Kotori had come towards the training grounds with plans to meet Hikaru for some sparring practice but even as he got there something else took his attention.  A large alligator was halfway on the shore, remaining fairly motionless despite Kotori approaching, its mouth somewhat open.  This thing was a certain pup killer.

Kotori shuddered as he imagined the reptile's teeth clamping down on a wolf’s body.  The horned boy shook his head, it felt fuzzy and voices had started floating in his mind.  The night was intimidating and it was always night.  Kotori’s hackles were already up.  A prince doesn’t hide from his fears which meant he was here despite his nerves.  It also meant he could fight this thing despite a voice he heard behind him, ‘Probably can literally bite you in two pieces.  How long does it take to die from that I wonder.’

No one else would hear the voice.  Like some others, it appeared he had contracted a sickness.  Ooze was flowing out of his ears, and from his mouth, it trailed down his chest.  It had just started after yesterday and Kotori could only imagine it getting worse.  Damn spirits.

Kotori waited for Hikaru.  Apparently, instead of a spar, they’d be killing this crocodile.  Kotori withheld a shiver that had nothing to do with the crocodile and all about how he could feel the darkness wrapped about him.  Thank goodness for the moon and the fireflies.

"Kotori Fatalis"

However covered in mushrooms Hikaru was going to continue his training. He was going to try and stay fit during the illness. He didn’t think about how far he was pushing himself. Or about what would happen when the line was crossed. He’d set up a simple spar with Kotori, the prince and he were quickly becoming well acquainted with the other’s fighting style. However they’d only fought other predators and not each other. Hika was looking forward to a much more relaxed exercise than fighting for his life.

Unfortunately fate had other plans, and Kotori was easy to find waiting for him. More apparent though, the massive crocodile laying there, staring at them. They weren’t eyes of a mindless beast, there was calculating going on, and not just the crocidilian’s point. "Change of plans?” He asked rhetorically as silver eyes watched the animal before him. It wasn’t backing down and such a huge creature was a threat to the Armada.

"Speech"

Kotori nodded, “yeah, spar for another time.  This guy looks a bit too comfortable.  I expect a pup,” a pause, “hell an adult wolf might be for dinner.” The size of this monster could easily kill them.  The naturally armored skin on it was absurd.  This was a lot different than other predators they fought for how to fight.

“Honestly, I have no idea how well they fight.” Kotori started walking to its left side, watching how its eyes followed him but it wasn’t moving.  Ok.  Kotori crept closer and when he got a stride away from biting distance the crocodile’s head spun around faster than Kotori imagined it moving and he leaped away before the crocodile’s teeth could snap on him.

Kotori snarled at it and ran to bite at a back leg only to suddenly have to jump over the tail swung at him.  Definitely different than prior predators.  Kotori had landed next to its opposite back leg so he bit down there but quickly jumped away from the tail lashing out again.  The guy could fight with tail and head at once so would it still be hard with two wolves fighting at the same time?  Strange.

"Kotori Fatalis"

Their spar was going to have to be rescheduled for another day, their attention was needed with this massive crocodile. Kotori was worried about a pup, and with the new babies in the pack he had a point, but a beast like this could take out any one of them. Its teeth were sharp and jagged, and Hika knew he didn’t want to get in between those dangerous jaws. Kotori was as clueless as the koi, he didn’t know how they fought.

"Well, with the short legs I’m going to assume its a little slower on land. They disappear when they get into the water… Don’t let it get back to its home.” If the crocodile retreated into the water it was game over, Hika wasn’t going in after it. Kotori took the first move, he carefully approached, but faster than lightning the animal struck, and the prince only just barely avoided a life ending blow. Then when he dodged the crocodile retaliated with its tail as well.

Hika’s eyes widened in surprise as he reevaluated his movements. "We’ve got our job cut out for us.” Hike commented determidly. He almost wished they had Mortis as backup but they had taken on bears before this. Surely the two of them could come out victorious. Hikaru dashed forward to do the same as Kotori, careful of the jaws as he aimed a strike at the beasts’ eyes. Surely they were the only weakness on its armored body.

"Speech"

Kotori nodded at Hikaru’s points. If the monster got away in the water it could come back once the two wolves were gone.   Kotori was staring at the alligator who seemed content to just glare right back at them.  Kotori watched Hikaru go for its eyes and an idea that was either smart or dumbstruck Kotori.

Hikaru had pointed out a similar thought on those short legs and Kotori noticed the sides of the gator were both dangerous the way its tail and head swiveled around but it didn’t look like its neck swung up very high from what Kotori could tell.  Well, life favors the bold?  Kotori leaped up onto its back, suddenly the body twisted like a snake. His front legs slid down on either side of its body but the gator couldn’t give Kotori his full attention, it apparently considered its eyes important.  Hikaru was keeping it busy.

Kotori tried to find a way to bite the neck but his teeth had a hard time finding purchase or penetration on the thick scales.  If nothing else he was making it harder for the alligator to avoid Hikaru or whip around as fast.  Kotori tucked his head up to his chest and tried using his horns to press into the gator’s neck. “He’s solid as a rock,” grumbled as he tried to pierce the flesh.   He’d seen between teeth and horns he’d dented the skin and there was small blood trails but nothing that was meaningful.

If Hikaru got the eyes it would be fine.  This thing couldn’t live if it was blind.


"Kotori Fatalis"

Hika went for the creature’s eyes and even that task wasn’t as easy as he hoped for it to be. The gator closed its eyes and it was like they were gone. He struggled, but kept it busy, as Kotori seemed to formulate a plan and leapt on the beast’s back. Both young wolves went at their opponent, ripping and tearing against thick armored skin. Hika was mostly just dodging massive jaws and as Kotori leapt off it was more apparent they weren’t really getting anywhere with their endeavor.

The Armada boys were not done though, their task was to protect the pack. Hikaru went back at the massive beast, his eyes were the goal. Hika dodged and weaved and by some dumb strike of luck he hit the beast’s left eye. Blood and eye goop seeped forth and the alligator went into overdrive as it roiled with the pain. Hika aimed to strike again but the crocodile wasn’t mad, it wasn’t infected, it knew when it was beat. Before they could fully blind it, or even barely scratch the surface the creature made a hasty retreat back into its watery home. Hika tried to stop it, but with a well aimed bite he was forced to back up. Hopefully it would retreat forever, but Hika had a feeling this wouldn’t be their first encounter.

"Speech"