Who: Kate Danvers and Liu Ying Where: In the woods When: After Clay was taken home What: Kate has some steam to let off Status: Complete
In an effort to stop taking her bad mood out on her boyfriends, Kate was in the woods. She’d spent some time in wolf form, running and hunting, trying desperately to tire herself out, but now she was human again, wearing a pair of skimpy shorts and a tank top, still so angry that the dome had taken so many people away from her and not knowing how to appropriately deal with that anger.
This was actually worse than when the dome took Logan away from her. Yes, losing her twin was like losing part of herself, but he hadn’t been in town for five years like Clay. Plus, Kate knew that when she eventually went home, she would see her brother again. The version of her dad here was from a different world and he might never get to know her.
She heard the snap of a twig nearby and went on full alert. It was entirely possible that the sound was simply another werewolf or nature lover despite her not recognizing the scent. She was kind of hoping it would be someone looking for trouble though. A good fight be exactly what she needed.
***
Liu Ying was not looking for trouble. She had never been the sort to, as she knew her position as Princess required her to behave in a way that would not reflect badly upon her Royal Father. Even the bouts of mischief she was prone to did not hurt anyone.
That did not mean she was not inclined to get into fights, however. Every so often, a new soldier would decide to challenge her authority, thinking her position and gender made her unqualified to be his general. She dealt with those misconceptions speedily. But sometimes she would challenge her equals as well, to test her own prowess against theirs. She still remembered the fight she had with the God of War, the Phoenix Lord. How exhilarating it had been! He had been powerful and relentless, and she had been challenged in a way she had not been in millennia.
She did not, however, pick fights with those she did not know. So when she alerted the young woman of her presence, she held up her hands peaceably. “Be at peace, Young Spirit. I mean no harm.”
***
Kate’s eyebrows lifted when the other woman spoke. A few years ago, she might have attacked first and asked questions later. Thankfully for everyone, she was a bit more mature now and was not looking to cause trouble either. Or to end up in the cage in the basement for acting out, which she had no doubt Jeremy would do.
“Yeah? What brings you out here?” she asked.
***
There was a youthful belligerence to this young woman’s voice and stance that reminded Liu Ying of young recruits who were still looking for their place in the world and felt the need to prove themselves. She wondered if that was the situation here.
Whatever the case, Liu Ying felt no need to antagonize her. “A forest like this does not exist in my world,” she explained. “I thought to take a walk to enjoy it. Do I disturb you?”
***
“Nope,” Kate said, popping the ‘p’ as she spoke. She was angry at the dome, full of frustration that had no outlet, and knew she was being kind of a bitch and just couldn’t bring herself to care. She’d probably feel bad about that later.
Probably. Then again, it was Kate. “Forests can be dangerous though. Should be careful.”
***
“What brings the danger?” A small smile played on Liu Ying’s lips as she observed this young woman’s suppressed frustration. Though she only ever challenged someone she deemed of her own level to a fight, she thought perhaps this young spirit - she was yet unsure as to what sort of spirit the girl was - could do with some expenditure of energy. “Should I be wary of young spirits spoiling for a fight?”
***
Being called a ‘young spirit’ was weird and only served to further annoy Kate. “I’m not a spirit,” she said. “And you don’t want to fight me.” Even though all of Kate’s muscles were burning and twitching with the need for some kind of physical release.
“Lots of werewolves in these woods,” she said. “And hunters.”
***
Liu Ying tilted her head. “You are not a spirit, but you are also not human,” she noted. “Then you are...werewolf?” She knew of hunters both human and supernatural, and this young woman did not fit the mold. But she had the look and feel of a predator to her.
“Why wouldn’t I want to fight you?”
***
A lazy smirk spread across Kate’s lips. “Ten points to Ravenclaw,” she said. “Yes, I’m a werewolf. And I could tear you apart. That’s why you don’t want to fight me.” Not that she would, not here in Madison Valley, but she could.
She could tell that this woman wasn’t exactly a human either, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was.
***
Now it was time for Liu Ying to smile, but there was nothing arrogant about it. She was accustomed to being underestimated. And although she had fallen prey to the same mistake before, she had never been bested by a mortal - werewolf or not.
“I am very difficult to tear apart,” she said simply. “And you look like you could do with a fight to release the energy in you.”
***
Kate nodded. “Yeah, okay,” she said. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea ever given her current state, especially with a stranger, but she wasn’t going to turn down a fight.
“Got any special abilities?” she asked. “I have enhanced strength and reflexes. Plus I can do this.” She held out her hand and focused for a moment, her fingers lengthening into claws.
***
Liu Ying regarded the transformation with interest. She had seen monsters with the ability to shift their body parts into weapons, but none of them were as articulate and had any sort of personality beyond their base need to destroy. Werewolves were very interesting creatures, it seemed. Or perhaps it was only this young woman who was so exceptional, who clearly needed a fight but wished to be fair about it. Liu Ying appreciated that.
“I also have enhanced strength and reflexes,” she replied, wishing to match the woman’s sense of fair play. “I have been cultivating for over twenty thousand years, and only the God of War has ever bested me.”
She curled her fingers, and a stream of black smoke coiled out from her sleeve. “If I were to release this at full power, I would level half this forest. I hope our skirmish will not require such power. It would be a waste of such a majestic forest.”
***
“Twenty thousand years, huh?” Kate realized she might be a bit out of her league against an immortal, though it was not enough to make her back down from the fight. “And here you don’t look a day over ten thousand.”
She eyed the smoke and made sure to stay out of the way when it dissipated on the wind. “Let’s avoid mass destruction,” she agreed, relaxing her hand so it returned to the normal state. With that said, she fell into a fighting stance that appeared casual and was anything but.
*** “Oh, I should hope not,” Liu Ying said with a laugh. She obviously didn’t understand the joke. “I was but a child at ten thousand, perhaps only to your shoulder. I enjoy myself much more now.”
She regarded the woman for a bit, assessing. The werewolf, for all her angry energy, was willing to be patient and allow her to strike first. She had received some training, at least.
Since the werewolf had shown claws - short range weapons - Liu Ying forwent her whip. Instead, she pushed off the ground and flew towards the woman, arms crossed in front of her to block any blows.
***
If it had been a real fight, Kate would have lost. Hard.
She could sense that the other woman, the immortal, was holding back and it frustrated her at first, until she realized how out of her depth she was. As her father’s daughter, Kate was always a brawler, was easily the best fighter in the Pack after him, and found it rare to go up against anyone who was her equal, let alone someone who could best her.
The fight lasted until she was exhausted and then she stepped back, holding up her hands. She was battered and bruised, the boys would not be happy to see that, even though she knew she’d heal quickly enough.
“Thanks,” she said, needing a moment to catch her breath.
*** Liu Ying inclined her head. She herself was barely winded: physical exertion itself did not require much qi. But the fight had required a skill set she did not often use: she was much more accustomed to weaponry and energy. This was an enjoyable change of pace.
“Your strength and speed are indeed remarkable,” she noted. “Are all werewolves so skilled, or do you have particular talent?”
*** Kate shrugged. “A little bit of both,” she said. “Most werewolves have enhanced reflexes and enhanced strength. Some are better fighters than others though.” It was something she worked at and trained for. Her boyfriends, on the other hand, were not so physically inclined.
“I’m Kate,” she added, realizing that they hadn’t bothered to exchange names. “Kate Danvers.”
***
“It is a pleasure, Werewolf Kate Danvers,” Liu Ying replied with a small inclination of her head. “ I am Liu Ying, Princess of the Demon Realm. I do not often see such talent in one. I hope you will nurture it and, if you require an outlet, you will call upon me.”
***
“Demon Princess, huh?” Kate said, raising her eyebrows. “You should meet my friend Adam.” She would definitely contact the other woman if she needed a good fight again though.
***
Liu Ying’s face lit up in recognition of the name. “I have met him.” And she should call upon him soon. There were not so many other demons here for her to speak to. “I did not know he is your friend. It seems the world is quite small here.”
***
Of course Adam had met her already. Kate grinned. “Adam’s known me since I was born,” she said. “We’re from the same world. He’s a good guy.” She’d have to try goading him into fighting against Liu Ying sometime just to see how badly he failed. That could be a good time. She’d even let Nick nurse him after. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”