh enough that it wasn't from a previous round. Though those scents hadn't entirely faded and the stain of blood was still evident in a few places. A faintly wicked smile touched his mouth, so it would be hide and seek this time. What the other would not realize was that hide and seek was a tiger's favorite game. He paused, standing with a relaxed stance the belied the coiled power in sleek, but lean muscle. Yellow eyes scanned the various objects scattered about the arena, a large curved tunnel, something else that looked like monkey bars he'd seen on a playground once - only far taller, and others. A soft yet deep inhalation told him his opponent was male and somewhere in the direction of the tunnel. Anticipation flashed briefly in his eyes as Raksha moved forward, footsteps silent on the dirt.

Easy yet deliberate steps took him in a slowly circling path closer to the tunnel. No sense of movement, but the scent of mutant was fresher and stronger. Cautious, he paused again at the opening, feigning a difficulty to see. Wandered further in as if confident that no one was there, instincts and scent telling him there was. Still pretending he thought himself safe, Raksha walked forward until he rounded the bend in the tunnel before instincts and the shift of air screamed a warning. Twisting to the side he felt sharp points score a vicious slice down his back and curl around his ribs. A sharp hiss of frustration told him the intent had been to impale him with what he guessed were spines of some sort. Facing his opponent he saw nothing but the faintest impression of shape blending into the side of the tunnel. Eyesight less acute would have missed even that. A faint click of a camera told him the interior of the tunnel was being videoed. Blood - his - touched the air, fiery pain slide along his ribs competing with a teasing flash of pleasure. He started to move away, waiting until he heard the whisper of movement and twisted into a kick that connected with the chameleon's stomach. Coughing and the patter of footsteps meant the other male was on the run.

Fighting the instinct to chase, he moved out the other end of the tunnel as the wound continued to burn before subsiding. A faint chemical scent mixed with the blood, meaning the spines were likely venom coated. Warm crimson continued to flow but the lack of burn meant his body's high immunity had neutralized the poison. Awareness sharpened, the pain turning it to a razor edge. No movement, so he returned to hunting mode. Circled each structure in a roundabout way, senses alert for the slightest sound or movement. Two circuits around the arena earned him two more nasty slashes from venom coated spines. The second time he saw an impression of them enough to be sure. The chameleon could hold coloration, even texture, but movement and scent always gave him away. Raksha let the game drag on, deliberately skipping chances to end it. All the wounds were superficial, tearing layers of skin only. Enough to hurt and thicken the adrenaline rush and no more.

Scent thickened again as he moved beneath the monkey bar structure, the sharp tang of frustration running through it. A blur of movement another swipe came at him, the rush of air tickling his cheek. Tossing his head back meant the blow clipped his jaw and shoulder rather than tearing his cheek open. Even as he felt the impact he was reaching to grab, claws digging into flesh. Rather than tear, he yanked, pulling the chameleon down head first from the bars. There was a sharp crack as the slender male now devoid of any pattern hit the dirt shoulder first. The red glow of pain blossomed in Raksha's mind and he nudged it, watching with a predatory expression as the chameleon moaned louder and louder as the pain went up, curling into a ball on the dirt. The instinct to finish the kill kicked in, flowing through the lunge downward and a second crack echoed as the chameleon mutant's neck broke.