[Round 2] Paropakari vs. [Amaris] (Winner)

[Puhterodactyl]

Paro was fresh from his first duel and blown away that he had won. The only fighting he'd ever done was either to bring down a meal or wrestling any of his 23 children. It was nice to be challenged and to not have to not hold back. He approached his next opponent- a lioness- and bobbed his head in greeting and acknowledgement that she was just as fit and deserving to be here as he or any other lion was. He'd give her the same fight he would give a male. Besides, facing her in the second round, she might be tougher than your average male.  

[Puhterodactyl]

"And to you," he answered.

Amaris was a little quicker off the starting block than the male, and her hit lightly connected. Not anything too bad, but enough blows like that could still get her the win. He returned the effort, and it was well-rewarded. He got a fair, clean blow on the lioness and spun on his heels to prepare for her next move.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Paro had gone left when he should have ducked right. The battle was becoming incredibly close- too close to call. Was he really a warrior? He wasn't sure and didn't really have the time to ask. Wheeling and whirling, the lion and the lioness were really going at it toe-to-toe.

She landed a hit- not quite one that would decide a battle, but the sharp smack left him smarting on his left side for sure. Paro tried to parry– and missed. The orange lion winced and grimaced, more out of frustration with himself than pain. He had offered her the upper hand (paw?) and she had readily seized it.  

[Puhterodactyl]

And it was all over- as soon as it began. She landed another, fair hit and that was that. When her paw made contact with his shoulder, he had to skid to a stop, for the lion was intending to use his momentum for his next attempted attack. He righted himself and, panting, he bowed his head to the victor.

"Well fought, Amaris!" He smiled at the lioness and did a mental inventory of all his damaged and undamaged parts. Well, he was truly no worse for the wear. That was a nice thing about duels like this, especially as he was apparently not quite the fighter that he'd thought he was (which was not much of one to begin with).

"And to you! I'm Paropakari Chochokpi, of the Bird clan. You may know my mate, Gopala, and I better for the nine, bright adolescents running around." He smiled a crooked smile. He loved nothing more than his mate and their giant family but they were sure exhausting most of the time.

He shook his head, though.

"It's better this way. Gopala is a real worrier, and the kids don't need to get any ideas in their heads from watching and start trying out any moves they learned out on their old man."

"And you?"  

[Puhterodactyl]

"Perhaps!"

He watched the lioness leave and wondered the next time they might run into each other. He supposed, per tradition, next year at the next sky festival. He hoped she'd do well in the meantime and at advance at least one more round to make his loss more palatable.