SoulCoil

((popping in a starter right here! feel free to reply and jump in!))

It had just been another uneventful day at school. Vera came out of the front doors, pushing through the idling students that refused to move the hell out of the way. As she made her way down the steps, she muttered about how they really needed to stand and talk elsewhere. And as Vera had passed people, it was obvious that a chill had run down their spines. Vera furrowed her brows and looked behind her.

"Morty, you mind turning down the AC?" She kept walking, glancing at the people who were shivering. "Agh, now they're all lookin' at me."

Mortimus had also gave the students a wayward glance. "My apologies." Vera said nothing and only scoffed as they went off of the campus. The pair made now were walking down the sidewalk, en route back to Vera's house. Everyday now when she walked home from any place, she took care to look out for anyone suspicious. More specifically, for anyone else in the competition. Even though people mostly went out looking at night, you could never really be too careful.

But today was a bit different. There was construction happening on the path that she had usually taken, so there was no other option but a detour. Vera scowled, but she decided to suck it up and go down the backstreets. This was definitely a good place to get murdered or something. Away from prying eyes, dark, damp, ominous....

Vera shook those thoughts off. All she needed to do was walk quickly, and get home as soon as possible.

Wes had always enjoyed loitering about the backstreets, something about the atmosphere always filled him with a sense of potential, potential for anything to occur. Of course he knew what he was doing by picking this corner, he'd just wait and hope that some unlucky, and unaware competitor would walk by.

Next to him was his paired Revenant, a 7-ft tall bear that went under the name of Vince. Vince was uncannily a bear, but displayed some features of being part moose, having large antlers atop the bear's already massive size.

Vince nudged Wes, getting his attention, clearly another was nearby, possibly heading down the same alleyway that he was in. "Remember, stick to the plan," Wes said to Vince, it was a simple plan, gain the other competitor's trust and betray them at the earliest convenience.

Vince only nodded in reply, he knew that if anything, both of them would be able to hold their own in a fight. The large bear trained his eyes down the alleyway towards where he sensed the other Revenant, waiting for it to emerge from the corner.

"Crawfield." Mortimus uttered, halting before he went around the corner. Vera also stopped, and almost ran into him in the process. She was about to complain about it, but Mortimus raised his tail to indicate silence.

Slowly, the large Revenant crept around the corner. His attention immediately fixed on the pair.

"I would suggest you be on your way." Mortimus calmly said.

Hearing the Revenant he gave a brief smile before realizing the Revenant's demands. "Hmm? And why should I? Can a guy not lounge around in peace with his partner? Clearly not." Wes said jokingly, moving one hand into his coat.

Vince shifted, eyeing the Revenant over. "Big demands, little soul." He said with a small smile. "Move you shall rather than us."

Despite their words, Mortimus did not falter. "Perhaps I may have worded that incorrectly.... No matter." He uttered. For a moment or two, he only stood there, closely scrutinizing the other pair before him. Mortimus was always skeptical about strangers, especially those in the competition.

Without a word, he eventually glanced back at Vera, who was still behind the corner. With his tail, he silently signal for her to find another way around. The teen got the message and nodded, heading back to find another path. Mortimus, on the other hand, continued going on his way, walking right past the two.

Vince stepped in the way of the Revenant with a frown. "Opponent won't walk away so easily." Vince said in his gruff voice. "You won't run so easily from a challenge." Vince took up most of the alleyway as Wes approached the Revenant from behind, moving away from the wall.

"Heh, not so wise wanderin' by yourself now is it?" Wes said, removing his hand from his coat, revealing a silver dagger with a fading golden trim. The dagger had clearly seen better days, but it was still sharp as can be. "Maybe you misunderstood us. We aren't here to chat, we are in it to win this stupid contest and be done with it."

Mortimus halted dead in his tracks. First he looked behind him, immediately noticing the weapon in the man's hand. Though he didn't seem too worried about the situation he was in right now.

"....You mistake me for an adversary. I do not wish for any altercation, only to be allowed safe passage." Even though he said this, he flexed his claws, preparing himself.

Vince let out something of a roar, challenging Mortimus. "Make no Mistake. You won't be leaving without a fight. Safe passage for you means cowardice for me." Vince said, rearing his antlers at the Revenant.

Wes spun the dagger in his hand, smirking as he did, "Yep, you aren't leaving until one of us ends up dead, and trust me, it won't be us." He let out a small laugh, moving in to strike with the dagger.

((How is combat going to work? Is it going to be dice-based or?))

((it is indeed dice-based, use a 6-sided die, and if it lands on an even number, you get a hit in))

"....I had hoped to avoid this." Mortimus shook his head, sighing out. Now it was obvious. There was no talking his way out of this one. He truly hated fighting. But, he sucked it up, and waited for an attack on one side or the other. If he could bait out an opening, he could escape without much problem. He was a rather fast runner anyway.

After letting out a laugh in response to the Revenant's statement Wes slashed at Mortimus with the dagger he brandished. Vince letting out a roar in an attempt to distract the Revenant and conceal that Wes was attacking.

Ignoring the roar, and Mortimus whirled around to face the human as he received a large cut on his shoulder. He lifted a claw, then swung down on him.

Wes quickly held up the dagger as soon as he realized he had gotten a strike in. As he held the dagger up it clashed with the claws of the large Revenant, pushing Wes back relatively unharmed. Vince seized the moment that Mortimus had turned around, lowering his head to charge at him with his large moose-like antlers.

He soon glanced behind him, seeing that the other Revenant had charged at him. But he had no time to brace himself, and he ended up being knocked down on his side. The impact had incapacitated him for a moment as he attempted to get to his feet.

Vince reared one of his massive paws back to strike the downed Revenant. Vaguely a large gash could be seen just underneath his arm, a likely weak spot if you could attack it before he attacked.

Mortimus managed to get up quick enough, moving slightly. The paw grazed him, leaving a large scratch on the side of his neck. He reared his own claw back, aiming for the gash under his arm.

Vince recoiled back, roaring in pain, as the slash of the Revanant hit the gash, reopening the scarred wound. The bear seemed to diminish in size, caring for the wound as he stopped covering the way of a potential escape for Morimus. Wes started charging forward again with the dagger, hoping to slash at Mortimus once more before the Revanant tried to get away.

Mortimus only glanced back, easily avoiding the attack from the human. Right after, he burst into a sprint and went around the corner, disappearing from sight.

"Damnit... That's the second time we've lost one. You okay Vince?" Wes asked, he frowned, at the very least they knew of a few competitors in the area.

Vince only gave a grunt in reply, nursing the wound, "We will not forget them. Revenge will follow them like the night follows the day." Vince let out a snarl to the sky, once he recovered they would test their luck once more on a potentially weaker competitor.

Mortimus slowed down as he neared Vera, who was waiting a couple of blocks away. She noticed him, then immediately saw his injuries.

"Morty? Ah geez, what'd they do to you?"

"I am fine.... Come, with haste now. They are not pursuing, but I do not want to stay and see if they decide to." With that, Mortimus began going on his way, limping slightly in the process. Vera frowned, but followed behind silently.